An anniversary gift has one job: to say "I remember". Not the date, which a phone can remember for you, but the life you have built since. The gifts that work best are the ones that carry some of that history, whether it is one year or fifty.
Here is what to consider at each stage, how the traditional anniversary materials can help, and how to turn your shared photos into something that belongs on the wall rather than in the camera roll.
What makes an anniversary gift feel right
It is about the two of you
Birthday presents are about one person. An anniversary gift is about a shared story, so the best ones include both of you: your places, your jokes, the people who have been part of it.
It fits the stage you are at
A first anniversary and a fortieth are different occasions. The first is about how far you have come in a year. The later ones are about everything that has happened since: homes, children, friends, losses and adventures.
It lasts
Flowers and dinners are lovely and gone by the weekend. At least some of an anniversary gift should still be around next year.
Traditional anniversary gifts by year
Many years have a traditional material. You do not have to follow them, but they are a useful starting point, and some of them suit a photo gift particularly well.
- 1st: paper. Letters, prints, books. A photo print of your first year together is the most literal paper gift there is.
- 5th: wood. Something made from or framed in wood.
- 10th: tin or aluminium.
- 15th: crystal.
- 20th: china.
- 25th: silver. The first of the big ones.
- 30th: pearl.
- 40th: ruby.
- 50th: gold.
- 60th: diamond.
The milestone years, 25th, 40th and 50th especially, are often celebrated by the whole family rather than just the couple, which changes what makes a good gift.
Anniversary gift ideas, honestly assessed
1. Your story in one piece: photos and your words
Choose the photos that tell your story, from the first date to last weekend, and surround them with the words that belong to you both: the places you have lived, the song from your wedding, the name of the dog, the phrase only the two of you understand.
That is what a word art collage does. The photos sit together in the middle and your words fill the space around them. For a first anniversary it is a paper gift in the most literal sense; for a later one it can hold decades.
2. A photo from every year
For a 10th, 25th or 40th anniversary, gather one or two photos from each year together and arrange them in order. Seeing a whole marriage in one glance is surprisingly moving. A Standard Collage lays them out simply, with no words at all, if you would rather let the pictures speak.
3. Going back to where it started
A return trip to where you met, got engaged or went on honeymoon. Wonderful if it is practical. Take a photo there and add it to the collage.
4. Letters
A letter each, written for the day and read together. Free, and often the thing people keep longest.
5. Jewellery for the milestone
Silver at 25, a ruby at 40, gold at 50. Traditional and lovely, and it can be worn every day.
6. An experience you have been putting off
The concert, the cookery class, the weekend without the children. The value is the time together more than the activity.
If you are organising a gift for your parents
Ruby and golden anniversaries are often a family effort. The most treasured gifts at these occasions tend to be the ones that gather the whole family's view of the marriage.
Ask everyone for their photos
Siblings, cousins and old friends of the couple will have photos you have never seen. Ask them to send one or two each, including scans or phone photos of old prints.
Ask everyone for one word
One word or short phrase each about the couple. Grandchildren's contributions are usually the best: "they still hold hands", "Grandad's terrible jokes".
Start early
Give yourself three or four weeks. Finding old photos is the slow part, and it is what makes the gift special.
What size and format to choose
For a first or fifth anniversary, an A2 print with twenty or thirty photos is plenty. For a milestone anniversary with photos from every year, an A1 holds up to 60 photos on paper and an A0 up to 100. Canvas sizes hold slightly fewer.
You can print it as a framed print, a canvas, a framed canvas or a poster hanger. Our guide to photo collage prints explains the differences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional gift for a first anniversary?
Paper. A printed photo collage of your first year together is a paper gift that also carries the story of the year.
What do you give for a 40th or 50th wedding anniversary?
Ruby for the 40th and gold for the 50th are traditional. Many families also give something that gathers the photos and memories of the whole marriage, often as a joint gift from the children and grandchildren.
Can we include photos from before we met?
Yes. A few childhood photos of each of you alongside your life together makes a lovely contrast, especially for a milestone anniversary.
How many photos do I need?
There is no minimum. A word art collage works well with a dozen photos because the words fill the rest of the space. For a photo from every year, aim for one or two per year.
How far ahead should I order?
Each piece is made to order, so allow for delivery on top of the time it takes you to design it. Our delivery page lists the working days for your country.
Where to start
Open your camera roll and pick the ten photos you would save first. That is the heart of it. Then start creating your collage here, add the words that belong to the two of you, and see it finished before you order. Designing is free and you only pay if you decide to print it.