The Old and the New: Exploring Wedding Anniversary Traditions

Wedding anniversary traditions are about much more than exchanging gifts. Your anniversary is a time to reflect on just how important your relationship is and share these feelings with your partner. Taking a look at how anniversaries are celebrated both locally and around the world can help give you inspiration on how to celebrate your own day together.

Traditionally, each year of marriage has a corresponding material such as paper, leather, silver or gold from which gift ideas are taken. With each year the materials become stronger, ranging from paper to diamonds. The sentiment behind these gifts is that as the marriage grows in strength, so do the gifts.

Most couples choose to celebrate their anniversary the traditional way; they may exchange gifts, go out to dinner or even see a film. Some will even book holidays or once in a lifetime cruises.

At a five year anniversary a marriage without children will be the subject of much teasing and many questions. However, if you've been married for five years without children no matter where you live it's likely you've already been the subject of many questions already!

In China numerology is a key part of wedding anniversary traditions. The numbers 2 and 8 are considered lucky, therefore a 2 and 8 year anniversary would be considered especially important. In India, like many western countries, the 25th and 50th anniversaries are of special significance. Hindu couples will renew their vows on these dates, with the ceremony being organised by their children out of respect and admiration of their parent's commitment.

Make your own wedding annviversary traditions

Let yourself be inspired to start your own wedding anniversary traditions. What happened on your wedding day? Perhaps you ate a particular meal or toasted with a particular kind of champagne you could enjoy each year on your anniversary date. If you stayed in a hotel on your wedding night you may like to return there, or if its possible, book dinner at the place where you held your reception.

Think about things that happened that made you smile, laugh or even cry. One nervous groom donned a pair of brightly coloured socks on his wedding morning without giving it any thought. Against the black of his very formal suit, the rainbow socks were noticed by the bride, the wedding party and in fact everyone else in the room. Each anniversary after the bride presented him with a new pair of socks just as bright as the first.

Another couple were surprised by a young cousin, who at the age of three could not wait until the end of the ceremony to shower the new couple with rose petals. Instead she followed the bride up the aisle and threw the pink petals before the ceremony even began. Each year the couple now always have a bouquet of pink roses on their table for their anniversary to remember the event with a smile.

Wedding anniversary traditions are a great way of planning your celebration, but the best celebration on your anniversary is going to be the one that best reflects who you are as a couple. If you like music, go and enjoy a concert together. If you like to laugh, see a comedy act. Most importantly enjoy each other's company and feel proud of the marriage you have build together.

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