The Leather Anniversary: What You Need to Know

For those familiar with the tradition of leather anniversary gifts, the third wedding anniversary is no surprise. 

However, if this concept is new to you, rest assured that I'm here to guide you.

The leather anniversary can be a tricky one to get right. The last thing you want is to represent the strength of your marriage by buying cheap, bonded leather destined to fall apart in a year or two. 

That’s why, in addition to explaining traditional wedding anniversary gifts, we’ve provided a list of clever gift ideas for your third wedding anniversary. 

In traditional anniversary celebrations, each anniversary is tied to a specific material, ranging from paper to diamond. Consequently. the idea is that you celebrate your anniversary by purchasing something made from that material or highlighting that material. 

You must be wondering where this tradition comes from, and what it has to do with your upcoming anniversary celebration.

That’s why, in addition to explaining traditional wedding anniversary gifts, we’ve provided a list of clever leather anniversary gift ideas for your third wedding anniversary. 

It’s hard to know exactly where the list of traditional anniversary gifts came from, but one theory is that it originated in the UK in the 1800s. 

During the Victorian era, celebrations became much bigger than they had been in the past. It’s likely that big anniversary gifts became the norm during that period of time. 

However, some of the specific items on the list have deeper roots. In medieval times, people celebrated their 25th anniversary with a wreath of silver and their 50th anniversary with a wreath of gold. Today, silver and gold are still used for the 25th and 50th anniversaries. 

The traditional anniversary gift list was officially published by Emily Post in 1922. The American National Jewelers Retailers Association updated the list in 1937, creating what’s now referred to as the “modern” list. 

Many couples still choose to celebrate their anniversaries with traditional anniversary gifts. Others opt to choose from a modernized anniversary gift list or simply buy something they think their significant other would appreciate. 

There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate an anniversary. Going by the traditional gift-giving list can add an extra challenge and make your anniversary special while tying it to your roots. 

It’s a good idea to talk to your partner before your anniversary to decide if you want to go with traditional leather anniversary gifts or something more modern. 

Emily Post’s list of traditional gift ideas included one gift for each year for the first twenty years, as well as gifts for every five years from then until the 60th anniversary. 

These traditional wedding gifts are:

Family finances are a personal thing. So if you’re wondering how much to spend on leather anniversary gifts for your partner, the first person to talk to is your partner. This is especially true if you have joint finances and your decision will impact the entire household. 

As a general rule, couples who have been together for less time spend less money on each other. So the amount of money you spend on your one-year anniversary will likely be less than the amount of money you spend on your ten-year anniversary. 

However, if you’re saving up for something big — like a family trip — or you’re currently trying to build your savings accounts or pay off debts, it’s okay to spend less than you normally would. 

Just make sure you talk about it ahead of time so nobody’s feelings are hurt. Managing expectations before the anniversary prevents you from spending unevenly on each other — a phenomenon that can make both the over- and under-spender feel bad. 

One of the biggest mistakes people make when buying gifts is choosing something for their partner that they’d want for themselves. This advice — often given to children when they’re first learning about gift-giving — can backfire, especially if you and your partner have very different interests or needs. 

Instead of asking what you’d want as a leather anniversary gift, ask yourself the following questions when considering a gift: 

• Is this something my partner would use? 
• Is this something they would want for themselves but wouldn’t splurge on? 
• Will this be meaningful to them? 

Once you know the types of questions to ask when evaluating a potential gift, it’s time to decide on the best gift for your leather anniversary. 

Here are our suggestions for seven of the best gifts to buy for the leather anniversary. 

Your leather anniversary is a golden opportunity to celebrate everything you love about your spouse. 

Just like your marriage, full-grain leather is designed to last a lifetime. And, just like your marriage, it will change over the years, its history shaping its future. 

Perhaps that’s why leather has been chosen to represent the third year of your marriage, when the honeymoon phase has died down and the hard work of making your marriage last begins. Choosing a high-quality leather item to celebrate this anniversary makes it clear that you understand the longevity of your marriage. 

Who knows? Your partner may still treasure the gift from their third anniversary when you’re celebrating your sixtieth anniversary.