18 years of marriage might not seem like a lot compared to other wedding anniversaries, but it’s a feat in itself. Outside of marriage, 18 years is incredibly significant, as it symbolizes the coming of age, and it’s when you become an adult in official and legal terms. That is why an 18th year wedding anniversary can metaphorically symbolize a deeper maturity in the relationship, and the coming of age of a love that has overcome many stages, becoming fully solidified.
About 18th wedding anniversaries
After 18 years of marriage, one can pretty much assume that the love runs deep and that the bond between the couple is strong and enduring. The symbolic coming of age within the marriage represents the shift into new hopes and fortunes to come, as the love has endured the childhood of the marriage and now turns towards a more mature development.
5 Unique Ways to Celebrate Your 18th Wedding Anniversary
- Take a day trip or a weekend away so you can spend some quality time together. Reminisce about your last 18 years of marriage and think about what the future holds. What hopes and dreams are you looking to achieve as a couple?
- Find a bottle of 18-year old liquor, the fancier the better, and use it to celebrate your marriage and love. If you plan this ahead of time, some couples like to keep a bottle of wine from their wedding day, to drink on their 18th wedding anniversary!
- Write each other a love letter, and exchange them over a romantic candlelight dinner. You could do this by recreating a date from your early years together too! This will rekindle the romance, and bring back the butterflies!
- Have a photoshoot together and place your favorite pictures in a scrapbook, that you can then continue filling in the time to come. It’s the beginning of a new era within your marriage!
- Exchange significant gifts to symbolize the love for one another. Porcelain is the gift linked to an 18th wedding anniversary, so you could theme it around porcelain objects!
5 Best 18th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for him
OUR TOP PICK
This wooden watch can be custom engraved to showcase a message or name of your choosing, and it’s the perfect way to symbolize the time you’ve already spent together, and the time still to come.
EDITORS CHOICE
If you’re looking for an elegant and classy way of symbolizing the coming of age of your life, what better way than to gift a classy whiskey set? You can then toast to your marriage together, and look towards all the things yet to come!
BEST VALUE
This is a unique and special way to deliver a message of love, to make your anniversary a memorable and significant occasion. You could even gift the bottle and have it sealed until a future date so that the message is read in the future as a symbol of hope!
RUNNER UP
The 18th wedding anniversary is all about rekindling romance and passion, so these metal date night dice are perfect for coming up with new date night ideas that are left up to fate!
RUNNER UP
Marriage is all about being there for each other, to create a long-lasting bond with enduring strong love. After 18 years of marriage, a rock-themed gift can signify that very same thing!
5 Best 18th Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Her
OUR TOP PICK
Garnet is the gemstone used to represent the 18th wedding anniversary, so what better gift than a pair of beautiful garnet earrings? Jewelry has always been a traditional anniversary gift, making it very fitting
EDITORS CHOICE
Another piece of jewelry you could gift her is this red garnet bracelet, elegant and beautiful with the garnets to symbolize the 18 years of marriage.
BEST VALUE
Love has no boundaries and is a universal language, so why not express your love in as many ways as possible with this ‘I love you’ necklace inscribed in 120 languages?
RUNNER UP
Porcelain is often used to represent the 18th wedding anniversary, and this ceramic rose jewelry box is perfect to symbolize a deep love that is treasured.
RUNNER UP
Deep red flowers are the best for an 18th wedding anniversary, as it is all about rekindling the romance and deepening the love. That is why this metal rose is perfect to represent the everlasting love within the marriage.
5 Best 18th Anniversary Gift for the Couple
OUR TOP PICK
It can be hard to choose an anniversary gift for a couple you know. This cheese board charcuterie complete with bowls and a knife set is perfect for providing them with an easy fancy date to celebrate with.
EDITORS CHOICE
A personalized clock for their wall will not only look beautiful and mark the special occasion, but it will also symbolize the passing of time and how their love grows stronger with each passing year!
BEST VALUE
Porcelain is the most appropriate way to symbolize an 18th year wedding anniversary, so this porcelain figurine depicting that the couple’s love was meant to be, is ideal.
RUNNER UP
Gifting porcelain to the couple will show that you’re well versed in the significance of the 18th anniversary, and the ornament will be a beautiful addition to their home with which to remember the special occasion.
RUNNER UP
The 18th anniversary is all about solidifying the marriage and looking towards new dreams and hopes. That is why a push pin world map is the perfect gift, as a way to encourage those travels they’ve been putting off!
Traditional, modern, and symbolic anniversary gifts
Choosing a wedding anniversary gift is always hard, as you want it to be as special and as meaningful as possible. When it’s not a traditionally important milestone, it can be even harder. What gift is appropriate for 18 years of marriage? Let’s have a look at what is traditional in different parts of the world!
Traditional Gift in the UK | There isn’t a set traditional gift in the UK with which to celebrate an 18th wedding anniversary. So people tend to go with the traditions of other places, or they find a personal gift to symbolize passion and romance as a coming of age together. |
Traditional Gift in the US | Just like in the UK, there is no traditional gift for an 18th year wedding anniversary. Instead, you’re encouraged to gift anything that will convey love and commitment. |
Traditional Gift in Spain | The traditional gift for an 18th year wedding anniversary in Spain is quartz. This stone symbolizes the growth of harmony and is linked to romantic relationships, making it the perfect representation of the coming of age in marriage. |
Traditional Gift in Germany | In Germany, the traditional gift for the 18th year wedding anniversary is turquoise. This captivating stone represents enduring love, as well as being a symbol of hope and good fortune to come. |
Traditional Gift in Russia | The traditional 18th wedding anniversary gift in Russia is the same as in Germany: turquoise. It’s a beautiful stone to symbolize the beginning of new things as if the marriage is renewing itself to start a new era, in which romance will mature even more. |
Traditional Gift in France | Just like in Germany and Russia, the traditional 18th wedding anniversary gift in France is a turquoise stone. It’s perfect for symbolizing a love that has settled down into a strong bond, that will continue to mature into an everlasting relationship. |
Traditional Gift in Italy | Just like in Spain, the traditional gift for an 18th year wedding anniversary is a quartz stone. It’s a symbol of romantic love, and it encourages a stronger harmony and understanding within the relationship, meaning it’s perfect for the beginning of a more mature marriage. |
Flower Gift | If you’re looking for the right flowers to gift for an 18th wedding anniversary, you should go for any that are a deep red color. This is because the 18th anniversary is all about rekindling romance and turning it into the hope of an enduring mature bond within the marriage. |
Gemstone Gift | Keeping with the theme of red, the gemstone linked to an 18th wedding anniversary is the garnet. It symbolizes affairs of the heart and has often been used in declarations of love as a signifier for passion and romance. |
Modern Gift | As time passes, traditional gifts evolve to fit into modern concepts and trends, while communicating the same sentiments. If you’re looking for a modern take on the 18th wedding anniversary, porcelain is the perfect gift. The delicate elegance is a symbol of love, passion, and desire, and it is something to take care of carefully. |
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