Galaxy OriginsUpdated October 27, 2026.
The 2nd anniversary at a glance
| Traditional | Cotton |
| Modern | China |
| Gemstone | Garnet |
| Flower | Lily of the valley |
What it means
Cotton is soft and strong at once: separate threads woven into one cloth. In the second year a couple stops being new and starts being woven together.
2nd anniversary gift ideas
- Good bedding, the kind you will keep for years.
- A cotton robe each, or a quilt for the sofa.
- A hammock for two.
- China for the modern list: a set for the meals you now cook together.
A gift about the day itself
Whatever the material, the gifts that are kept are about the marriage. Two years after the wedding, the real galaxy that was overhead during the ceremony can be framed with both names and the date: a telescope photograph matched to the day, time and place it began.
See every year on one page: anniversary gifts by year, the complete chart.