I’m not even at my second wedding anniversary but I’m super excited already to get to my sixth because you know what, daters? The traditional gift is CANDY! If the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory Actually existed, now would be the time to source yourself a golden ticket.

Oh, and iron. But that’s a little boring in comparison.

So, let’s split this one into two. I’ll start with the Candy Gift Ideas and then we’ll move onto the Iron Gift Ideas. Please note, gentlemen: Under No Circumstances are you to get your sweetie an actual iron for ironing clothes. If you do, I wouldn’t blame her if she hit you over the head with it.

So, if your sweetie needs a little more, ahem, sweetening, or is a real sweet tooth, here’s what you need to do:

1. A Cacophony of Candy!
Get as many different types of your sweetie’s favourite candy as you can get your hands on. Package them beautifully and separately – a jar of gummi bears, a box of jelly beans, a basket full of Hershey’s kisses… then arrange for these little surprise packages to pop up everywhere throughout the course of the day. Under the pillow, at their desk at work, a special delivery, at the café where they eat their lunch, tucked in the pocket of their jacket… what a sweet, sweet day!

2. More Candy Than You Can Poke a Stick At!
The key to this one is going waaaaayyyy over the top. Find a huge jar or box and fill it to the brim with as much candy as you can get your hands on. Mix it all up together and have it delivered to them at work or home. Then just sit back and wait for the sugar-high.

3. Candy or Chocolate Making Classes
Enrol the both of you into an afternoon class on how to make chocolates, or taffy, or sugar-candies. Failing that, a lot of stores have open kitchens now so you can see the process. Take your sweetie along to watch the fascinating process and then indulge in an afternoon there.

4. Factory Tour
Got a Candy Factory near you? Arrange to take your spouse on a tour of the factory. You’ll probably have to pay extra to see Oompa-Loompas.

Iron

1. Candleabra
Buy a gorgeous iron candleabra that will become a family heirloom centrepiece and treat your partner to a dinner at home by candlelight together – the first of many by the light of the new gift.

2. Wine Holder
Does your partner have a penchant for fine wines? Buy them a gorgeous iron wine rack to hold all their bottles.

3. Recipe Book Stand
I love to cook but I hate getting food all over my cookbooks as I do it. If your partner loves being in the kitchen, consider getting them a recipe book stand made of wrought iron to hold their gorgeous books open to the right page as they cook.

Anyone got any others to add here? It’s a fun one, that’s for sure!

And think of all the things that are built using wood. Whole houses are built on wooden frames. There’s no doubt of it’s sturdiness and usefulness.

And so, wood is a very fitting symbol of the fifth wedding anniversary.

Here are some great gift ideas:

1. Furniture
Is there a beautiful piece of furniture your sweetie has had their eye on for awhile? It might be a bedside table, a new desk or even a wooden bed… after five years of marriage you should be able to pick their taste when it comes to these things! Surprise them by splurging on it for them.

2. Rowboat
This is a quaint one. Wooden rowboats are the very epitome of romance. If you can’t afford the space to buy and keep one in the house, why not treat them to an afternoon on the water followed by a decadent picnic for two?

3. Picture Frame
Ornate wooden picture frames are absolutely beautiful. What will really make this gift special, though, is filling the frame with a beautiful photo of the two of you. Pick one from your wedding or blow up your favourite photo and present it to your sweetie so they can hang it with pride of place on the wall or by the bed.

4. Musical Instrument
Has your spouse always harboured a secret desire to learn to play an instrument? Did they play when they were younger and regret giving it up? Or are they already amazing at playing and their instruments need an update? A guitar, a violin, a piano or any other manner of instrument will blow them away.

If they’re new to music, get them some lessons to start them off. Then they have no excuse to not pick it up!

5. Bonsai Plant
I actually bought this as a wedding present for Denis when we got married. He loves Bonsai plants and had about 25 of them when we got married, but none were quite like this one. I found an award-winning tree from a Bonsai farmer that is 16 years old and pretty expensive as well.

But the beautiful thing about the bonsai is the symbolism – the tree I bought him will last literally hundreds of years. It will grow along with our relationship and our family and can be handed down through generations as a family heirloom. I loved the thought of the tree being with us through everything. We joke it’s our ‘love fern’ all the time.

If your sweetie has a bit of a green thumb, find them an ornamental, already-established Bonsai and watch them melt as you hand it to them.

Are you up to your fifth wedding anniversary yet? What do you have in mind as a gift? Or, if you’re well past the fifth one, what did you get them? Tell us below!

Go figure.

Okay, well – when you think about it fruit and flowers are symbols of life, of blossoming… of nature. Are they trying to tell you it’s time to get fertile, perhaps?

Here are some gift ideas that are worthy of an anniversary.

A Dozen Red Roses
Even better if you can swing two or three dozen red roses in there! Four dozen, in fact, would represent one rose for every month you’ve been married. That’s the stuff that gets you serious brownie points!

Red ones symbolize love and passion, of course. They are by far the most romantic. If your sweetie prefers other colours, then of course you can send the favourites. Just remember

Pink Roses = Admiration
Yellow Roses = Friendship
White = Honour (and funerals)
Orange = Enthusiasm
Lavender = Enchantment

Once your roses start to fade a little, give them new life by plucking all their petals and floating them in a bathtub for the two of you to share. The sensation of rose petals kissing your skin in a warm bath is sensational.

Edible Blooms
These great, innovative companies make fruit look like pretty flower arrangements. The pieces are unique and very sweet and it’s a great, delicious way to combine fruit and flowers together. Try Fruit Flowers if you’re in the USA and Edible Blooms for our Australian readers.

A Fruit Tree
Assuming you have a garden – one you plan on keeping for a long time – buy a fruit tree that you can plant together. The apples will taste that much sweeter knowing that they’re a symbol of your love and commitment to each other. You’ll think of it every time you harvest them, you’ll tell your kids about the tree every time you walk past it and who knows? Fifty years from now you may still be enjoying homemade apple pies with fruit from your tree.

A Fruitful Fantasy
This is a little risqué but a lot of fun! Pre-arrange a huge cut fruit platter full of juicy strawberries, nectarines, grapes, peaches, pineapple and more. Turn down the lights, put on some soft music and blindfold your sweetie. Hand-feed them morsels of the fruit…. Get as steamy as you like, then jump in the shower together to wash off the stickiness.

Potent Perfume
Buy your sweetie a potent perfume with heavy floral or fruity notes in it. Every time she dabs it on she’ll think of you. (NB: These perfumes can be heady. Make sure this is the kind of perfume they (and you!) are into first – or you may just give them a headache!)

Floral-themed Jewelry
If you want to bend the rules a little, consider a piece of jewelry that has a floral theme to it. Even Tiffany & Co has a beautiful set of nature-inspired charms – a ripe red apple, perhaps or a daisy with a diamond at its centre…

There are some gorgeous leather-based anniversary gifts you can give your partner on your third anniversary that they may well keep forever.

Wallet/Purse
Gorgeous gift – your partner will feel special every time they pull it out to pay for something. Get them something they wouldn’t usually buy for themselves – a luxury brand, or a bright colour. Slip a photo of the two of you into the photo sleeve before you give it to them.

Designer Handbag/Leather Satchel
I love a man with a satchel! It’s undoubtedly the new briefcase for hot young professionals. Get him one his laptop will fit in.

If you’re thinking of a handbag for your lady, get her something special. It may require some saving, but if you can blow her away with a Marc Jacobs, a Louis Vuitton or a Coach handbag, seize the opportunity! Again, if you can’t go for the big brands, go for something distinctive that she usually wouldn’t buy for herself.

Leather Jacket
A great leather jacket will last forever. Pick a timeless style that you know will look good, or better yet, take your sweetie with you to help pick it out.

Leather Mini Skirt
RRREEAUW! The hottest item for the new season, a leather mini will sex up your lady’s wardrobe to the max.

Boots
These boots were made for walking… go thigh high for the current season trend, or a pair of classic black knee high boots if you want them to still look great five years from now. And boots aren’t just for the ladies! A great pair of leather ankle boots are a great investment for a man.

Motorcycle Gear
Assuming your spouse is into motorcycling, of course, this is the perfect present. You can get a customised leather jacket that they design themselves – any motorbike buff would go bananas for it!
They say that by the 3rd wedding anniversary you should be aware of the durability of your relationship together, which is why the traditional gift symbol is leather. The material is strong, durable, warm and resilient.

There are some gorgeous leather-based anniversary gifts you can give your partner on your third anniversary that they may well keep forever.

Wallet/Purse
Gorgeous gift – your partner will feel special every time they pull it out to pay for something. Get them something they wouldn’t usually buy for themselves – a luxury brand, or a bright colour. Slip a photo of the two of you into the photo sleeve before you give it to them.

Designer Handbag/Leather Satchel
I love a man with a satchel! It’s undoubtedly the new briefcase for hot young professionals. Get him one his laptop will fit in.

Gloves
My father gave my mother a pair of bee-yoo-ti-ful leather gloves back in the early 70s. She still has them, they’re still in perfect condition and they are still fashionable now. ‘Nuff said.

Leather Diary/Notebook
Gift your partner a gorgeous journal, diary or notebook that is bound with real leather, and write them a note in the front telling them this is a safe place to keep all their thoughts, dreams and wishes.

Clothes – It’s obvious, yes. There are a few ways to execute this present though. You can either:

1. Pick up some great threads for your partner that you know they’ll love, and that will fit them perfectly as well… though I only recommend this if you are supremely confident that you can do this without incident.

2. Treat your sweetie to a gift voucher from their favourite clothing store.

3. Take your sweetie on a surprise shopping spree with you! You will have to be patient and devote the day entirely to them and their whims and wishes. No complaining about hanging outside change rooms all day and no dismissing outfits as “That looks great, just get it” because you want to go home already. Be on board completely or not at all.

4. Now if you don’t think you’re up to pulling off #3, then you can really lavish your sweetie with this – treat them to a personal stylist and a bit of shopping money and leave them to it! A stylist will be able to come and check out their current wardrobe, suggest outfit matches they hadn’t thought of and then take them shopping for key pieces that work with their style and what they already own. I guarantee you every man and woman out there will love this gift (providing you get an experienced stylist who knows what they’re talking about) even if they don’t know it yet.

Bed Linen – What better gift than a bedroom makeover courtesy of luxe new bed linen for the two of you? Remodel your matrimonial bed to something that piques both your tastes’ – think sexy and chic. If you’ve got the dough, also think Egyptian Cotton.

Plush PJs – A beautiful and intimate gift for your 2nd wedding anniversary is a set of very plush pyjamas that your sweetie can swathe themselves in at bedtime every night. There’s nothing like a soft cotton nightgown or pyjama set to make you feel luxurious.

Matching Robes – Along the same train of thought as the pyjamas, a gorgeous cotton robe will brighten your every morning as you slip it on to make the coffee. Get matching ones for the chintzy factor. Or not.

Towels – If you’ve ever indulged in huge, fluffy bathsheets then you know what I’m talking about. It’s a luxury everyone should experience – is it time to treat yourselves to a brand new matching towel set?

Any other genius cotton ideas out there that I haven’t thought of?

Of course being a guy, Den automatically went “Well, what do I get you? A ream of A4?”

No, Den. No you don’t.

Here’s a list of paper-anniversary gift ideas for all you people out there who are about as creative as my husband and need a little inspiration.

Paper Anniversary Gift Ideas (aka 1st Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas)

1. Books – Make it a special book. Whether it’s a beautiful coffee table book on a subject your partner loves, or a heavy cookbook (assuming they are a gourmand who loves to be in the kitchen) or an early edition copy of one of their favourite-ever novels, this is a beautiful present they can keep forever. Remember to write them a happy anniversary message in the front.

2. A Notebook – If your spouse is the type to always be having creative ideas, or writing notes, lists or poetry, then a beautiful journal that they can keep their private thoughts in is a lovely present to give.

3. Framed photo of the two of you – Photos are printed on paper, right? It still fits the theme! Find a favourite or even call your wedding photographer and organise a surprise print of one of your wedding photos that you can have mounted and framed for your sweetie.

4. Tickets – Your partner’s favourite band is touring this year? Or a musical they’ve been dying to see is coming up? Whether it’s concert, orchestra, opera, ballet or comedy, splash out on tickets for two as a great first paper anniversary present.

5. Voucher – Again, this fits with the paper theme but you can still make it nice. Get them a voucher to spend in their favourite shop, or a voucher for an amazing experience you know they’ll love, a day spa, or even a fancy restaurant.

6. Magazine Subscription – Not everyone wants to splash out too much on their anniversary – this is good news if it’s your paper anniversary (not so much when you get to diamonds!). Find out what your partner’s favourite magazine is (hint: check their stash of back issues for what they seem to read a lot of) and get your love a subscription to that title.

7. Tattslotto Ticket – You can look at this two ways – it could be the crappiest anniversary present ever or assuming lady luck is on your side, it could be the BEST ANNIVERSARY PRESENT EVER. “What did your wife get you for your anniversary?” “Oh, not much… only 10 MILLION DOLLARS!”

8. Wedding Vows – Have your wedding vows printed out nicely – either by a graphic designer, or hand-calligraphy and framed. If not your vows, then a special poem or reading that was done at your wedding or the lyrics to a song you included in your ceremony.

Anyone else got any lovely ideas for Paper Wedding Anniversary Presents? Do you do the traditional presents or ignore it altogether and go straight for the jewelry? (I wouldn’t blame you if you did!)