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Every year they come round, and every year you face the same desperate question: what on earth shall I get them for an anniversary present this year?
Here's our guide to the traditional and modern anniversary gift choices, year by year, so should give you plenty of ideas for even the most difficult to please person!
1st Wedding Anniversary Presents
Traditional First Anniversary: Paper
Our gift choice: something something personal, like a photo book of your first year of marriage.
Perfect because: these photobooks are brilliant, particularly as you can add your own titles, comments or love notes, as you see fit really!
Shop at: PhotoBox
Credit Crunch Choice - make your own photo story book with a decent photo album. John Lewis have a great selection starting at £6
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Modern First Anniversary: Clocks
Our gift choice: take a lateral slant with a romantic getaway to The Clock House at Haveringland Hall in Norfolk.
Perfect because: this is a beautifully equipped cottage for a romantic tryst. Just add your own finishing touches!
Shop at: English Country Cottages, property reference is CEK
Credit Crunch Choice: book last minute and see what deals are around, it's a tough year for travel companies!
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2nd Wedding Anniversary Presents
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Traditional Second Anniversary: Cotton
Our gift choice: perhaps cotton lingerie or even beachwear like this cotton robe from BlinkBeach
Perfect because: it's the sexy side of cute, and is perfect for travelling. Say on a romantic weekend away!
Shop at: Not On the High Street
Credit crunch choice: Knickerbox have great designs in cotton at really keen prices
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Modern Second Anniversary: China
Our gift choice: If your beloved has a sweet tooth, then challenge them to a game of Malteser Solitaire!
Perfect because: it's a great looking dish, and it works equally well with olives! Forfeits are up to you!
Shop at: Not On The High Street
Credit crunch choice: how about Little Miss Sunshine mugs from John Lewis, at £4 each.
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3rd Wedding Anniversary Presents
4th Wedding Anniversary Presents
5th Wedding Anniversary Presents
6th Wedding Anniversary Presents
7th Wedding Anniversary Gifts
8th Wedding Anniversary Presents
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Traditional eighth anniversary: Bronze and rubber
Our gift choice: how about new wellies?
Perfect because: you can go classic green or full on funky. And maybe present them whilst on a romantic country break.
Shop at: Fred's Clothing
Credit Crunch Choice: We love the Aurora Colour Changing Clock, encased in tactile rubber, and cycles through a kaleidoscope of beautiful colours. £9.95 from Firebox
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Traditional eighth anniversary: Bronze and Rubber
Our gift choice: immortalize yourselves in bronze with Rockabelly Lifecasts
Perfect because: you can either choose a kit like Everlasting Kisses, or arrange something more bespoke.
Shop at: Rockabelly Lifecasts
Credit Crunch Choice: I Want One of Those do a great home casting kit which you can finish with a bronze effect paint for £19.95
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Modern eighth anniversary: Linens
Our gift choice: some fabulous bedlinen to roll around in together such as this 400 thread count Egyptian Cotton.
Perfect because: beautiful bed linen makes every bedtime, and every morning seem a little better.
Shop at: The White Company
Credit Crunch Choice: John Lewis has a range of Egyptian Cotton at reasonable prices
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9th Anniversary Gifts
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Traditional ninth anniversary: Pottery
Our gift choice: a personalised Love mug just for them
Perfect because: it's a very romantic choice, with gorgeous hearts and their name, or even nickname. Designed by Disco Butterfly, these are unique and one offs.
Shop at: Not On the High Street
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: John Lewis do a classic white teapot for £12. It'll still make a gorgeous cuppa, particularly if you run one up to your loved one first thing in the morning!
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Modern ninth anniversary: leather, click here
Traditional ninth anniversary: Pottery
Our gift choice: get down and dirty with a Rasul Mud Exotic Body Treatment for two
Perfect because: a lateral thought perhaps but you'll get to cover each other top to toe in different coloured chakra muds, and end up feeling pure and calm, apparently!
Shop at: Red Letter Days
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: Pop into Boots for a selection of Sanctuary products and recreate the experience in the comfort of your own home!
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10th Wedding Anniversary Gifts
11th Wedding Anniversary Presents
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Traditional eleventh anniversary: steel
Our gift choice: a gorgeous stainless steel watch from Christopher Ward
Perfect because: they have great designs combining great classic watch making skills with contemporary styling. There are also options that combine steel with diamonds.
Shop at: Christopher Ward
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: Goldsmiths offer ladies steel watches from £40
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Modern eleventh anniversary: fashion jewellery
Present for the wives: we adore this wide cuff from Giles Reeve
Perfect because: it's a beautiful piece of jewellery, it's very fashionable and it's unique enough that not every one of her friends will have one.
Shop at: Man Joh
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: Pia Jewellery has some great choices from just £7
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12th Wedding Anniversary Presents
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Traditional 12th anniversary: Linen
Our gift choice: a gorgeous linen shirt from Thomas Pink
Perfect because: their range of clothing is always stylish, beautifully made and never goes out of fashion. What more could you ask for?
Shop at: Thomas Pink
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: try Marks & Spencer, as they always have a great selection of linen tops.
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Modern 12th anniversary: Pearls
Our gift choice: pearl jewellery from Astley Clarke, like these gorgeous pearl and diamond earrings
Perfect because: it shows that pearls need not make her look like the Queen, as these use pearls with stunning contemporary styling.
Shop at: Astley Clarke
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: Pia Jewellery has some great pearl choices from just £13
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13th Wedding Anniversary Presents
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Traditional 13th anniversary: Lace
Our gift choice: indulge in some sophisticated lace lingerie, like this beautiful Lace Chemise from Coco Box
Perfect because: it's sensual, feminine and beautiful, in a mysterious seductive way. Even after 13 years, you can still keep an air of mystery going!
Shop at: Be Cheeky
Credit Crunch Choice: the Romance Chemise at Knickerbox has a beautiful lace trim, and is just £18
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Modern 13th anniversary: Textiles
Our gift choice: a canvas print from Photobox
Perfect because: this can show off a special memory from the last 13 years...any moment that is special to you both.
Shop at: Photo Box
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: create your own t-shirts at Primitive State. We like the barcodes, which you could make to be your wedding date
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14th Wedding Anniversary Presents
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Traditional 14th anniversary: Ivory
Our gift choice: Given the ivory trade is banned, how about getting out and seeing the elephant in it's natural setting.
Perfect because: with Responsible Travel, these trips support conservation efforts and local communities, giving them options other than the slaughter of elephants for their ivory
Shop at: Responsible Travel
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: have a day out at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent, and see the results of it's elephant breeding programme
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Modern 14th Anniversary: Gold Jewellery
Our gift choice: we'd stop by Astley Clarke and browse their gold selection such as this beautiful gold bangle with tourmaline.
Perfect for: gorgeous contemporary designs to suit every budget and also that bit unusual, so not all her friends will have one
Shop at: Astley Clarke
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: H Samuel has gold jewellery starting at £7.99
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15th Wedding Anniversary Presents
20th Wedding Anniversary Presents
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Traditional 20th Anniversary: China
Our gift choice: a white china cake stand
Perfect because: this is not just any cake stand, this is a cake stand that comes with 150 pieces of the most amazing chocolate brownie.
Shop at: Not On the High Street
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: Treat yourselves to some beautiful new mugs for that first cup of tea of the day. John Lewis has a great range from £8
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Modern 20th Anniversary: Platinum
Our gift choice: we think this platinum and diamond pendant from Ernest Jones is beautiful
Perfect because: it's a long wait until platinum comes up on the traditional list. Another 55 years!! Spoil her now!
Shop at: Ernest Jones
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: Perhaps combine both types of anniversary with the Platinum Band Dinner Service at John Lewis
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25th Anniversary Gifts
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Traditional 25th anniversary: Silver
Our gift choice: beautiful silver jewellery with a twist such as this silver cuff with beautiful butterflies
Perfect because: it's romantic and stylish, and a lot more romantic than a canteen of silver cutlery
Shop at: Astley Clarke
Credit Crunch: it's got to be Silver by Mail, who has gorgeous silver jewellery from just £8
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Modern 25th anniversary: Silver
Our gift choice: A "Silver Anniversary" hybrid rose
Perfect because: whether they are into gardening, or you just want a very romantic gesture, then this is both perfect and beautiful
Shop at: Crocus
Canny Credit Crunch Choice: Clare Florist does beautiful bouquets of white roses from £39.99
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30th Anniversary Gifts
Traditional or modern, it's pearl, click here. Or check out what we suggested she buy for you!
35th Anniversary Gifts
For the traditionalists, this year is Coral, and for the modern thinkers it's Jade, so check out the jewellery page for some ideas. Or check out what she might get you!
From now on, all of the anniversaries get interesting, and you're into serious precious stones, so check the jewellery page as you'll definitely need something memorable.
Here's a quick run down of what's left. For both the traditional and the modern lists we have:
40 Ruby
45 Sapphire
50 Gold
55 Emerald
60 Diamond
For any of you getting to these, our hearty congratulations!
GO TO WOMEN'S SECTION
GO TO MEN'S SECTION
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