What Is the Traditional 2-Year Anniversary Gift?

Married couples typically celebrate the anniversary of their wedding date each year. Anniversary celebrations can include fine dining, private time and gifts. Traditionally, different types of gifts are associated with each year of marriage. Those celebrating their second anniversary might choose to exchange gifts in one or more of the following categories: traditional, modern, alternate, flowers and stones.

The traditional gift for the second anniversary should be made of cotton or straw. Cotton gifts are much more common than straw ones. Some cotton gift ideas include linens, personalized throws, aprons, decorative pillows, cotton canvas wall hangings or portraits, clothing, monogrammed bathrobes and outdoor cotton hammocks. Straw gifts might include straw hats or straw baskets with other gifts inside.

Married couples can give cotton or calico-patterned gift items for a modern second anniversary gift. Good gift choices include decorative rugs, clothing with calico print and lingerie. Calico print can be any small repeating shape or object on a cotton fabric. Calico prints often have a floral theme.

China is a good alternate gift for the second anniversary. China includes vases, serving dishes, personalized tea cups, porcelain flowers and candle holders.

Anniversaries one through 15 and then 20, 25, 28, 30, 40 and 50 each have a different flower associated with them. Cosmos flowers represent the second wedding anniversary. Cosmos flowers can be white, yellow, orange, pink or red.

Anniversaries one through 25 and then 30, 33, 34, 35, 38, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 each have a different stone associated with them. Garnet represents the second anniversary. Gifts containing garnet stones can include brooches, earrings, bracelets, pendants and rings. Garnet symbolizes eternal love.