Kilminorth is the very essence of tradition, with over a thousand years of history and has experienced an array of milestones in its time, just like anniversaries. Anniversaries offer a chance to reflect on the love, commitment, and growth in a marriage.

Traditional anniversary gifts add meaning to these occasions, with each year associated with a specific material symbolising the evolving relationship. Here’s a guide to the first ten years of traditional anniversary gifts, with a few ideas tailored to the Kilminorth experience.

1st Anniversary: Paper 

To mark the first celebratory year of marriage, traditionally couples were given paper. Paper symbolises a blank slate, representing the beginning of a new life together. A handwritten love letter or a personalised book could make the perfect gift for your significant other. Gold and pansies also hold significance for this year if you need a little more inspiration. 

Thoughtful Touch: Create a scrapbook of your first year together, filled with photos, notes, and mementoes.

2nd Anniversary: Cotton 

After two years, Cotton is the gift of choice and represents a growing bond, interwoven between two people. On this second anniversary, consider gifts that will help strengthen that bond between you, with bedding, matching pyjama sets or matching cotton robes. The colour red is important for your second anniversary so look out for the garnet or ruby gemstones and for flowers, the lily of the valley. 

Thoughtful Touch: Movie night in with matching pyjamas?

3rd Anniversary: Leather 

Three years signifies strength and durability in a marriage and is marked by the traditional gift of leather. You could consider a new handbag for your spouse or maybe even new luggage, especially if you fancied a staycation at Kilminorth to celebrate your anniversary even further. Other gifts that relate to this tradition may be a new leather wallet or a leather-bound photo album. The third year is also characterised by vibrant fuchsia flowers and pearls, with a theme of the colour white, so working in these would be a good way to uphold tradition. 

Thoughtful Touch: Customise a leather accessory with your partner’s initials or a special date.

4th Anniversary: Fruit & Flowers 

Four years together represents a sweet and blossoming relationship and should be celebrated as such! Fruit & flowers are the main theme of this year and so we suggest liaising with our incredible suppliers. We’d be happy to arrange a bouquet of flowers for your cottage, ready for your arrival. Alternatively, planning a romantic garden picnic is a surefire way to follow this tradition. In terms of colours, keep to tones of blues and greens and when searching for gemstones, perhaps try blue topaz for the way to your spouse’s heart. 

Thoughtful Touch: Invest in a forever rose, which lasts a lifetime.

5th Anniversary: Wood 

Wood symbolises year five, accompanied by strength and deep-rooted wisdom. And, in honour of this special year, we invite you to explore our grounds, and immerse yourself in the surrounding nature and trees! A space to reflect and appreciate how far you’ve come on your journey into marriage. If you’re looking for a more physical gift, we suggest a custom kitchen set or tree-planting experience. Sapphire is traditionally associated with the fifth anniversary, with its colours being blue and pink, and daisies as symbolic flowers. 

Thoughtful Touch: Have a wooden item engraved with a meaningful quote or your wedding date.

6th Anniversary: Sugar 

Six is a treat and everything sweet! Your sixth wedding anniversary is marked with gifts of sugar and represents the sweetness of marriage. Join us here at Kilminorth for a romantic mini break, and treat your other half to some sweet treats on arrival. Otherwise, we suggest gifting a baking class or gifting your spouse with a chocolate bouquet for the special day. Colours for this year are white, turquoise, or purple and amethyst represents the sixth anniversary. 

Thoughtful Touch: Create a custom box of chocolates with flavours that your partner loves.

7th Anniversary: Copper & Wool 

Traditional gifts of year seven are copper & wool, to represent warmth and comfort. Wool retains heat, offering comfort and copper is a conductor of heat, offering warmth. Copper home accessories such as a kitchen set or candle holders are sure to add warmth to your home, or perhaps personalised blankets/scarves. Follow a yellow colour scheme and opt for onyx stones for your seventh anniversary. 

Thoughtful Touch: Personalised knit a wool scarf or blanket for your partner.

8th Anniversary: Bronze 

After eight years, you’ve no doubt gone from strength to strength and this is representative of the gift of bronze. Bronze is an alloy, essentially a mixture of two metals which symbolises how a couple is stronger together. It also represents good health and sustenance and can surely be reflecting of your gift giving this eighth anniversary. Lapis Lazuli and poppy flowers hold symbolism on this day.

Thoughtful Touch: Choose a bronze item that reflects a shared interest or memory.

9th Anniversary: Pottery or Willow 

Nine years represents teamwork, flexibility, and harmony with pottery or willow. Although we don’t have pottery just yet, we do have Paint and Sip events going on this summer, if you fancy getting creative for your wedding anniversary. We also suggest gifting handmade pottery or willow baskets to mark the occasion. 

Thoughtful Touch: Create a piece of pottery together in a pottery class.

10th Anniversary: Tin or Aluminium 

Ten years of marriage is a feat! It’s a testament to commitment to one another and a perfect time to reflect on preservation and longevity just as tin or aluminium represents. Perhaps investing in diamonds (an engagement ring upgrade) this year, which reflects the durability of ten years together. 

Thoughtful Touch: Plan a romantic getaway to Kilminorth to celebrate a decade of love and commitment.

However you choose to celebrate those important milestones, always remember that the team here at Kilminorth are on-hand to help you. Pop over to our accommodation page today to browse our beautiful Cornish cottages, which could make for the perfect anniversary backdrop.