Who gives the big anniversary gifts? Husband or wife?

At 25 hubby and I are throwing a party for each other.

Interesting….I don’t know of any couple who has given or been given an anniversary gift that follows the tradition. Even if one were to do it, would it matter which partner provided the gift? What if they just make it a joint decision?

My partner’s parents had their 50th wedding anniversary last year. Queen Elizabeth II sent them a letter of congratulations and a photo of herself. Okay…so it was probably a form letter sent by a staff member. I consider it a nice gesture.

Husbands and wifes should find special ways to show their beloved how much their anniversary means to them. It’s ok to collaborate on a gift you can enjoy together. Do what will make each and both of you happy.

Thanks – I was wondering if the tradition were still alive, and I guess it has changed and morphed into something better. I

If I had to choose, I’d say my husband buys me more expensive/bigger gifts than I buy him. He wants for nothing and is impossible to buy for so I would often get a piece of jewellery and I don’t like cheap stuff. However, in recent years we’ve bought a piece of furniture we both love or gone on trips and done things that matter to both of us rather than buying a fairly superficial present. So… I think it depends on the relationship.

As you pass through the acquiring years you recognize that things are just that, things. You don’t need another silver this or diamond that.
Experiences and shared pleasures are the real gems.

@LuckyGuy Yes – we celebrated ours by going to Key West with our kids and our closest friend’s family.

@janbb Exactly! How many more silver tea services or (blood) diamonds does the world need? What’s wrong with using the items passed down from your mother or grandmother?
Experiences are the things that can never be replaced.
All those things on the major milestones anniversary list are there to support the useless stuff industry. Don’t buy into it.
Of course you should celebrate milestones, and every other year as well. But do it in a reasonable way. Swap cards, maybe have a small party, take a trip, give a box of chocolates and share it.
Be nice to each other. That’s the true gift.

Neither of us usually give big gifts. At 25 years I would want maybe a party or vacation to celebrate I think. But, more likely a vacation would be something we wanted to do anyway, and just chalk it up to it being for our anniversary that year.

Possibly something silver to commemorate the milestone. Jewelry or platter or something. But, other anniversaries we don’t do anything like that. My husband did bring me home Krystal burgers on our 15th, which is one of my favorite anniversary gifts because it was thoughtful and creative when I was expecting nothing.

For our 10th anniversary, we took a weekend trip to the Columbia Gorge. For our 25th we flew to the place we got married (Philadelphia) and invited a bunch of the original wedding guests to a party. Our 30th is this year. Not sure what we’re going to do yet.

We did something together to celebrate anniversaries: a special dinner; a weekend trip; buying something for the house or yard. For our 20th we gave a party at an elegant Chinese restaurant with our closest friends.