What are the classic 16-year anniversary gifts?

If you skimmed down to this section of our 16th-anniversary gift roundup, here's the TL;DR version: Traditional 16-year anniversary gifts include items made with wax or peridot and silver holloware. However, as you'll see below, these traditions leave plenty of room for modern interpretation—and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to gifting someone you love.

What are some creative or unique 16-year anniversary gift ideas?

“Consider gifting a new experience that one or both of you have wanted to try, such as stand-up paddle boarding lessons or a hot air balloon ride," says Moore. She also suggests interactive ideas like a scavenger hunt. "You could even create a commemorative street map poster or a puzzle," she recommends. "Include an aerial shot of a sentimental location, such as where you had your first date.” And if you’re looking for a quirky experience gift with a nod to the 16th-anniversary wax theme, consider a trip to one of Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museums. There are seven locations in the United States, including NYC, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

Do I have to follow traditional and modern anniversary gift themes by year?

Absolutely not! If you find an on-theme 16-year anniversary gift that’s perfect for your loved one, that’s great, but it’s much more important to get them something meaningful to them. As Moore puts it, “This is one rule that I am definitely in favor of breaking. Ultimately, you want to get your spouse a gift that symbolizes and celebrates your bond, but you also want them to have something they'll love. No one knows your spouse better than you do, so it might be best to throw out the list and go with your instincts. On the other hand, if you like the idea of following tradition or perhaps you appreciate a little guidance, the classic gift-giving guidelines might be the way to go.

The 12 Best 16-Year Anniversary Gifts of 2024

16th Anniversary Gifts — Brides / Kevin Liang

After 16 years of marriage, you've fanned your first spark of love into a flame that's been tended carefully for over a decade and a half. And that accomplishment deserves to be celebrated with a special gift that honors the occasion and your bond. The traditional present for this anniversary is wax (think candles, wax seals, and more), and the modern gift is silver holloware (metal serving pieces like bowls, serving trays, or teapots). The gemstone (peridot) and color (silver) associated with the 16th anniversary also provide lots of gifting opportunities for gorgeous jewelry, sentimental trinkets, and other accessories your significant other will love.

To help, we've rounded up some of our favorite gifts for this anniversary—from unexpectedly cool items to practical and luxurious pieces. Plus, we asked Ariane Moore, former senior design editor at Hunker, to share her tips for scouting out the perfect 16th-anniversary gifts.

Our Top Picks

Nick Munro Domus Small Cafetiere at Shophorne.com

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Byredo Bibliotheque Candle at Amazon

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Hay Tall Rainbow glass candlestick at Luisaviaroma.com

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Greentree Home Candle Josee Candle, Tall at Amazon

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Gianfranco Frattini Stainless Steel Serving Tray at CB2

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Georg Jensen 3-Piece Condiment Bowls Set at Nordstrom

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Fornasetti Immaginazione Candle at Neiman Marcus

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Cire Trudon Set-of-Four Abd El Kader Cameo Wax at Amazon

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Anniversary Gifts Metal Date Night Dice at Amazon

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Tiffany & Co. Square Candlestick at Tiffany.com

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Nick Munro Domus Small Cafetiere

PHOTO: Horne

View on Shophorne.com

Bring some retro flair to every coffee date with this stainless steel cafetière. Its shiny color is a nod to the traditional 16-year-anniversary gift of silver holloware. The French press's sleek design is inspired by a vintage bicycle pump. It has two handle options: wicker or insulated stainless steel.

Byredo Bibliotheque Candle

PHOTO: Nordstrom

View on Amazon View on Nordstrom View on Bloomingdales

Handmade in France, this cult-classic candle has an irresistible scent. Combining top notes of peach and plum with a heart of peony and violet, the fragrance has cozy base notes of leather, vanilla, and patchouli. Moreover, it comes in a black-glass vessel that pairs with any décor scheme.

Hay Tall Rainbow glass candlestick

PHOTO: Luisa Via Roma

View on Luisaviaroma.com

This whimsical, rainbow-hued candlestick is made of durable borosilicate glass. Use it for a candlelit, 16th-anniversary dinner party, or style it with an assortment of bud vases on a mantel or windowsill.

Greentree Home Candle Josee Candle, Tall

PHOTO: Design Within Reach

View on Amazon View on Design Within Reach

This graphic beeswax candle features a cotton wick and a languid 30- to 50-hour burn time. It's available in two neutral hues that fit with any décor theme. What's more, it comes in a gorgeous box that's ready for gifting.

Gianfranco Frattini Stainless Steel Serving Tray

PHOTO: CB2

View on CB2

With a sleek, 1970s-style design, this silver serving tray is perfect for cocktail parties or festive dinners. The rolled rim keeps drinks secure, and the large oval size can easily accommodate appetizers or desserts. The piece can be used independently or paired with a coordinating walnut serving tray.

Georg Jensen 3-Piece Condiment Bowls Set

PHOTO: Saks Fifth Avenue

View on Nordstrom View on Neiman Marcus View on Macy's

Make your anniversary extra festive with this set of gleaming dishes. This three-piece condiment bowl set is handcrafted in undulating, organic shapes from stainless steel. Perfect for the modern design fan, they were dreamed up by the multidisciplinary Danish artist Helle Damkjær.

Fornasetti Immaginazione Candle

PHOTO: Neiman Marcus

View on Neiman Marcus

Perfect for those who dream of Italy, this gift-worthy candle was inspired by the legendary artist Piero Fornasetti. Each piece in the collection is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. The black-and-white color scheme makes it a suitable match for any setting or décor scheme.

Cire Trudon Set-of-Four Abd El Kader Cameo Wax

PHOTO: Moda Operandi

View on Amazon View on Modaoperandi.com

These wax cameos are a lovely gift for history buffs and classic design enthusiasts. Made by Cire Trudon, which was founded in 1643 in Paris, the set features four pieces that give a spicy, mint-tea fragrance as they melt in a ceramic dish.

Anniversary Gifts Metal Date Night Dice

Amazon Anniversary Gifts 16th Anniversary Metal Date Night Dice

PHOTO: Amazon

View on Amazon

Sometimes the perfect date idea just comes to you, and sometimes…it doesn’t. These silver dice present the perfect solution to the “What do you want to do?” ”I don’t know. What do you want to do?” loop. Just roll the dice, and it’s settled. With 36 combinations, there’s no need to leave date night success up to chance.

Tiffany & Co. Square Candlestick

Tiffany Home Essentials Square Candlestick

PHOTO: Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

View on Tiffany.com

This crystal candlestick holder makes for a timeless heirloom. At 10 inches high, it adds a touch of elegance to your dining room or console table. The design is simple (yet striking) enough to blend with any style or aesthetic.

Maison Louis Marie Glass Cloche

PHOTO: Courtesy of Maison Louis Marie

View on Maisonlouismarie.com

After so many years together, it can be tough to think of a gift that's both practical and elegant. This glass cloche protects your candles when they're not lit. It also adds a clean touch to any room you put it in, whether that be a bathroom, living room, or bedroom.

U-Turn Audio Orbit Basic Turntable

PHOTO: Courtesy of U-Turn Audio

View on Uturnaudio.com

Listening to music together at home is such an underrated activity, especially if you're reminiscing about your wedding day songs. Enjoy clear sound quality on all your favorite tunes on this simple turntable. It's great for beginners to vinyl and is highly reviewed as a high-quality, well-crafted piece.

What to Look for in a 16-Year Anniversary Gift

The Traditional Gift, Wax: Wax is closely associated with candles; their flames represent the passion partners feel for one another. This does not, however, limit your 16-year anniversary gift options, as you may think. There are plenty of wax-related gifts for lovers of beauty products, spa days, coats, shoes, bags, crafting, and more. So feel free to think outside the box when searching for a “traditional” 16-year anniversary gift.
The Modern Gift, Silver Holloware: Holloware refers to metal serving ware and includes an array of items like bowls, trays, teapots, and more. Flatware and utensils also fall into this category. Silver holloware is a symbol of longevity and representative of time spent sharing meals together. Traditionally, it was made of sterling silver, but today, it’s much more common to give silver-colored holloware, often made of stainless steel core. Note that silver is the traditional color for a 16-year anniversary gift.
The Gemstone, Peridot: Many people aren’t familiar with peridot, but it’s a beautiful green gemstone with a distinctive, chartreuse hue. It has long been thought to be a source of strength, cheerfulness, balance, health, and peacefulness. If you’re buying a 16-year anniversary gift for someone who loves jewelry and other metal accessories, a peridot piece will be a lovely addition to their collection.

FAQ

What are the classic 16-year anniversary gifts?

If you skimmed down to this section of our 16th-anniversary gift roundup, here's the TL;DR version: Traditional 16-year anniversary gifts include items made with wax or peridot and silver holloware. However, as you'll see below, these traditions leave plenty of room for modern interpretation—and there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to gifting someone you love.
What are some creative or unique 16-year anniversary gift ideas?

“Consider gifting a new experience that one or both of you have wanted to try, such as stand-up paddle boarding lessons or a hot air balloon ride," says Moore.
She also suggests interactive ideas like a scavenger hunt. "You could even create a commemorative street map poster or a puzzle," she recommends. "Include an aerial shot of a sentimental location, such as where you had your first date.”
And if you’re looking for a quirky experience gift with a nod to the 16th-anniversary wax theme, consider a trip to one of Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museums. There are seven locations in the United States, including NYC, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.
Do I have to follow traditional and modern anniversary gift themes by year?

Absolutely not! If you find an on-theme 16-year anniversary gift that’s perfect for your loved one, that’s great, but it’s much more important to get them something meaningful to them. As Moore puts it, “This is one rule that I am definitely in favor of breaking. Ultimately, you want to get your spouse a gift that symbolizes and celebrates your bond, but you also want them to have something they'll love.
No one knows your spouse better than you do, so it might be best to throw out the list and go with your instincts. On the other hand, if you like the idea of following tradition or perhaps you appreciate a little guidance, the classic gift-giving guidelines might be the way to go.

Why Trust Brides

Mckenzie Eggers is a freelance writer with over seven years of experience. She takes gift-giving seriously and knows the practice can be a meaningful act of care and an opportunity to show someone you listen to them, see them, and value them. For example, her best friend complained that her feet were always cold. So, Mckenzie got her a pair of heated socks for her birthday to keep her feet nice and toasty. Dagmara Cintron is a contributing writer with a passion for shopping and finding the best deals. Together, they interviewed Ariane Moore, a former senior design editor at Hunker, for her insights.