What are some creative gift ideas for a two-year anniversary?

“A second anniversary is a fun time to revisit someplace important to your relationship, such as the site of your rehearsal dinner or wedding proposal. Or consider recreating the events—and excitement—of your first date,” suggests Jennings.

Do I have to follow the anniversary theme?

“The traditional gift list is simply a helpful tool for inspiration, especially for ‘minor’ anniversaries, those after the first but not divisible by five,” says Jennings. Above all, focus on a gift that’s personalized or an item that reinforces the story of your relationship, she suggests.

How to celebrate an anniversary

You might want to go out for a fancy dinner or choose to cook a romantic meal at home . It's also a great idea to plan a getaway together, even if it's just for a few days. Something as simple as breakfast in bed or a hike through nature can also make the day feel special.

The 35 Best 2nd Anniversary Gifts of 2022

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While the first wedding anniversary often comes with a grandiose celebration—a big trip or a luxe staycation, and of course that top layer of wedding cake—the second can sometimes seem less monumental by comparison. But this occasion is no less special and deserves to be celebrated. So, how do you mark year two in a way that feels fresh and new? Well, for starters, champagne is always a good idea.

Choosing a present that perfectly symbolizes your love and affection is also a must. The traditional second anniversary gift is cotton, making this the prime time to splurge on upgraded bedding or a cozy throw you can use when snuggled up together on the couch. The modern gift is china; consider adding to your entertaining stash, or finding a unique, one-of-a-kind piece. But by all means, feel free to think outside the box, too, and remember that going with a personalized, custom gift is always foolproof.

Laura Jennings, gifting expert and founder and CEO of Knack, recommends incorporating this theme into a cozy article of clothing. Another great option? “If you’re going to buy yourselves something together to celebrate your anniversary, it's great to splurge on luxurious sheets or bedding—it's something you’ll both appreciate for a long time,” she says.

Meet the Expert

Laura Jennings is the founder and CEO of Knack, a custom gift-giving company specializing in personalized gifts and curated boxes.

Read on for the best 2nd-anniversary gifts your spouse is sure to love.

Introducing Minted + Brides: Shop our exclusive collection of customized gifts for the couple, wedding party, and more.

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A fun and unexpected take on the cotton theme, this piece of artwork uses cotton string to create the shape of any state, with a heart placed over the city of your choosing. Have one made in the state where you met, got married, or currently live.

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Incorporating both the cotton and personalization element, this oversized blanket is customized with your initials and wedding year. Toss it over your couch to have on hand for snuggling up during movie nights, or layer it over the bedding in your master bedroom. Also nice: It’s available in two different sizes.

INSIDEOUTGIFT Embroidered Anniversary Roman Date Hoodies

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A non-cheesy way to rock matching outfits, these super cool hoodies are embroidered with your wedding date in roman numerals. There are eight colors to choose from, as well as crewnecks and t-shirts available, too.

InspirationsByKayla Handmade Cotton Ornament

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Another fun take on the traditional cotton theme, each one of these glass ornaments is filled with real, Georgia-grown cotton. It’s a sentimental way to commemorate this special anniversary for many Christmases to come.

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Have your wedding song, wedding vows, or even just a heartfelt message transformed into a gorgeous print. Each piece is custom printed onto a piece of handmade cotton paper (though FYI, the frame does come separately). Available in seven different sizes, this is also a choice budget-friendly pick.

Adventure Challenge Scratch-Off Date Book for Couples

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Feel like you’re starting to fall into a bit of a date night rut by year two? Here’s the perfect way to spice things up. The mystery scratch-off book comes with 50 creative adventures…but you don’t know what they are until you scratch them off. There’s also a space to write down notes and even add photos after you complete each one. Commit to doing one together weekly or monthly, and this makes for the perfect gift that keeps on giving.

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This charming, handcrafted box is made by a small family-run business in the United Kingdom. It's the perfect spot to store travel keepsakes, love notes, and special date night ephemera like ticket stubs and menus.

ItsYourTurnSocks Cotton Anniversary Socks

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Fun and whimsical, these matching socks—which come with your wedding date and names—are a sweet option for anyone looking for a smaller gift or a little something extra to pair with a larger present.

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Any type of luggage is always a super practical (and welcome) gift. This weekender bag is made from 100% cotton canvas, so it’s totally on theme and can be customized with either your spouse’s name or a monogram on the front.

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This may be called a robe, but it’s truly more of a robe-blanket hybrid. The puffy, duvet-like design makes you feel like you’re wrapped up in your favorite comforter, but with the convenience of having armholes and pockets.

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This beautiful compass can be engraved with pretty much any type of photo or text in the font of your choosing, including in your handwriting, making this feel extra personal. The leather case is an optional add-on, though one that’s well worth it.

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These trays are a meaningful—and practical—gift for him or her. Choose from a variety of shapes and sizes, then add custom text on the inside. It can be something as simple as your wedding date, your vows, or a few lines about what you love about your partner. The message is printed on organic cotton, in keeping with the second-anniversary theme.

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Channel those ‘we’re relaxing in a five-star hotel’ vibes every day by slipping on this extra-soft, organic Turkish cotton robe. Make sure to pick up one for both you and your partner; you can even have them monogrammed with your initials for a personal touch.

Courtesy of Uncommon Goods

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Oh, the places you’ll go. This beautiful keepsake comes with a vintage-inspired world map plus 100 pushpins. Use them to mark (and reminisce about) all of the places you’ve traveled together—from your hometowns to wedding destination to honeymoon spot—and/or to plot all the locations on your bucket list and plan future adventures to come.

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When it comes to upgrading your bedding, this blanket is the perfect accent piece. Available in four, sun-washed colors, each with the same geometric print, it’s an easy way to add a fun visual touch to any neutral bedding.

Made of organic Portuguese cotton, it’s stonewashed to make it extra soft, and the perfect weight to add extra warmth in the winter or use solo in the summer.

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Both a sweet and sentimental way to commemorate your wedding and a cool piece of artwork for your home, this custom canvas features the sheet music from your first dance song. With eight different sizes to choose from, this can either be a beautiful accent or a serious statement-maker.

Uncommon Goods New York Times Custom Front Page

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A unique way to celebrate your wedding day, this puzzle features the front page of the New York Times from that exact day. Plus, putting the puzzle together doubles as a fun date night activity.

Courtesy of YaYa & Co.

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If you could take your favorite, coziest, most worn winter sweater and turn it into a blanket, this is what you’d get. Made of 100 percent, sustainable cotton, the black knitted throw boasts a unique wash that gives it a dimensional and even more textured look; it’s just as chic as it is cozy. Not to mention that for every purchase, the brand plants trees in the Amazon rainforest.

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These towels aren’t made out of just any old cotton. The brand partners with local artisans across the globe to create gorgeous wares in a fair-trade environment.

In this case, it’s a Pima cotton from a family-run mill in Japan that’s been making towels for over a century. The end result is these stunning, waffle weave towels that feel as good as they look.

Big Blanket

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The only thing cozier and more comforting than a weighted blanket is an oversized one that you can easily share with your husband or wife…without one of you complaining that the other is hogging the covers. This one fits the bill, coming in at 100 by 120 inches, and in 30 or 40-pound options.

New Horizons By KK Custom Ceramic Photo Coasters

A riff on the theme of china with these ceramic coasters. Customize the set of four with any photos of your choosing; we like the idea of some favorite wedding pics or honeymoon highlights.

On The Edge Creations Custom Pet Portrait

For the spouse who’s obsessed with their pet, there’s truly no better gift. Simply send in a photo of your pet and receive this custom-made whimsical print. Trust us, it’s guaranteed to please.

Paper Anniversary the House We Made a Home

A gift that will equally become a life-long keepsake, this features a rendering of your home, carved into mahogany wood. And because the whole set is set into 100% cotton background, it’s still on-brand for a second anniversary.

Heirloom Custom Video Book

Rather than a standard greeting card, record your anniversary message for your spouse with this unique video book. A customization website makes it easy to upload up to 20 minutes of video into the book, which can also be personalized with a recorded greeting and printed note on the front cover.

R. Chiara Diamond Center Stackable Ring

This delicate, 14K gold band features five inlaid round diamonds; it’s beautiful worn on its own, though also works beautifully amidst the rest of your bridal stack.

Fifth & Cherry The 14 Cutting Board

Fifth & Cherry F&C 14 Cutting Board — Fifth & Cherry

This wooden cutting board is so stunning it could easily double as a work of art. Handmade from cherry wood, the board comes with a lifetime warranty and free refinishing for life. The fact that you can engrave the side with your name, wedding date, or any other text of your choosing makes it completely gift-worthy.

The Art of Etiquette Anniversary Book

Think of this keepsake book as a living time capsule, with plenty of pages to house love letters and display photos and mementos. It’s sure to quickly become a family heirloom. (There’s also a list of traditional and modern anniversary gifts for each year, always helpful.)

Tabletopics Date Night Game

A great way to keep things fun and exciting on date night, these cards pose unique and thought-provoking questions to help you reconnect and truly focus on one another.

Cheurlin Thomas Célibrité Champagne

Any kind of anniversary (heck, any kind of celebration) calls for some bubbly. Toast to two years with a bottle of this special-occasion-worthy champagne considered one of the best there is. This exclusive varietal is produced in limited quantities, making it all the more special.

Artifact Uprising Signature Layflat Photo Album

artifact books — Courtesy of Artifact Uprising

At this point, you’ve probably already compiled your wedding album, so why not create another album capturing all the fun and memories that have ensued since? This elegantly bound book features high-quality pages and a choice of linen or leather covers. For a personal touch, have a custom title foil stamped on the front.

What Our Editors Say

"These books are the best. I made my own wedding album, and I order a book each year for my two kid's birthdays. I've tried a few other photo album services and this is by far the most impressive." —Dwyer Frame, VP, Commerce

Confete Cloud Nine Blue Tie-Dye Loungewear Set

This super-soft set is the perfect balance of cozy and chic. Whether she's wearing it to the beach or to bed, it's guaranteed to become her new favorite outfit.

Parachute Percale Sheet Set

If you don’t need to completely revamp all of your bedding, but do want to upgrade your sheets, go with this set. Made of already-soft percale cotton, the fabric only gets better and softer with time and has the added benefit of being nice and cool to the touch, a boon for hot sleepers. While it comes in six neutral shades, you can’t go wrong with the crisp and clean pure white.

Brooklinen Move-In Luxe Bedding Bundle

Luxe Move-In Bedding Bundle — Courtesy of Brooklinen

If you didn’t register for (or receive) new bedding for your wedding, consider this the perfect time to upgrade your sleeping situation. This complete set has everything you need, including a comforter, sheet bundle, and even pillows.

Made of 100 percent long-staple cotton, it also totally fits this anniversary's theme, not to mention it's one gift you’re both guaranteed to get plenty of use out of.

The Fellow Pour-Over Social Kit

You probably already have a coffee maker in your kitchen, but we love the idea of gifting this to any java junkie to keep on hand in their office. It comes with an electric pour-over kettle, dripper, and carafe, all in a modern and minimal matte black design.

What To Look For in a 2nd-Anniversary Gift

The Traditional Theme, Cotton

From crisp white sheets and cozy throws to handmade paper gifts, it's easy to find something that will fit this theme. It's also a great time to refresh some household items like towels and kitchen linens that you may have received from your registry two years ago.

The Modern Theme, China

If you're looking for something a little different, think beyond dishes and platters. And a little customization goes a long way. Add a personalized touch by monogramming a bedside table tray or ring dish, suggests Jennings.

FAQ

What are some creative gift ideas for a two-year anniversary?

“A second anniversary is a fun time to revisit someplace important to your relationship, such as the site of your rehearsal dinner or wedding proposal. Or consider recreating the events—and excitement—of your first date,” suggests Jennings.
Do I have to follow the anniversary theme?

“The traditional gift list is simply a helpful tool for inspiration, especially for ‘minor’ anniversaries, those after the first but not divisible by five,” says Jennings. Above all, focus on a gift that’s personalized or an item that reinforces the story of your relationship, she suggests.
How to celebrate an anniversary

You might want to go out for a fancy dinner or choose to cook a romantic meal at home. It's also a great idea to plan a getaway together, even if it's just for a few days. Something as simple as breakfast in bed or a hike through nature can also make the day feel special.

Why Trust Brides

Brides contributor Melanie Rud has nearly 15 years of journalism experience covering the beauty and lifestyle space for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s also a bride-to-be, currently planning her wedding.

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