Everyone knows that marriage can be difficult. Anytime you bring two different people into one union, there are bound to be times when you disagree or don’t see things the same way. This makes it that much more important to celebrate the milestones that your marriage surpasses.
Everyone knows the main marriage milestones: the 5th anniversary, 10th anniversary, 25th anniversary and so on. But not everyone realizes that each anniversary year has its own gift theme and symbolism.
The 16th wedding anniversary may not be as widely recognized as some other milestones, but it’s certainly worth celebrating. This anniversary signifies the strength and endurance of a marriage that has weathered 16 years of challenges and growth together.
What is the Traditional Gift for a 16th Wedding Anniversary?
The traditional gift for a 16th wedding anniversary is wax, or at least something wax-related, but there are other options too. You may be wondering — why wax?
There are a few reasons why wax is the perfect symbolic gift and theme to celebrate your 16th wedding anniversary. Once you’ve reached 16 years together, you and your partner have built a life together that continues to move forward — just like a candle flame — despite what life may throw your way.
The candle flame also represents passion and the eternal love you and your partner share. Of course, wax also has plenty of other uses, including sealing envelopes, creating wax paper and even art.
What is the Modern Gift for a 16th Wedding Anniversary?
The modern gift for a 16th wedding anniversary is a piece of silver holloware. Unlike flatware, holloware is any piece related to serving that isn’t a fork, spoon or knife. The most common examples of holloware are bowls, platters and serving trays.
These holloware pieces symbolize the unity and shared life you and your partner have, making them a perfect gift.
What is the Gemstone for a 16th Wedding Anniversary?
The gemstone for a 16th wedding anniversary is peridot — a beautiful, light green stone that can be made into gorgeous jewelry. It can be featured in a variety of trinkets or other pieces for your partner. Peridot can even be paired with silver, which is a great way to honor the tradition of giving silver holloware on the 16th anniversary.
16th Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas
If your 16th wedding anniversary is approaching and you still can’t think of that perfect gift to get your partner, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of great places to start.
Are you in a hurry? Check out this comparison table for our top recommendations:
You also shouldn’t miss our other popular gift ideas articles:
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- Wedding Gifts For Outdoorsy Couples
- Gifts for 29th Wedding Anniversary
1. Museum of Peace and Quiet Candle
Since wax is the traditional gift for a 16th wedding anniversary, getting your partner a candle is a perfect way to honor this tradition. Consider getting them this Joya Studio candle, with a wonderfully subtle scent that contains notes of jasmine, cedar and saffron.
This particular candle was made to bring peace to any space and does its job beautifully. Your partner is sure to appreciate this thoughtful gift on your anniversary!
Available on Joya Studio for $58
2. Personalized Silver Tray
If you want a traditional gift but are unsure how to honor the wax tradition, consider getting them this personalized silver serving tray. With this gift, you can customize it with your partner’s initials, which is a nice touch.
This traditional tray is an attractive option for an anniversary gift. Polished until it gleams, this is the perfect gift for the husband or wife who likes to entertain.
- Made of Recycled Aluminum | Strong and durable, long-lasting construction
- Measurements: 10” W x 17” L
- Ideal for serving, wedding gifts, house warming gifts, or as Home Decoration
3. Modern Monogram Wax Seal
If you’d like to honor the tradition of a wax gift but don’t want to go with a candle, consider getting your husband or wife this monogrammed wax seal. Coming in various colors and font types, these seals can be used for everything from personal letters to invitations.
This is the perfect gift for someone who enjoys writing and sending handwritten letters. Available in various quantities, your partner is sure to love and enjoy using this thoughtful gift!
- This customized Wax Seal Stamp will make an impression on all your Correspondence and Invitations. Laser Engraved for you in the USA with deep crisp detail to make a stand-out impression. Also makes a wonderful keepsake or gift for any occasion. Includes 1 Stamp with removeable Brass die plus optional Sealing Wax and handle choices with full instructions.
- Custom Engraving: CLICK CUSTOMIZE NOW BUTTON to create your own layout. Engraved in the USA with State of the Art Laser Engraving offering deep rich details that leaves a clean and concise imprint in wax. Can be used with any sealing wax.
- Removeble Brass head in high quality Brass- the material of choice when it comes to engraving on wax seal stamps. Our Premium brass die improves heat control which reduces stickiness. Brass die face is 1 1/8″ in diameter and makes approximately a 1.25″ wax seal Wood Handles are 3.5” tall in richly hued colors.
4. Beard Grooming Kit
If your husband sports facial hair, consider getting him this great beard grooming kit, complete with various oils, a beard comb and beard wax. This is a great way to put a unique spin on the traditional wax gift theme.
You can also customize the beard grooming kit, making the gift more personal. Get your husband a gift he’ll love and use for a long time!
- COMMAND ATTENTION WHEREVER YOU GO – A groomed beard will make you stand out from the crowd! The confidence you will get can make you conquer every goal. This kit SUITABLE for all type of beards or mustaches, Long, short, thick, thin,coarse, tangled….you name it!
- STOP SEEKING, THE BEST IS RIGHT HERE – Why still looking around, when everyone is saying this is the best Beard Care Kit to suit them the most. These unscented beard oil and beard balm both have organic ingredients to keep your facial hair and skin hydrated, moisturized, silky soft, healthy and groomed during a long day.
- SEIZE ALL HER EYES AND THOUGHTS – With a groomed beard she will soon know that you are the lion king of the Serengeti Prairie, ‘just don’t let other beard man knows’. The Boar Bristle Brush is great to distribute oil, better hair texture and styling.
5. Flannel-Lined Waxed Jacket
If your husband is outdoorsy, consider getting him this beautiful waxed jacket. Made to last, this jacket is sure to be a hit! Plus, it’s a great way to subvert expectations while still honoring the time-tested tradition of wax for a 16th wedding anniversary.
If you want to get your husband a unique, timeless and functional gift, think about getting him this stunning waxed Hudson jacket.
- TOUGH & TIMELESS: Proudly Made in the USA, Flint and Tinder’s iconic waxed trucker jacket is lined with flannel for warmth and comfort. This mens jacket is sure to be your go-to for years to come
- WAXED & WEATHER RESISTANT: This jacket is constructed with a waxed and weather-resistant Martexin 7 oz. sailcloth, which will only get better with age. Re-waxable exterior for a lifetime of water-resistance
- FIND THE RIGHT FIT: The Waxed Trucker has a traditional trucker fit that hits right at your hip. If you normally wear a XL or XXL, we recommend sizing up. Our 3XL fits more like a traditional XXL
6. Silver Teapot
A unique take on silver holloware, a silver teapot is the perfect 16th wedding anniversary gift for anyone who loves tea or coffee. It’s also a great gift to show off to friends and family when they visit.
If you’re unsure what to get your husband or wife but would love to honor the silver tradition, a silver teapot could be the way to go. They’re sure to love this stunning gift!
- Moroccan Small Tea Pot
- Hand Carved In Fes Morocco
- 19cm (7.5 Inch) High 17cm( 6.6 Inch) Wide from Tip to Tip
7. Statice Seeds
The traditional flower for a 16th wedding annivesary is a statice. These beautiful flowers bloom in early summer and continue to thrive into fall, even past the first few touches of frost early in the season.
If you need a symbolic gift, consider getting these statice seeds. You can plant them together on your 16th anniversary and then watch as the flowers bloom and grow throughout the years, symbolizing your love for each other.
- Dense sprays of Small, papery blooms on stiff stems.
- Each packet contains 100 seeds
- Sow outdoors 4 weeks after the average last frost date.
8. Personalized Silver Wallet Insert Card
Perfect for your husband or your wife, this silver wallet insert card allows you to engrave a personal message with your name and anniversary date attached. The silver card is designed to be thin so that your partner can always carry it around in their wallet.
This gift is a unique twist on the silver holloware tradition and it’s an incredibly thoughtful one too. Give your husband or wife a beautiful reminder of your love that they can carry with them always!
- Material: Brushed Laminate Metal Card.
- Size: 3.34″x2.16″, same size as a credit card and will fit perfectly in any wallet.
- To make this extra special we packing it with very nice blue shimmering envelope.
9. Peridot Cufflinks
If your husband is the type of man who regularly wears suits or enjoys dressing up nicely, consider getting him a pair of stunning peridot cufflinks.
Check out these gorgeous cufflinks if you’d like to give your 16th wedding anniversary a classy twist. They’re sure to make your husband look great!
- QUALITY CUFFLINKS FOR MEN: Silver Periodot Swarovski Barrel Formal Set by Cuff-Daddy
- THE PERFECT SET: Excellent for weddings, formal, business attire and an overall polished shirt finish look, best gifts for men, grooms, father, boss, boyfriend, husband.
- THOUGHTFUL GIFT: For weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions, business partnerships, Christmas, etc.
10. Destination Candles
Sticking with the classic theme of a wax gift, remind your husband or wife that there’s no place quite like home. With a destination candle, you can get your partner a candle that smells like their hometown — reminding them of where they grew up and how far you’ve come together.
Of course, you can also get them a candle that smells like another place — like where you went for your honeymoon or your favorite family vacation spot. Get creative and this gift is sure to be a hit.
11. Hello – Will You? – I Do Canvas Print
This gorgeous and unique canvas print is the perfect gift to remind your other half how far you’ve come as a couple. This gift is a real tearjerker, featuring map-inspired images of the meeting place, the proposal site and the wedding ceremony.
Available with or without names and in multiple sizes, this canvas print is a great way to honor the legacy of your marriage. Get this thoughtful gift today!
Available on 365 Canvas for $60
12. Wax Seal Stamp Kit
Similar to the custom wax seal, this wax seal kit is the perfect gift for people who enjoy crafts and being creative. Complete with all the tools they’ll need and various wax colors, this kit will allow your partner to step up their letter-writing and invitation game.
If you’d like to honor the traditional 16th wedding anniversary gift while still getting something unique and unexpected, consider getting this gorgeous wax seal kit.
- 9 in 1 Gift Box Wax Seal Kit Package includes 720 pcs wax seal beads in 24 colors, 1pcs wax seal stamp, 1pcs wax seal warmer, 1pcs sealing wax spoon, 1pcs tweezers, 10pcs tea candles, 2pcs metallic pens. Very complete and is a perfect choice for wax seal lover and beginner.
- 24 colors SEALING WAX 720pcs and 24 colors, meet your needs for sealing wax.Good quality, odorless, non-toxic, smokeless, not wasy to break, you can make a wax stamp seal easily.
- Golden Decoration Unlike normal wax seal kit, our kit not only includes normal accessories, but also have golden decoration and 2pcs metallic pens. You can make unique and beautiful wax stamp seal.
13. Hand Casting Kit
At 16 years strong, you and your partner have shared a lot of highs and lows. But through it all, you’ve stuck by each other. What better way to celebrate that than by creating a beautiful piece of art — a sculpture with your hands intertwined.
Complete with everything you need to start, this is the perfect gift to show love and appreciation for your husband or wife. If you’d like a unique gift that’s also an experience you can have together, consider getting this hand-casting sculpture kit.
- All-Inclusive DIY Hand Casting Kit – Everything you need is included: 600g molding powder, 1000g casting stone, plastic molding bucket, gloves, sandpapers, sculpting knife, and detailing tools. Easy-to-follow steps ensure an enjoyable crafting experience.
- Memorable Mothers Day Gifts for Mom – Celebrate Mother’s Day with the Luna Bean Hand Casting Kit, a unique DIY keepsake gift perfect for capturing meaningful moments. Create a lasting memory that mom will cherish forever
- Premium Quality & Detail – Luna Bean’s molding kit accurately captures every fine detail, from fingerprints to intricate lines, using our high-quality molding gel. Each kit includes simple instructions and a detailed video guide for professional results.
14. Madame Tussauds
If your husband or wife enjoys museums and similar attractions, consider leaning entirely into the wax theme with tickets to one of the several Madame Tussauds museums across the country.
With dozens of hyper-realistic wax statues at each location, your partner is sure to love this gift. Plus, you can even make it a weekend getaway. If your partner is more into experiences than gifts, this is a perfect choice!
More Information Available at Madame Tussauds Website
15. Silver Bowl
If you think your husband or wife would be more interested in a silver holloware gift than a wax-themed one, take a look at this beautiful silver bowl. With a unique, modern shape, this bowl would elevate any room.
It can be used to hold fruit, serve appetizers or simply as decor. Plus, it’s a great way to honor the silver holloware tradition. This thoughtful and functional gift is sure to be a winner.
- SERVE GUESTS STYLISHLY from this exquisite stainless steel bowl by Elegance. It maintains hot and cold foods at optimal temperatures while adding a sophisticated touch to your dining room or buffet table.
- DOUBLE-WALL CONSTRUCTION slows the effect of ambient temperatures on food in the bowl. Your homemade stews and soups remain piping-hot longer, and fruit salads and iced beverages stay chilled and refreshing.
- RUGGEDLY TASTEFUL with its hammered design, the Elegance Salad Serving Bowl lets you make a sophisticated presentation of pasta, mashed potatoes and more. It can even be used to chill canned or bottled drinks atop your home bar.
16. 16th Anniversary Custom Canvas Print
If you’re looking for a gift that perfectly represents a 16th wedding anniversary, look no further than this custom canvas print. This print — which says 16 years at the top — lists how many months, weeks, days, minutes and seconds have passed in 16 years.
This romantic, thoughtful gift is perfect for those who are a little bit sentimental. Plus, since the message and photo are customizable, the gift can be completely personalized. Show your spouse how much you love them with this sweet gift!
Available on 365 Canvas for $60
17. 48-Hour Candle
Sticking with the 16th-anniversary wax theme, this 48-hour candle is the perfect choice for someone who loves all things vintage. With a fun design and incredible burn time, this gift will make any candle lover giddy.
Regarding the wax theme, few gifts could be a better fit. Honor the timeless 16th-anniversary tradition with this great gift!
- ALL-NATURAL BEESWAX CANDLE: Specially designed all-natural beeswax candle provides a brilliant light without the toxicity that petroleum based paraffin candles emit.
- BURNS UP TO 48 HOURS: With its unique design, that is both rustic and innovative, this one-of-a-kind candle is specially designed to fill the room with a brilliant light and soft, pleasant scent of honey that will last for up to 48 hours.
- BREATHE EASIER: Research shows that natural candles made from beeswax can help neutralize pollutants in the home – this includes dust, mold, mildew, and unwanted odors, making this a great gift for anyone that suffers from seasonal allergies or symptoms of asthma.
18. Monica Vinader Bracelets
If you know your wife loves silver but don’t want to stick with a holloware theme, consider getting her one of these beautiful silver and gold bracelets. Available in three different colors and with a customizable engraving, this piece will stun your wife and her friends.
Getting your wife a silver bracelet is a great way to acknowledge the holloware tradition while putting your own unique spin on it. If you want to sweep your wife off her feet, get this gorgeous bracelet today!
Available at Monica Vinader for $60
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s important to realize that there isn’t just one perfect gift for your spouse on your 16th anniversary. Everyone is different and you know best what your husband or wife likes.
And even though getting wax and silver gifts is a tradition, it doesn’t mean you can’t get something unique. Etsy has a lot of great, often handmade, options. In the end, all that matters is that you take the time and effort to find a great gift and everything else will fall right into place.
Serena & Dominic are a married couple and parents to 3 wonderful children. They plan weddings, run multiple small businesses, and curate wedding events.
By giving you everything you need to make your dream wedding attainable, you can eliminate stress, get the ‘wedding glow,’ and focus on spending this rocking day with the person you adore. Discover their podcast for more information
Last update on 2025-05-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
