Hillary Hoffower is a writer with more than six years of experience covering the wedding industry. Her work has also appeared on Bridal Guide and WeddingWire.
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Updated on 06/03/22
Fact checked by
Kate Donovan
Fact checked byKate Donovan
Kate is a senior editor covering home, registry, and wedding décor. She has been with Brides since 2015.
Brides's Editorial Guidelines
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Flexible, but durable, leather perfectly symbolizes a marriage. It's the traditional gift of the third anniversary, and for a reason–at this point in your relationship, you’re a solidified team, committed to still learning and adapting to your needs. You're resilient, yet able to adjust–just like leather.
Lucky for you, this is one of the easiest traditional anniversary gift themes to shop for. And it's not just for the third anniversary—if you're interested in going off-theme for any anniversary, leather is a great option. It offers endless opportunities for personalization (always a good idea when it comes to thoughtful gifting) and leather accessories are both useful and stand the test of time (often developing a beautiful patina as they age).
"It’s important to understand that the quality difference about leather often depends on the layers of the material", says Jessica Hana, co-founder of online store World Chic.“The topmost layer would be the most premium layer, and it goes down in quality from there,” she says.
Meet the Expert
Jessica Hana is the co-founder of online store World Chic, a travel, fashion, and lifestyle brand.
From leather luggage and accessories to cookbooks and charging trays, it’s hard to find something that doesn’t come in leather. And a gift doesn't have to be real leather to fulfill the anniversary requirements—there are also vegan leather options that are just as luxe as the real deal.
From the outside, this looks like any standard leather bracelet. But on the inside, it’s a whole lot more. Whether it’s a sweet “I love you” or the date of your anniversary, you can get this cuff engraved with a secret message that only your spouse will see. The hand-cut leather is sealed for light weatherproofing and can be hand-dyed in your spouse’s favorite color.
A leather catchall tray makes for the perfect home for watches, jewelry, keys, and more. Choose from six different colors and two different sizes, topping it off with a personalized engraving of your choice. Opt for a quote, special message, the location coordinates of where you met or married, or the date of your anniversary.
Spruce up your sweetheart’s home office set-up with a leather mousepad. You can opt to buy a leather-only option or a pad with a non-slip surface underneath the leather. You can also get it stamped with your sweetie’s initials with gold or silver foil or without foil. Just note that however beautiful, the foil will likely fade over time with use.
A jewel-toned box for some jewelry sounds just about right. Anyone who has ever left home without a travel jewelry box knows the pain of misplaced earrings and tangled necklaces. This leather box will help them get their act together, with dedicated holes for studs, compartments for bracelets, and a roll tray for rings.
Maybe that special person is a writer or an artist, or maybe they just love to capture their thoughts and feelings. Either way, this journal will spark their innermost creativity. With a handcrafted leather-bound cover in pink, gray, or blue and 120 unlined pages made for doodling or writing, this baby sure beats out those old composition notebooks in terms of style.
It doesn’t get much niftier than a wireless charging tray. Throw on your smartphone and your earbuds, and they’ll get juiced up quickly thanks to a three-coil charger inside. There’s even an indented area next to the charger for the rest of your catch-all items like sunglasses and keys. Encased in either white or black pebble grain leather, it also makes for a great decor piece on the entryway table.
This pebbled leather tote can carry it all, whether you’re heading into the office for the day or hopping on a flight for a weekend away. Handmade in Argentina with care, this tote is LWG Silver certified. That means it was crafted with the best environmental practices. It’s available in nine different colors, so you’re bound to find one that will suit your spouse’s preference. It’s 13.5 inches high and 18 inches wide.
Every serious grillmaster needs some protection from heat and grease splatters. The brown suede exterior with a flame-retardant lining in this leather grill apron will do just that. An adjustable neck strap will accommodate any size and two front pockets will keep turners, skewers, and ketchup right where the griller needs them.
Give those Airpods a nice home with a leather case cover. We love the bold evergreen hue on this one for a fun statement. The vivid color, coupled with a key ring, will make your Airpods hard to lose. A suede lining, snap closure, and keyhole charger entry further elevate both the look and function of this mini accessory.
This billfold purse is ready for a night out on the town. Made of black leather with a Kenyan hand-carved hardwood chain link and gold logo emblem, it’s crafted to last a very long time. At eight inches wide and seven inches high, it’s a tiny one, but interior pockets and a zip pouch will hold all the necessities.
Sure, you can get recipes off the internet these days, but do those replace the experience of thumbing through Irma Rombauer’s classic, the “Joy of Cooking"? The chef in your life will appreciate this 75th-anniversary edition, especially since it comes in an embossed leather cover and gilded pages. Available in black, gold, nude, or oxblood, this is one cookbook that will always be displayed on the kitchen countertop.
One for the coat closet, this mid-length leather jacket is both fashionable and warm with an oversized fit and fur detailing. Available in black, it adds an uber-chic look to any outfit and will go with anything from a dress and heels for a night out to a pantsuit for a day at the office. It’s sure to be a fall staple.
Price at time of publish: $459
Tokens & Icons Authentic Football Stadiums Relic Watches
A watch made from salvaged seats from football stadiums is sure to delight the football fan. That’s exactly where the wood face in this watch comes from. Coupled with a vegan leather strap, laser-cut dial, mineral crystal, and brushed stainless steel case engraved with the stadium name, it’s a piece of football history that he can wear every day.
Keep all your tech together with this sleek leather folio. It contains enough pockets and sleeves to hold everything from your iPad and phone charger to your phone and Airpods, with room for your credit cards to boot. It comes in two different sizes and four different colors. And, as always with Mark & Graham, you can personalize it with a foil debossed monogram.
One of the worst winter woes is heading out into the cold only to find that your gloves aren’t actually all that warm. These luxe leather gloves, though, promise to get the job done right. With a cashmere and wool lining, they’ll feel nice and cozy on those fingers and fit like...a glove.
Your favorite bookworm will be all over this thoughtful gift. Crafted from genuine pebble leather, this elegant bookmark will ensure that your reader will never lose their place on the page. Plus, it will endure wear and tear much better than those old paper bookmarks that need to be replaced every few months.
Perfect for a weekend away, this leather weekender is as handsome as it is functional. It comes in two different shades of brown, as well as black, and features a lined interior, shoulder strap, luggage tag, and four pockets plus a shoe compartment for maximum organization. And with most reviews raving about the beautiful leather, you’re paying for quality, too. Go the extra mile and personalize it with your spouse’s name or initials.
Every guy needs a good Dopp kit, and this one is everything he could want. A water-resistant interior will come in handy for those 2-in-1 shampoo spills, and a front zipper pocket will perfectly store those tweezers and q tips. Handcrafted from vegetable-tanned goat leather, it comes in cognac or black, which will go with any piece of luggage.
Maybe your spouse needs an organizer for their makeup or beauty essentials, or maybe they need a place to store pens and post them in their home office. Either way, this colorful and trendy leather pouch featuring a mosaic pattern and waterproof cotton lining can take care of their needs.
Price at time of publish: $34
What to look for in a leather gift
It's important to consider different types of leather and the quality. If it's a lower quality, "it's typical to see a plastic coating on many leather bags," says Hana. That means, while it’s still real leather, it’s lower-quality leather.Look for smooth, supple material that feels natural.
FAQ
What is the best way to take care of leather?
Before cleaning leather, Hana says, you’ll need to first make sure you know what type of leather you’re working with. Is it calfskin? Cowhide? Pebble? You’ll then want to follow the three stages of cleaning: conditioning, polishing, and waterproofing.
First, use a cloth to remove any dust. Then gently rub a “very small amount” of conditioner to test the product, continuing to rub in a circular motion with a separate cloth before letting it sit for 20 minutes, Hana said. Polishing next will restore the color. Again, rub a small amount of polish as a test. Continue in a gentle, circular motion and let it sit for a few minutes to ensure it doesn’t scratch.
“If you’re working with more durable leather-like shoes or a belt, you can use the welt brush to apply the polish as it helps get into the cracks/crevices and for cleaning the stitch work,” advises Hana. “Be gentle to not scratch your leather. You can also use the horsehair brush to gently buffer the product if it's harder leather.”
Let it sit for 20 minutes before waterproofing, in which you’ll repeat the same circular motions as before with beeswax and cloth. Wait another 20 minutes before using it. “Your leather product will be clean, waterproofed, and ready to use!” Hana says.
Why Trust Brides
Brides contributor Hillary Hoffower has over seven years of experience writing for the wedding industry, covering everything from bridal fashion trends to wedding decor. From purses to jackets, she’s purchased many leather and faux leather goods in her lifetime. She’s slowly building out a collection of pottery serving ware for her kitchen.
Thus, bronze anniversary gifts are symbolic of a strong marriage. Take the traditional 19-year anniversary theme literally with a bronze piece of jewelry or a new set of cookware for your spouse or put your own creative spin on it with a bronze-hued present.
You may consider the 19th year of marriage the bronze age, as both traditional and modern gifts call for bronze. Bronze is also the color this year, as are bronze-hued florals—specifically autumnal, bronze mums.
What is the traditional 19-year anniversary? The 19th wedding anniversary gift themes are all about bronze. Known for its durability, bronze is a great representation of a marriage that has endured for 19 years. Not only are both the traditional and modern themes bronze, but it's the anniversary's official color too.
Your 19th wedding anniversary is popularly known as the Bronze Anniversary, symbolising a tougher, resilient and more durable relationship after nearly two decades together.
A durable metal, bronze has come to symbolize a long-lasting, resilient marriage. It's both the traditional and modern theme for the 19th wedding anniversary. Bronze jewelry or bronze kitchenware make for thoughtful (and useful!) anniversary gifts.
Luckily, there's no shortage of 19th wedding anniversary gifts that are just perfect for commemorating those 6,935 days of wedded bliss! ... 19th Anniversary Gift Ideas for Him
Whether you're shopping for an S.O. or buying for a happy couple, personalized presents with an engraving or embroidered detail like a wedding date, vow, or monogram, always show thoughtfulness. Jewelry, watches, linen sets, or decorative accessories are some of the best in this instance, both for men and women.
This is probably the most well known as a silver anniversary. This is followed by Pearl for year 30, Coral for year 35, Ruby for year 40, Sapphire for year 45, Gold for year 50, Diamond for year 60, Blue Sapphire for year 65, Platinum for year 70 and finally Oak for year 80.
The traditional 20th-anniversary gift is china, a beautiful representation of the life you've made together. The modern take on 20th-anniversary gifts is platinum, which is strong just like your marriage.
Your wedding anniversary is coming up, and you don't know what gift to give him or her. For each year of marriage, there are certain types of traditional gifts to give. ... Anniversary Gifts for Each Year.
These gifts vary in different countries, but some anniversary years now have well-established connections common to most nations: 5th Wood, 10th Tin, 15th Crystal, 20th China, 25th Silver, 30th Pearl, 35th Jade, 40th Ruby, 45th Sapphire, 50th Gold, 60th Diamond, and 70th Platinum.
Keep It Traditional. Go totally traditional with a themed tea set for those late afternoon teas you'll both enjoy in each other's company or even a full-fledged dinner set for formal family dinners and other grand parties at home. ...
The official 20th anniversary gemstone is the emerald, a stone with a long history of love. Ancient Greeks and Romans used to associate the gemstone with Venus, the goddess of love, and warriors used to carry emerald talismans into battle for protection.
Wedding anniversary names common to most nations include: Wooden (5th), Tin (10th), Crystal (15th), China (20th), Silver (25th), Pearl (30th), Ruby (40th), Golden (50th), and Diamond (60th).
Platinum Wedding Anniversary Gifts. The modern alternative to the 20-year porcelain wedding anniversary gift is platinum, so if you think your partner would love a beautiful piece of jewellery to celebrate 20 years of marriage, we suggest you go modern!
Turquoise jewelry is a wonderful way to celebrate the start of the second decade of married life. Its colors, which include the prized robin's egg blue, greenish blue, avocado, and lime green, symbolize a prosperous and healthy future.
Traditional vs. Modern Anniversary Gifts. Today's traditional wedding anniversary gift list is largely based on Emily Post's list published in 1922 in her her Blue Book of Social Usage. In her book, Post listed eight wedding anniversaries that everyone must know because they were so widely acknowledged.
Do You Have to Buy an Anniversary Gift for Your Friends? It's common for couples to celebrate their wedding anniversaries just between themselves, however, some may wish to celebrate their milestone with family and friends. It's always polite to send best wishes and, if you feel so inclined, a gift.
The most likely guess is that the gift list made its debut during the Victorian era in the United Kingdom during the 1800s, and then jumped across the pond to the United States in the early 20th century [source: Martha Stewart].
The truth is, if you're going to a party that they are hosting, it's only appropriate to show up bearing gifts. Much like you would probably bring something to any other party or event you are invited to, it shows proper etiquette and respect to bring something with you when you attend a wedding anniversary party.
What Is the Color for a 75th Birthday? Birthday years do not actually have official or traditional colors. Many people get this confused with anniversaries, which do have traditional colors. The traditional color for a 75th anniversary is diamond white.
Although there are standard colors for every anniversary year up to the 25th, and colors for every five years to the 75th anniversary, there are few conventions for reaching the 100-year milestone. Although purple tends to be the most commonly used color, the choice is up to you.
According to relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein, LCSW, as it turns out, the first year really is the hardest—even if you've already lived together. In fact, it often doesn't matter if you've been together for multiple years, the start of married life is still tricky.
To this day, leather is still a symbol of power and protection. When we surround ourselves with leather accessories and accents, we get the look and feel of style and elegance as well as comfort. This is something which cannot be achieved by most other materials.
According to etiquette, the modern 20th wedding anniversary gift is platinum. After two decades of marriage, your husband could probably use a new wedding ring, which makes this handsome platinum band the perfect anniversary gift for your husband!
Both the traditional and modern gift for a 22nd-anniversary is copper. Of course, this metal adds a beautiful metallic hue to everything from home goods and jewelry, but it's also symbolic in meaning.
The modern gift given on the 20th wedding anniversary is platinum. Platinum is precious, strong, enduring and doesn't tarnish. Giving a gift of platinum is representative of these qualities in your 20 year marriage.
For your own wedding anniversary, we recommend a gift budget of around $100. For giving to others on their anniversaries, such as your parents milestone anniversaries, we recommend a gift of $25-$50.
The first anniversary is one of the most important milestones you will achieve as a married couple. Traditionally, the first anniversary is represented by paper. Paper is symbolic in that it represents a new beginning.
Some married couples continue to put the focus on their old anniversary even after getting married; it's totally up to you. You might have more than one anniversary you're used to celebrating, especially if you're polyamorous or really good at remembering dates.
Impress your Wife by presenting the Rings like Customized Platinum Rings, Designer Gold Rings, Fingerprint Rings, Voice Wave Rings, Diamond Rings which will definitely be one of the best first year anniversary gifts for her and makes it all the more beautiful.
The traditional 20th-anniversary gift is china, a beautiful representation of the life you've made together. The modern take on 20th-anniversary gifts is platinum, which is strong just like your marriage.
The traditional 20th wedding anniversary gift is fine china or porcelain, which is a beautiful representation of the delicate balance a couple's mastered in their relationship after 20 years together.
Wedding anniversary names common to most nations include: Wooden (5th), Tin (10th), Crystal (15th), China (20th), Silver (25th), Pearl (30th), Ruby (40th), Golden (50th), and Diamond (60th).
For your own wedding anniversary, we recommend a gift budget of around $100. For giving to others on their anniversaries, such as your parents milestone anniversaries, we recommend a gift of $25-$50.
This is probably the most well known as a silver anniversary. This is followed by Pearl for year 30, Coral for year 35, Ruby for year 40, Sapphire for year 45, Gold for year 50, Diamond for year 60, Blue Sapphire for year 65, Platinum for year 70 and finally Oak for year 80.
According to relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein, LCSW, as it turns out, the first year really is the hardest—even if you've already lived together. In fact, it often doesn't matter if you've been together for multiple years, the start of married life is still tricky.
Do You Have to Buy an Anniversary Gift for Your Friends? It's common for couples to celebrate their wedding anniversaries just between themselves, however, some may wish to celebrate their milestone with family and friends. It's always polite to send best wishes and, if you feel so inclined, a gift.
The modern theme for 20th anniversary gifts for men is platinum. Again, you need to stretch a bit by opening your options to anything silver - maybe a personalized pocket watch or keychain, or even a gift of shiny bar tools.
These gifts vary in different countries, but some anniversary years now have well-established connections common to most nations: 5th Wood, 10th Tin, 15th Crystal, 20th China, 25th Silver, 30th Pearl, 35th Jade, 40th Ruby, 45th Sapphire, 50th Gold, 60th Diamond, and 70th Platinum.
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Introduction: My name is Amb. Frankie Simonis, I am a hilarious, enchanting, energetic, cooperative, innocent, cute, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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