Fifth Anniversary Gifts Buying Guide

 A fifth anniversary is the first big milestone in a couple's marriage. It means that the marriage is strong enough to last at least a half a decade. It commemorates a bond that has grown to be strong and stable and one that has evolved through hard times and celebrations. This resilience and strength is reflected in the traditional gift of wood.  Silverware,  the modern gift, is representative of unity through the gathering of family and friends over food. Of course, you don't need to stick within these boundaries. Jewellery,  flowers,  champagne,  gadgets, and clothing  are all excellent gift ideas too. We've highlighted the more traditional wood and silverware gifts in this article, but there are plenty of non-traditional gift buying guides listed in the Related Guides section. 

Wood Gifts

Wood is a fairly easy gift to buy, considering how easily it is moulding into just about any form. A wood gift doesn't necessarily have to mean that you must give a wooden chair  or oak table.  There are plenty of gifts that have a more subtle amount of wood, yet completely fulfil the tradition.

Tips

• Choose a gift based on your spouse's interests, regardless of tradition. If your spouse hates chess, what use is a nice wooden chess set to him or her? You want to, above all, show that you truly know, recognize, and care about your spouse. 
• Here's a little trick to mix traditional anniversary gifts with a bit of non-traditional cheer. Do you really want to buy your wife that necklace  she's been wanting, but it's not wood or silverware? Buy the necklace and put it inside a cute wooden box.  Perfect!
• The traditional flowers for the fifth anniversary are daisies  and pansies.  Since these flowers don't quite run on the majestic side, make sure to place them in a nice wooden vase  to spruce up the gift.
• If your spouse is a gardener, skip on cut flowers and buy him or her some seeds  to plant. Now you both can watch them grow!

Quick Picks

Wicker Furniture  Perfect for an outdoor garden or an indoor sun room.	Wooden Furniture  Look for wooden furniture that will compliment the other furniture in your home.	Croquet Sets  Croquet is a great game to play on a lazy day in the garden, so join in on the fun! Makes a great date idea for a married couple.	Tiki Torches  Grab some tiki torches and head to the garden for a romantic date or a camp-fire with the whole family.	Bird Houses  Wooden bird houses are decorative and act as shelter for the birds in your area.

Furniture  Check out these popular furniture pieces that often are made out of wood: Armoires  Beds  Tables  Chairs  Chests  Entertainment centers  CD/DVD racks  Curio cabinets  Bookshelves.	Antiques  Antiques are special and beautiful pieces of the furniture that will only gain value (assuming you take good care of them) as your marriage continues. Check out antique cuckoo clocks,  tables,  rocking chairs,  and more.	Wine Racks  Wooden wine racks are a useful and practical gift that satisfies the traditional fifth anniversary gift requirements. If you or your spouse love drinking wine, do consider this gift idea as a great way to "preserve" your marriage.	Wood Frames  Look for wooden picture frames  or mirrors  with a wooden frame. Frame your favourite wedding photo or even your favourite Monet print.	Clocks  Wooden clocks are a cool and classic gift idea that can really add some charm to your home. Check out grandfather clocks  and mantle clocks.

Bookends  Wooden bookends are perfect for the avid reader. If your spouse has a great collection of literature, consider some fancy wooden bookends as an anniversary gift.	Vases  Wooden vases are very unique and give a room a mildly exotic feel. Try buying some flowers or a plant and giving them to your spouse in a classic wooden vase.	Backgammon  Look for wooden backgammon or chess sets  if your spouse loves classic games. The best part is that these games are meant for two!	Boxes  or Baskets  Fill up a wooden box or wicker basket with lots of little goodies that your spouse will love!	Wooden Dining Accessories Look for these popular dining accessories made of wood to make sure your gift is traditional, classic, and practical: Bowls  Plates  Chopsticks

Silverware Gifts

Silverware is the modern gift assigned to fifth anniversaries. Here, you should aim to purchase something that both you and your spouse will enjoy. If you tend to have opposite tastes when it comes to décor and style, you may want to avoid this gift concept and go with the traditional wood gift idea. However, if you can find some common ground when it comes to silverware, then check out these sparkling gift ideas!

Flatware  Silver flatware is an easy gift to purchase. Unless your spouse is super picky, choose a classic flatware set that you will both enjoy.	Corkscrews  Silver corkscrews are quite charming and elegant. Break open that bottle of wine on your anniversary night and surprise him or her with a silver corkscrew!	Silver Vase  Placing flowers in a silver vase is a great idea for those who have spouses that prefer silver décor to wooden.	Candelabras  or Candlesticks  Classy and seductive, candelabras and candlesticks are a great way to convey romance through a gift. Now you have no excuse for not having a candle light dinner for two.	Silver Trays  or Platters  These gifts are great for those who entertain a lot, or even those who make formal dinners and make use out of trays and platters on a regular basis. If you are more like a microwave dinner on the couch type of couple, however, you may want to get a gift that is more useful and practical to your lifestyle

Related Guides

Anniversary Gifts for Wives	Anniversary Gifts for Husbands	Gifts for Artistic People	Gifts for Movie Buffs	Gifts for Travel Enthusiasts

External Links

• eHow.com: This article features excellent tips on looking for that perfect fifth anniversary gift.
• AssociatedContent.com: This article offers plenty of interesting and cute gift ideas for a fifth anniversary.