15 Sep 2026 | 9 min read
ByTeo SpenglerWriter for Mixbook
18 best 5-year wedding anniversary gifts
It seems like yesterday that the two of you were saying “I do” in front of family and friends. But the years have slipped by and you are approaching your five-year anniversary. Five years of love and laughter, good times and hard times—totally worth celebrating. But choosing the perfect anniversary gift for your spouse can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are traditional and modern lists of gifts to help you.
Longevity in marriage has been celebrated since the days of the Roman Empire, according to Time Magazine. For many years, only the 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries were assigned specific gifts (silver and gold respectively). In the mid-1850s, merchants started assigning “traditional” gifts to other years, and in the 20th century, other voices named alternative “modern” presents for every anniversary.
The traditional fifth wedding anniversary gift is wood, a product representing strength and durability. But modern interpretations have expanded the options to include silver, sapphire, daisies, and the color green. And then again—you can strike out on your own and find something special and personal to let your spouse know how happy you are to be a couple.
This guide will help you navigate the world of anniversary gifts, from classic to contemporary to personal, to find the present that reflects your story.
1. Personalized photo album
A Mixbook photo book is not like any scrapbook you’ve ever seen. It’s a bound book—20 pages or more—filled with your favorite snaps that reflect your best memories. You pick the photos, so fill this anniversary book with snapshots of your journey together, from the “I do’s” to the “I still do’s.” It’s customizable, so you can pick the design (there are over 750 themes!), change the color scheme, and add text and stickers to make it your own.
An anniversary photo book is more than a gift—it’s a heartfelt journey through the time you’ve been together.
2. Handcrafted wooden keepsake box
Wood is the “traditional” gift for fifth wedding anniversaries, and it doesn’t seem terribly romantic. However, select a meaningful gift made of wood and suddenly the scenario changes. How about a handcrafted wooden keepsake box? Its warm, natural beauty is elegant without being fancy, it’s classic, and timeless—the perfect place to stash all the treasures you’ve saved together. Customize the box with your initials or wedding date to make it a perfect blend of tradition and genuine love.
3. Custom charcuterie board and knife set
Does your spouse love to entertain? Here’s another way to use the “wood” tradition to good effect: Order a custom charcuterie board and knife set to mark your five happy years as a married couple. This gift is an invitation to gather and enjoy good food with great company. Add a personal touch by engraving your names or wedding date. Pair your board with a sharp knife set, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for good times.
4. Wooden serving platter
Speaking of wood… consider a wooden serving platter as a traditional (and always welcome) anniversary gift. This versatile piece offers warm, natural beauty that makes your table even more beautiful. Of course it can be used to serve food at dinner, but your spouse might also choose to display fresh flowers or showcase candles as a stunning centerpiece.
5. Top-quality silverware set
A quality silverware set has nothing whatsoever to do with wood, we admit it, but who says you can’t carve out your own traditions? And you aren’t entirely off the chart since the “modern” view lists silver as an option for a fifth anniversary. New silverware is a classic choice that feels both timeless and luxurious. Customize the set with your wedding date for a touch of romance.
6. Engraved cocktail shaker set
Here’s a fifth anniversary gift that James Bond would love: a silver cocktail shaker set, perfect for a couple that loves to entertain. This is a stylish gift—even more so if you engrave it with your wedding date—and adds a touch of glamour to your home bar. Shake things up with this playful and practical gift.
7. Sapphire necklace or earrings
While the traditional gift for a fifth anniversary is wood, many spouses would vote for one of the modern alternatives, which include sapphire gemstones. Talk about a meaningful gift that sparkles! A sapphire necklace or earrings will knock your spouse off her feet. While the stone itself is classic, you can pick any design from traditional to contemporary, making it a great choice for any style.
8. A canvas print of your favorite couple’s photo
What’s your best couple’s photo? A snap at the wedding? The picture on your Mexican vacation? Pick that one, the one both of you like best, and blow it up into a stunning canvas print.
At Mixbook, we know that images carry memories and memories carry us through. So we’ll take that photo and make a print that will wow you both every time you look at it. If you want to link this gift into the traditional 5th wedding anniversary association with wood, have it made up with a wooden frame.
9. Shadowbox filled with mementos
A shadowbox is like a marriage between a wall hanging and a knickknack box. It is a unique and sentimental way to preserve your love story. Fill the spaces with cool mementos like your wedding invitations, dried flowers, or special coins to create a one-of-a-kind keepsake. This gift is a representation of your journey together that becomes wall art.
10. Wooden wine rack
Do you plan to raise a glass to the five years you’ve spent as a married couple? If so, a wooden wine rack is a useful fifth-anniversary gift that embodies the traditional wood theme. Add a few bottles of your spouse’s favorite vino and suddenly this is the best gift on the table!
11. Candle holder set
Candles are romantic, that’s all there is to it. Upgrade the candlelight with a real nice set of candlesticks and add a sweet ambiance to any space. Get up and personal by engraving the candle holders with a sentimental message. Cosy and relaxing; elegant and old-fashioned. Candlesticks can be cool.
12. Engraved cufflinks and tie bar
Your hubby is the best, but he might be even better with a set of engraved cufflinks and a tie bar. So, give him one as a fifth wedding anniversary gift. It’s a sophisticated and stylish gift sure to elevate his style. Give it a personal touch with engraved initials, wedding date, or a personal message.
13. Sound wave art
Transform a cherished memory into a sentimental gift with sound wave art. This once-in-a-lifetime gift captures a special moment, like your wedding vows or the first time you said "I love you." And it turns into a piece of art.
14. Floral teaspoons
Add a touch of elegance to your tea time with a set of floral teaspoons. This delicate and charming gift is perfect for the couple that enjoys a leisurely afternoon tea. Choose a design that complements your kitchen decor.
15. Baking utensils
Can she (or he) bake a cherry pie, Billy boy, Billy boy? If you are lucky enough to have a spouse who likes to bake, a set of engraved baking utensils is a practical yet thoughtful anniversary gift. Pick a rolling pin, spatula, or mixing spoons, or all of the above. This inexpensive gift will be cherished for years to come.
16. Wooden watch and box set
A wooden watch and box set is not your usual Swatch watch! This unique anniversary gift touches on the traditional wood theme for fifth anniversaries while spinning far out there toward the extraordinary. Customize the watch with your wedding date.
17. Wooden engraved coasters
Protect your furniture with a set of wooden engraved coasters. This practical yet stylish gift works for almost any couple, but is particularly suited to a couple who loves to entertain. Choose coasters from a variety of designs, from simple initials to intricate patterns. The warm, natural look of wood adds a touch of rustic charm to any living space.
18. Custom wood fountain pen
You both signed on the dotted line five years ago. If you give your spouse a custom wood fountain pen, you both will be ready to do it again! A custom wood fountain pen is a sophisticated and timeless gift for the writer or stationery enthusiast. Personalize this luxurious writing tool with engraved initials.
FAQs
What is a “milestone” anniversary? The term is not an official one. It simply means a very important anniversary, a landmark year during a marriage. The term was initially used to refer to the 25th and 50th anniversaries, with silver and gold gifts associated with these. Today, many more anniversaries have been deemed “milestones” including the 1st, 5th, 10th, and 25th. For married couples, every year is a milestone anniversary and should be treated as a very special occasion.
Everyone has screens these days, but digital is still not tangible. You can’t pick up a digital scrapbook or keep it on the coffee table. A Mixbook photo book is real and solid, a scrapbook of precious memories you can hold, flip through together. And it contains so much more than just the photos. Yes, these are the best photos, the ones you love, the ones that remind both of you of the great times in your marriage—but there is also customized text, design, little notes, and captions that express your love and joy.
It’s fun to create a photo book, and it’s a highly personal project. The time it takes to create one depends entirely on you. You get to decide on the photos to include, the design template you want to use, and how you are going to organize the images on the pages. You can customize each page—with colors, text, stickers etc.—and the more fun you have with these choices, the longer you will linger in the creative process. Take your sweet time. But if time is of the essence, it’s a project that could be accomplished in an hour.
Yes, there are four different cover types for photo books, and the best one for you depends on your circumstances. Softcover books are affordable, lightweight photo books perfect for kids’ books, casual albums, and art projects. The most popular choice is hardcover, a top-quality book with sturdy binding. Lay flat books put your best photos across seamless two-page spreads. Album is the most luxurious photo book, with ultra-thick pages, seamless panoramic spreads, and an included keepsake box.
Yes, Mixbook offers a range of home decor print options in various sizes and finishes. Options include canvas prints, poster prints, and metal prints, both flat for the wall or curved for the table. Or consider cool acrylic block prints that also make very personal art to display in your home or office as a reminder of special moments with your family and friends.
Elevate your anniversary with Mixbook
Mixbook is the place to celebrate your love story. Forget gadgets and doodads and go for the unique and custom gifts that carry memories. A fifth anniversary needs a celebration. While tradition offers timeless options, don't be afraid to create new traditions for expressing your love. Create personalized photo books, stunning canvas prints, heartfelt cards, and more. Let's make your anniversary truly memorable.
