If you and your other half are about to celebrate 16 years of marriage, that’s an amazing milestone to have reached, and one which deserves to be celebrated.
As part of your celebrations, you may want to give your partner a gift. But, you might wonder what kind of gift is appropriate for celebrating 16 happy years with the love of your life. Do you go down the safe and reliable route of flowers and chocolates? Do you give them something they’ve asked for or need? Or do you look for something deeply meaningful which tells them exactly how you feel about them?
If you’d like to pick a gift which has that special meaning, you might wonder about the type of gift to choose. Did you know that there are traditional and modern gifts, as well as a traditional flower and gemstone, which couples have been giving to each other for more than 100 years? These gifts are lovely gestures which show your partner just how much thought and love has gone into it.
But what should you choose to help you express your feelings and sentiments, and be worthy of such a brilliant milestone? In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the 16th wedding anniversary gift-giving traditions, including all the traditional and modern gifts and what they mean. We’ll also give you 50 suggestions to help you choose a gift your other half is sure to love.
For more information about gift-giving traditions for all anniversaries from 1 to 90 years, read our complete year-by-year wedding anniversary gift guide.
What are traditional and modern gifts for a 16th wedding anniversary?
If you’re looking to give your partner an anniversary gift packed full of meaning, you might want to choose one of the historical gifts that couples have been giving to each other from as far back as the Victorian era. These gifts aren’t set in stone, but they’re a lovely way to say I love you and call back to historical traditions.
Traditional 16th anniversary gift – Wax
The traditional gift when celebrating 16 years of marriage is wax. Wax symbolises how the two of you have moulded your lives around each other to become one, which is an incredibly charming sentiment. The most obvious choice of wax-themed gift is a candle, but it’s not your only choice. With some creativity, you have a lot you could choose from.
Modern 16th anniversary gift – silver holloware
The modern 16th anniversary gift is silver holloware, which is the name given to a vessel, like a bowl or jug, made from silver. It represents a long and successful marriage, which no doubt sums up your marriage since you’re about to celebrate 16 years. By 21st century standards, silver holloware is quite outdated, but it still offers you plenty of opportunities to give your partner an amazing gift.
16th anniversary gemstone – Peridot
The traditional gemstone for celebrating your 16th anniversary is peridot. Peridot is a striking green, almost olive-coloured gemstone, which symbolises strength and balance. It’s a semi-precious stone and can sometimes be fairly pricey, but the cost is reflected in how beautiful it is and how well it goes in a wide range of jewellery and accessories.
16th anniversary flower – Statice
If you’re looking to give your partner a floral gift to mark 16 years, the traditional flower is statice, also known as sea lavender. It symbolises good memories, so could there really be a better flower to sum up the last 16 years with your love? Statice is often dried and used to complement floral arrangements. Despite its romantic meaning, some say fresh statice has a slight smell of cat wee, which sort of explains why it doesn’t often make an appearance in bouquets!
How do you choose a gift for a 16th wedding anniversary?
When the time comes to buy your partner a gift for your 16th anniversary, you might be faced with a difficult decision with so many choices. How are you supposed to pick, especially when the traditional and modern gifts aren’t exactly the most straightforward of themes? Here are several things to consider before making your decision.
- Is choosing a traditional or modern anniversary gift important to you? If you’ve stuck to either theme for past anniversaries, you may want to continue the trend.
- Have you got a set budget? Wax and silver holloware have rather polar opposite costs, which may sway your decision if you have a smaller budget.
- Are you looking to give your partner a gift with a personalised touch? Silver holloware can be far trickier to personalise or customise than wax.
- What would your partner love to receive as a gift? Even though it’s the modern gift, silver holloware is fairly old-fashioned and your partner might not appreciate it as much as a gift linked to wax (or the traditional flower or gemstone).
If a couple in your life will soon celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary, you might be on the lookout for a gift for them. As part of that, you may wonder if it’s appropriate for you to give them something linked to either the traditional or modern themes. The great news is, you’re more than able to do that and everyone is welcome (and encouraged!) to join in on the gift-giving fun. It also shows the couple that you put extra care into your gift.
50 ideas for a 16th wedding anniversary gift
Keen to give your partner a 16th anniversary gift they’ll always remember? Both the traditional and modern themes aren’t the easiest to work with, but with a little imagination and thinking outside the box there’s a lot to work with. If you’re not quite sure where to start, we’re here to give you a helping hand. Here are 50 16th wedding anniversary gift ideas so you can give your partner something extra special.
10 traditional gifts for a 16th wedding anniversary
The traditional gift couples give to each other when celebrating their 16th wedding anniversary is wax. Wax isn’t the most versatile gift in the world, and the first thing to enter your head is more than likely a candle. Candles can be a brilliant choice, but there must be a way to make sure you give your partner something more than just a basic Yankee Candle? Thankfully, there are plenty! Here are 10 ideas so you can surprise your other half on your 16th anniversary.
1. A personalised candle
There’s no way we couldn’t start this lift without including a candle. What sets this one apart is that it’s a personalised candle which allows you to not only choose the colour and scent, but also include your names, wedding date and a custom message on the label.
2. A beeswax skincare set
Beeswax can work wonders for the skin. A beeswax skincare set can help your partner’s skin feel fresh and rejuvenated so they feel as fantastic as they look when you head out to celebrate your big milestone.
3. A wax melt gift set
Wax melts are a great way to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere and are a nice alternative to a candle. There’s a countless number of wax melt scents, so finding something your partner will love should be simple. Or, a wax melt gift set has everything they need.
4. Luxury beeswax soap
A bar of luxury beeswax soap is a nice on-theme gift which smells fabulous and which will leave your partner’s hands feeling silky-smooth. It’s a gift that contains wax and one we don’t think your partner will see coming.
5. A beeswax lip balm set
We’ve already mentioned how beeswax is good for your skin, but did you know that also extends to the lips? If you treat your partner to a beeswax lip balm set it’ll leave their lips soft, moisturised and smooth – perfect for all those kisses you’ll share on your anniversary.
6. A personalised calendar candle
For a sweet-smelling wax-themed gift which will always remind your partner of the date the two of you got married, a personalised calendar candle is a wonderful reminder of your special day. You can also choose the size of your candle and include a custom message.
7. A scented beeswax candle
Beeswax is good for the skin, but it’s also perfect for making it into a candle. This sweet and sensual scented beeswax candle is everything you need to create a romantic atmosphere on the evening of your anniversary.
8. A statice and sage-scented candle
Because the traditional flower for 16 years of marriage is the statice, you might want to get your partner a statice and sage-scented candle so your gift has twice as much meaning. This will really let your partner know how much you care.
9. A couple’s bottled candle
For a gift that is small but absolutely loaded with romance and symbolism, a couple’s bottled candle features a pair of brightly burning candles inside an adorable jar complete with glittering sprinkles. It also features a note that can be personalised so your partner has something they can hold on to forever.
10. A wax sealing letter writing kit
If your partner has a pen pal, sends a lot of cards or simply enjoys writing letters, treat them to a wax seal letter writing kit. That way they’ll have a brilliant way to class up their letters and seal them in a way that’s something of a dying art.
10 modern gifts for a 16th wedding anniversary
If you’d prefer to give your partner the modern 16th wedding anniversary gift, you might want to consider giving them silver holloware. This is any type of vessel, like a bowl or dish, that’s used to hold something inside. Think of a good ol’ fashioned gravy boat. By today’s standards, it’s actually quite an old-fashioned gift, despite it being the modern gift for celebrating your 16th anniversary. Still, it’s filled with heart and meaning and is still something couples enjoy to give. If you’d like to go with the modern gift, here are 10 suggestions to give you a few ideas.
1. A Wedgwood Vera Wang silver-plated trinket box
Does your partner have a lot of jewellery or other trinkets that they want to keep safe? A Wedgewood Vera Wang silver-plated trinket box should do just the trick, and would be a useful and on-theme gift.
2. A Nobile silver leaf roundish vase
For something a little different but still technically fitting the theme, a Nobile silver leaf roundish vase looks absolutely fabulous and can be something your partner can use again and again. You could even spoil them doubly so by giving it to them with a bouquet of flowers.
3. An antique silver bowl
Because silver holloware is quite old-fashioned (or as some might say, retro) why not fully embrace the theme and pick up your partner an antique silver bowl they can use for fruit, keys, balls of yarn or anything else?
4. A silver-plated cocktail shaker
Anyone who has a cocktail-making partner will know just how seriously they take making cocktails. It’s serious business after all! For them, the ultimate modern gift might be a silver-plated cocktail shaker which allows them to knock up the classiest cocktails of them all in totally regal style.
5. A vintage silver gravy boat
There’s absolutely no way we could put this list together but not include a vintage silver gravy boat. It’s the absolute fanciest way to serve up your Bisto on a Sunday. You’ll also find them at different prices, so even without a big budget you can find a gravy boat that suits you.
6. A silver-plated wine bottle coaster
If you and your partner love to share a bottle of wine over dinner or on date night, a silver-plated wine bottle coaster catches the dribbles in the classiest way imaginable and looks brilliant sat on the table.
7. A silver-plated top hat nibbles bowl
What could possibly be nicer than eating nibbles out of a normal bowl? Well, how about eating nibbles out of a silver-plated top hat nibbles bowl? It looks exactly like an enormous Monopoly piece and is sure to be a major talking point whenever you have guests over.
8. A silver plated teapot
To make tea time a little more special, a silver-plated teapot is a great on-theme gift that your partner can use every day. They’re also not too expensive, so you should be able to pick one up without spending a fortune.
9. A silver tureen
This might not be a gift for everyone, but if you and your partner regularly entertain guests at home, then a silver tureen will allow you to offer your guests soup in a way that is totally unexpected and completely extra. Or your partner might want to use it as an extra fancy fruit bowl!
10. A personalised silver-plated carousel money box
Delicate, adorable, useful and customisable, a personalised silver-plated carousel money box is pretty spot on. Not only is it a great-looking gift, but it’s also super useful and will help you save the pennies towards your next big adventure together.
5 affordable gifts for a 16th wedding anniversary
You may well be looking to spoil your partner, but some of the gifts can be rather expensive – especially when it comes to silver holloware. Thankfully, there are options available if you’re looking to give your partner a small token gift linked to the themes but not spend too much money. Here are five suggestions for affordable 16th wedding anniversary gifts so you can give your other half something loaded with meaning but without a huge price tag.
1. A wax-stamped card
Are you also planning on getting your other half a card to mark your anniversary? If so, you could combine the card with the traditional gift and give them a wax-stamped card, which brings historical and symbolic meaning to this ordinary gesture.
2. An aromatherapy beeswax candle
A small but sweet candle (both in appearance and smell) is an aromatherapy beeswax candle, which looks amazing and is also incredibly affordable.
3. A personalised trinket box
Silver can be expensive and it’s tough to get around that, but a personalised trinket box has that silvery shiny appearance but doesn’t cost the earth. You can also personalise it to include a loving message and make it extra special.
4. Cubed human earwax
Give your partner a giggle on your anniversary by giving them a box of cubed human earwax. Don’t worry – these actually clotted cream fudge sweets, but make for a hilarious jokey token gift guaranteed to make your partner laugh.
5. A small silver heart trinket dish
Help your partner keep their accessories, jewellery and other bits safe with a small silver heart trinket dish. It’s incredibly affordable and exactly on theme.
5 DIY gifts for a 16th wedding anniversary
One way to show how much you care is by making an anniversary gift for your partner. But, how are you supposed to do this and keep your gifts on the themes of wax or silver holloware? Well, in all honesty, unless you happen to be a skilled silversmith by trade, silver holloware might be a bit of a stretch – but there are plenty of things you can do with wax! Here are five ideas so you can get creative and make a DIY gift.
1. A DIY carved candle
Because wax is so soft, it’s a great material to use for adding your own touch of personalisation. You can take an ordinary candle and with a couple of tools add a unique touch that can transform it into something special. There are guides on how to make a candle carving to help you get started.
2. A DIY candle
Making your own candle is a fun and rewarding process, and the bonus is you’ll have a great DIY gift to give your partner at the end of it. Choose your scents, colours, containers and more to create something truly one-of-a-kind. You can use a candle-making kit which gives you everything you need to make your own candles.
3. A homemade model using modelling wax
In the right hands, wax can produce intricate, delicate and beautiful models. If you’re a dab hand at making things, you could pick up some modelling wax and have a go at sculpting something your partner loves, or maybe even make the two of you. Modelling wax doesn’t dry, but if kept on a shelf it should last for many years to come.
4. DIY wax melts
Just like you can have a go at making your own candles, it’s also possible to make your own wax melts. That way, you can create something using your partner’s favourite scents so you know they’ll love them. You can get a wax melt-making kit which includes everything you need.
5. Homemade wax artwork
Did you know you can use wax to create incredible and unique pieces of art? You don’t need years of experience, either – and if you follow a video tutorial you shouldn’t have any trouble creating your own modern masterpiece.
5 experience or activity gifts for a 16th wedding anniversary
A wonderful way to have a memorable 16th anniversary is by enjoying an activity or experience with your partner. Whether it’s something you know you both love or something entirely new, it’s a great way to create happy memories together. And if you do want to tie what you do into the traditional or modern gifts, there are plenty of ways to do it. Here are five ideas to help you both have an unforgettable time.
1. A wax hand dipping experience at Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is world-famous for its wax figure celebrity lookalikes, so a visit to one of their attractions would be a great on-theme experience by itself. But, while you’re there, you could also take part in a wax hand dipping experience, which involves you immortalising your hands in actual wax. That way, you’ll have a souvenir that’ll last forever.
2. A candle-making experience
A lot goes into candle-making, and it can be a fun and rewarding activity with many different parts to it. The two of you could take part in a candle-making experience and help each other make some amazing-looking, delicious-smelling candles.
3. A candle factory tour
Get an insight into how the professionals make candles (as well as wine, wax spray and even silverware, making this a 16th anniversary double-hitter) with a Hayes and Finch factory tour. It’s an exclusive tour so you must make reservations beforehand to visit their Liverpool factory.
4. A wax hand pampering experience
Wax is great for the skin, so treat your other half to a luxurious pamper session with a wax hand pampering experience. It’s only a short treatment but will give your partner’s hands a new lease of life.
5. A tour of a grand estate
Silver holloware might not be used much these days, but take a trip through history and visit a grand old property, such as Highclere Castle (where they filmed Downton Abbey). This will give you and your partner the chance to see some genuine silver holloware, which may have even been used by Lord Grantham himself!
10 16th anniversary gifts that contain peridot
If you’d like to treat your partner to a lovely piece of jewellery to mark your 16th anniversary, you could do so with a piece that contains the traditional gemstone, peridot. Peridot is an incredible shade of green which goes well with both gold and silver jewellery. This means that whatever your other half likes to wear, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding something they’ll love. Here are 10 suggestions for jewellery containing peridot for you to consider:
- Earrings
- A ring
- A necklace
- A bracelet
- A broach
- A locket
- A watch
- An anklet
- A hairpin
- Cufflinks
Peridot isn’t one of the most popular gemstones, but because it’s also the August birthstone, both high street and independent jewellers usually have a decent selection. Here at Bridebook, we also work with many fantastic jewellers, who each have their own choice of jewellery and accessories set with peridot. Make sure to take a look during your search for the perfect anniversary gift.
5 floral-inspired gifts for a 16th wedding anniversary
For a gift that’s more floral, you could give your partner the traditional flower to mark 16 years, which is statice. Some say statice actually smells a bit like cat wee, so you won’t see fresh flowers featured in many bouquets. But, it looks beautiful and definitely has its place, so there are still plenty of options out there if you think your partner would love this unusual flower.
1. A dried statice bouquet
Thankfully, dried statice doesn’t have much of a smell but still looks amazing, and when cared for properly it can last a couple of years. So, a dried statice bouquet might be a unique and eye-catching way to treat your partner.
2. Statice sola cube
A statice sola cube preserves the flower inside a cube of resin, which allows your partner to keep hold of their gift forever. It makes for a lovely paperweight or gift which they can display proudly.
3. Statice watercolour art
Because it’s such a pretty flower, statices also serve as the perfect model for artists. That’s why statice watercolour art makes for a stunning addition to any room and is sure to be something your partner will love.
4. Statice earrings
For an affordable and bold way for your partner to show off statice in all its glory, you could give them a pair of statice earrings. Handmade and encapsulated in resin gold hoop earrings, these simply demand attention.
5. A pressed statice bookmark
If your partner loves to read, then a pressed statice bookmark is a simple and elegant design that is beautifully on theme. It’s also a practical gift which your partner can use whenever they pick up a book! Or should that be whenever they put it down…
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