An anniversary is the annual celebration of a couple's wedding date. In addition to the husband and wife exchanging gifts, it is customary for friends and family to present the couple with a gift in honor of their joyous celebration. For many, it is difficult to know what gift to purchase and which coordinates with the traditional anniversary gift for the number of years the couple has been wed. As time has passed, a modern gift list has also been created for the individual who wishes to give a gift that is less about tradition and more about current trends.

Tradition suggests that the first wedding anniversary be honored with the gift of paper, while the modern list suggests a clock would be appropriate. For the second anniversary, the traditional gift would be cotton and the modern gift would be china. The third anniversary is said to be traditionally honored with leather, but the modern trend suggests crystal or glass. Linen remains the classic anniversary gift in celebration of four years of marriage and an appliance is considered the modern alternative. For year five, it is customary to present a gift made of wood and the trendy choice is silverware.

When a couple reaches milestone anniversaries, which are usually measured in decades, the gifts become more expensive and are designed to be as precious as the years of wedlock. Tradition suggests that a 10-year anniversary be celebrated with the gift of tin, while the modern alternative is diamond jewelry. The 15-year milestone anniversary is traditionally honored with crystal and the modern list suggests a watch would also be appropriate. It is customary for china to be given for a 20-year anniversary, while the modern option is said to include platinum. For the 25th anniversary, couples are to receive silver according to both tradition and modern gift etiquette. Pearls are suggested from the traditional list for a 30-year anniversary and diamond jewelry is noted as a modern alternative.

Both the traditional and modern list offers the same suggestions for the remaining noted anniversaries. For year 35, suggested gifts are those made of coral or jade. A 40th anniversary should be celebrated with ruby, the 45th with sapphire, 50th with gold and 55th with emerald. For the 60th, 70th and 75th anniversary, diamonds remain both the traditional and modern gift option.

If you or someone you know is celebrating an anniversary, this list can be a helpful checklist to ensuring the proper gift etiquette is observed. Of course, there's no rule that says you have to purchase that which is noted, but it may point you in the right direction of the perfect gift to honor the perfect couple.