Handcrafted anniversary gifts: pottery ring dishes, copper bronze and pewter metal dishes, and wood guitar picks

Anniversary Gifts by Year: A Complete Guide to Traditional Materials

Updated October 2026: now including iron, steel, and brass.

Some anniversaries call for flowers. Some call for dinner out. But the ones that really mean something, the 5th, the 7th, the 8th, the 10th, the ones where you look at each other and think, “we actually did this”, those deserve something that lasts.

Traditional anniversary gifts have assigned a material to each year for centuries. And while paper and cotton have their place, the years built around wood, pottery, and metal are the ones we love most. Wood, iron, copper, bronze, pottery, pewter, steel, and brass. These are materials that age well, carry meaning, and can be shaped into something truly personal.

At The Cutest Gifts, I hand-hammer our metal ring dishes and keychains one at a time in our South Carolina studio. This guide walks you through the traditional materials by anniversary year, along with the handcrafted gifts that honor them.

Why Traditional Anniversary Materials Still Matter

The tradition of assigning materials to anniversary years dates back to medieval Europe. The idea was simple: each material reflects the strength and character of a marriage at that stage. Early years are softer, more delicate: paper, cotton, linen. As the years build, the materials grow stronger.

By the time you reach the metal years, you’ve built something. The gift should reflect that.

We find that people searching for anniversary gifts often don’t want to “check a box.” They want to give something their partner will actually keep. That’s why handcrafted gifts in the traditional material tend to land so well. They’re thoughtful and tied to something meaningful.

Traditional Anniversary Gifts by Year

Here’s a look at the traditional materials we work with most, what they mean, and how we translate them into handcrafted gifts.

5th Anniversary: Wood

Five years in, you’ve weathered seasons together. Wood is the traditional gift for the 5th anniversary because it speaks to growth. Something planted early that’s now strong and rooted.

Our 5th anniversary wood gifts are handcrafted one-by-one in South Carolina from maple, walnut, and cherry. The LED lamps and valet trays are designed and made by us — available in custom sizes if you need something specific. We also offer custom engraved guitar picks in wood or bone, paired in a magnetic wood pick box engraved in-house. These are gifts built to be used, not tucked in a drawer.

Read our 5th anniversary guide · Shop wood anniversary gifts

6th Anniversary: Iron

Six years in, you have a strong foundation under you. Iron is the traditional 6th anniversary gift. It's one of the oldest and strongest metals people have ever worked, and it stands for a marriage that has proven it can hold.

To be upfront, our 6th anniversary dish is hand-darkened steel. Steel is iron refined with carbon, so it carries the iron tradition in a finished, lasting form. I hammer each dish, then darken it by hand and sand back the high points so the texture shows through. No two finish alike. Customize it with text, dates, or initials, or with the Roman numeral VI.

Read our full 6th anniversary guide · Shop iron anniversary gifts

7th Anniversary: Copper

Copper is warm, distinctive, and one of the most beautiful metals to work with by hand. The 7th anniversary is the first of the true metal milestones, and copper’s natural character makes every piece feel one-of-a-kind.

I hand-hammer our copper ring dishes and keychains from flat sheet copper, and hand-stamp them with custom messages. Copper develops a natural patina over time, which honestly just makes it more beautiful.

Read our 7th anniversary guide · Shop copper anniversary gifts

8th Anniversary: Bronze

Bronze is an alloy, copper and tin combined, and there’s something fitting about that for an 8th anniversary. Two people, blended together, stronger than either alone.

Our bronze ring dishes and keychains carry that same richness. Bronze has a deeper, earthier tone than copper, and even though it is a harder metal than copper, it stamps beautifully, making it one of our favorite metals for personalized gifts.

Read our 8th anniversary guide · Shop bronze anniversary gifts

9th Anniversary: Pottery

Pottery is one of the oldest art forms there is: shaped by hand, fired, and made to last. For 9 years of marriage, it’s a fitting metaphor.

We recently added handcrafted ceramic ring dishes to our collection, designed in collaboration with Leslie at The Mud Place. Our "I still do" and 9 tally mark designs are a meaningful, understated way to mark the occasion. 

Read our 9th anniversary guide · Shop pottery anniversary gifts

10th Anniversary: Pewter (or Aluminum/Tin)

A full decade. The 10th anniversary is one of the most celebrated milestones, and pewter is its traditional material: a soft, silvery metal with a quiet elegance that suits the occasion perfectly.

Our pewter ring dishes and keychains are some of our most popular gifts. Pewter is a softer metal so we use a heavier gauge of pewter than our other metals so it feels more substantial. The lighter tone of pewter complements stamped lettering especially well.

Read our 10th anniversary guide · Shop pewter anniversary gifts

11th Anniversary: Steel

Eleven years in, you have built something solid. Steel is the traditional 11th anniversary gift. It's iron refined into something stronger, the metal we build bridges and skylines from, and a fitting picture of a marriage that has carried real weight and kept its shape.

Our steel ring dishes are the newest metal in the studio. I hammer each one, then darken it by hand with a rag, building up the finish and sanding back the high points so the hammer texture shines through. It adds a day to every dish, and each one takes the finish a little differently. Choose a 3" round or 3" square, customized with text, dates, or initials, or go with our I Still Do design. The plain hammered square is a favorite for him.

Read our full 11th anniversary guide · Shop steel anniversary gifts

19th, 21st, and 22nd Anniversaries: The Underserved Metal Years

Most people don't know that the 19th anniversary is celebrated with bronze, the 21st with brass, and the 22nd returns to copper. These years get skipped in most gift guides, but they're just as meaningful to the couples reaching them. We love making gifts for these milestones.

  • 19th: Bronze. Our bronze ring dishes and keychains, customized or from the I Still Do line. Read our 19th anniversary guide
  • 21st: Brass. Hand-hammered brass round ring dishes, customized with text, dates, or initials, and "I still do" brass round ring dishes. Brass has a bright, golden warmth that suits a marriage this far along. For a fishing couple, our brass lures in a personalized tin are a favorite. Read our 21st anniversary guide · Shop brass anniversary gifts
  • 22nd: Copper. The same warm metal as the 7th, back again. Our copper ring dishes and keychains carry it beautifully. Read our 22nd anniversary guide

See all of our anniversary gifts

Most people don’t know that the 19th anniversary is traditionally bronze, the 21st is brass, and the 22nd returns to copper. These years are less celebrated in mainstream gift guides, but they’re just as meaningful to the couples reaching them.

We love making gifts for these milestones. Our brass fishing lures (paired in a personalized tin) are a favorite for the 21st, and our bronze and copper pieces cover the 19th and 22nd beautifully.

See all of our anniversary gifts

Copper vs. Bronze vs. Pewter: Which Should You Choose?

If you’re shopping for a specific anniversary year, the metal is decided for you. But if you’re choosing based on preference, here’s a quick guide:

  • Copper: Warm, rich, reddish-gold. Develops a beautiful patina. Ideal for someone who loves color and warmth.
  • Bronze: Deeper, earthier than copper. A classic metal with a historic feel. Great for someone who prefers understated.
  • Pewter: Soft silver tone, lightweight, elegant. A more modern-looking metal that suits any style.

All three hammer and stamp beautifully, which is why they’re our go-to metals for personalized keychains and ring dishes.

Read our full comparison: Copper, Bronze, or Pewter? How to Choose the Right Metal Gift.

What We Make (And How We Make It)

The metal pieces at the heart of our shop are truly handmade. Not mass-produced. Not machine-formed. Made by hand, one at a time.

I hand-hammer our ring dishes from flat sheet metal (copper, bronze, brass, pewter, or steel), shaping each one by hand. Each personalization is hand-stamped letter by letter with a mallet and steel stamps. Our steel dishes get one more step: I darken each one by hand and sand back the high points, which adds a full day and makes every finish its own. Our wood gifts are custom engraved in-house, and our fishing lures are assembled from USA parts and laser marked here in our studio. Our pottery ring dishes are designed in collaboration with a small US-based studio, made to the same standard of care we hold for everything in our shop.

It’s slower than machine work. That’s the point.

Our gift shop is female-owned, family-run, and based in South Carolina. When you order from us, you’re getting something made one-at-a-time, with care.

Looking for personalized options at every price point? Our guide to personalized anniversary gifts for every budget covers handcrafted keepsakes from $17.99 to $67.99.

Anniversary Gifts by Year: Common Questions

What are the traditional anniversary gifts by year? The traditional materials include leather for the 3rd, wood for the 5th, iron for the 6th, copper (or wool) for the 7th, bronze for the 8th, pottery for the 9th, tin or aluminum for the 10th (pewter is a popular choice), and steel for the 11th. Later metal years include bronze for the 19th, brass for the 21st, and copper again for the 22nd.

Why is the 6th anniversary iron and the 11th steel? Iron stands for strength and a foundation that holds. Steel is iron refined into something stronger, so five years later the metal grows up right alongside the marriage.

Is your 6th anniversary dish actually iron? No. It's hand-darkened steel, which is refined iron. We use the same dish for both the 6th and the 11th, and we say so on every listing.

Which anniversary years do you make gifts for? We make handcrafted gifts for the 3rd (leather), 5th (wood), 6th (iron), 7th (copper), 8th (bronze), 9th (pottery), 10th (pewter), 11th (steel), 19th (bronze), 21st (brass), and 22nd (copper) anniversaries. Our metal ring dishes and keychains are hand-hammered one at a time in our South Carolina studio.

Our Anniversary Gift Collection

Here’s a quick look at what we offer for the traditional anniversary years:

  • Ring Dishes: Hand-hammered in copper, bronze, brass, pewter, and hand-darkened steel. Round and square styles in 3" and 4" sizes (steel comes in 3"). Can be personalized or left simple. Our "I still do" collection features un-customized designs at a lower price point.
  • Keychains: Handcrafted in copper, bronze, brass, and pewter. Fully customizable with names, dates, short messages, or coordinates. Made to be carried every day.
  • Wood Gifts: Custom in-house designed LED lamps & valet trays, and personalized wood guitar with engraved magnetic pick boxes.
  • Fishing Lures: Brass lures in a personalized tin. A unique gift for the 21st anniversary, or for any fishing couple.

We also sell on Etsy and Amazon Handmade if you prefer to shop there.

More Anniversary Gift Guides

Looking for something specific? We’ve written in-depth guides for each anniversary year and occasion. As we publish them, we’ll link them all here.

Ready to Find the Right Gift?

Whether you’re celebrating 5 years or 22, there’s a handcrafted piece that fits the moment. Browse our full anniversary collection, or reach out if you’d like help finding something just right. We’re a small shop, and we actually answer our messages.

Browse Our Anniversary Collection

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