Kindred Gifts' Blog

Choosing anniversary gifts can be one of the hardest things a couple is faced with, regardless of how long they have been married. Some of the best gifts are not the traditional ones that have been given over and over again. Men and women both want something more exciting, more thoughtful and less generic.

When it comes to choosing the perfect gifts for anniversaries, they should be innovative. Take a look at the designs of the gift options you see, and think about how unique or creative they are. If they look like a one-of-a-kind product, or something with a great story, then it’s certainly something that should be considered. If, however, it looks like it was created in bulk from a giant factory, then it probably doesn’t come from the heart like some of the other gifts that are readily available out there.

Trying to ask a person what they want will likely result in an unanswered question because people often don’t know exactly what they’d really like for anniversary presents. Even if they do, they generally don’t feel comfortable expressing it. What they do generally know though, is that they appreciate unique anniversary gifts, or meaningful gifts with a story behind them. Something that shows the gift giver has gone to effort and thought to choose something out of the ordinary and special.

At Kindred Gifts, we’re dedicated to ethical design – by that we mean gifts and experiences that not only look and feel great, but that are also better for the world. For example, these days there are so many great eco friendly anniversary gifts and handmade anniversary gift ideas available around the world, that it’s hard to go wrong. There are plenty of stunning and handmade items, crafted by artisans who love their work, so there is nothing quite like it on the planet. Plus, don’t forget that it’s a gift that is helping the environment or underprivileged communities, which shows that you, the gift giver, is not only conscious of the need to provide something unique, but also of being green and helping the planet at the same time.

1st year anniversary gift sets the precedent for the entire marriage. What a person buys their husband or wife on the first year will say a lot about the relationship. Jewellery is nice but it can be impersonal so make sure you think about their style when choosing metals or colours; as well as looking for something that isn’t the usual mainstream purchase, so that your loved one can see that you’ve really thought about the gift.
Flowers are nice too of course, but they wilt and aren’t around to look back on over the year(s). However, handmade gifts, Fairtrade gifts and organic gifts can provide just the right theme for an anniversary gift. Since traditional one year anniversary gifts are in the paper theme, you could choose from items as diverse as gift experience vouchers (a fun photographic bike tour around Melbourne, $110, from Real Melbourne Bike Tours for instance); a beautiful hand pulled screen print from Bold & Noble (ladies love the My Heart print, $74.95, and the heart design illustrates just how much you love them!); or a handy pocket sized tasting journal from 33 Books (the 33 Beers journal, $10.95, is always a popular gift for men!).

Even for a 25th anniversary gift or a 50th anniversary gift, there are great anniversary gift ideas out there that revolve around being socially conscious. These can be gifts for the home, for a person’s desk at work or for a person to use on their own. A wide selection is important – such as the large range offered of online gifts at Kindred Gifts - so that a person gets something that they will actually use and keep.

The key to finding great anniversary gifts for women is to search for a present that they didn’t even know they wanted. Shop based upon their personality and interests, and search through unique and handmade gift ideas, and it will be the perfect gift that she will appreciate more than anything else. The Dogeared range of handmade jewellery, now available in Australia, is always a winner for women – beautiful designs that come with meaningful message cards, these pieces never go out of fashion and also give back to the world through Dogeared’s charitable donations. The Dogeared Original Karma necklace, $69.95, is often a popular choice from the range.

For anniversary gifts for men, however, the gifts can be more subtle. Even if they have another version of it, a handmade or Fairtrade item can be just what they need to update their look, the top of the dresser or their desk at work. Try a handpulled screen print from Bold & Noble for instance (like this Type Map Print of the World, $96.95), and they’ll have something to remember the special day, and something to decorate their office or home.

There are a lot of great anniversary gifts out there, so it’s a matter of finding the right one to match personality and interests. At Kindred Gifts, we offer a diverse range of online gifts in Australia (plus we send internationally too at affordable, flat rate shipping costs) so we’re always here to help make your gift giving choices easy.

Need a little expert advice and want to know some suggested gift ideas just for you? Get in touch with us via our Contact Us page, send us some info about yourself or the person you’re buying the gift for, and we’ll come back to you asap with some great gift ideas!