What should I get my parents for their 40th wedding anniversary?

[Havanawinter]

My parents’ 40th wedding anniversary is coming up. They’re great parents/grandparents and we’re very close. They like going out for meals (but not to posh places, just nice local places), going on holiday, seeing their grandkids, they volunteer at a food bank, my dad likes sports and my mum enjoys doing puzzles. They both read a lot and drink nice red wine. They’re into fitness. They’re vegetarians. They’re doing to Japan on holiday later in the year.

Call me crazy but I can’t think of a single idea of something good to get them! My budget is approx £150. They’re not into expensive things or fancy hotels. I’d really appreciate any ideas!

Nice red leather wallet type thing for passports & tickets.

Get it embossed with initials or a message inside.

Pay for a studio portrait of them together or a group family shot? If you do that, try to go-ordinate clothing. Everyone wear something red which creates cohesion and coordination.

It’s their ruby wedding so look for red items but maybe not those dreadful glasses or cups with “Ruby Wedding” emblazoned on them.

Could you take them/pay for a meal at one of their favourite local restaurants? Paired with a nice bottle of wine?

Or a wine tasting experience? There's a 'wine school' near me that has some great options and gift vouchers.

Would they enjoy an escape room if your mum likes puzzles?

Some Japanese Yen for their trip? Or anything they might like to do whilst there that you could book for them?

If they're sentimental, you could write down 40 ways they've brought love into your lives. Perhaps get the kids involved and write them on bits of paper stored in a jar? Or I'm sure somewhere like Etsy would produce a print of something like this.

Not overly expensive but I got my parents a ruby rose bush to plant in their garden, over 10 years later and it has beautiful blooms! They are good and attentive gardeners though.

Picture of the family, there are places that can 'draw' a photo. That or make a photo book of special memories

For my parents 40th anniversary we made a hamper that was filled with all red items. So things like..good red wine, small earrings with rubies in them for mum, red cheese, red suduko/cook books, red infused gin, red sweets, etc etc (all stuff they like but red) see pic! You could make this as pricey or less expensive as you want!

Cool idea! 🙂

Could you look at booking something for them when they are in Japan? A trip to see sumo or rakago.

Or a lesson in playing a shamisen?

There is a vineyard not far from me that does wine with personalised labels, I got some for my parents 40th (I didn't have your budget).

You mentioned they like to eat out, for £150 you could easily hire a chef to come to their home and cook a meal for them.

Japanese menu from £55 per person, obviously you have to pay travel expenses as well.

https://www.poptop.uk.com/services/22317/

Will put my thinking cap on re clever gift ideas!

For a Ruby Anniversary card, though, what about this?

3D Japanese red maple tree, in honour of their forthcoming trip there:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/856058846/acer-tree-pop-up-3d-card-birthday?ga_order=price_desc&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=japanese+gifts&ref=sc_gallery-1-8&plkey=67ab63dc2b1e649a54ec3ce872e1967c206785ea%3A856058846

PS Although it's categorised under "Mother's Day cards", there's no writing to suggest such.

Professional framed picture of the church/reception place - if it’s still there! Or the place they got engaged etc?

thepresenttree.com/products/myrtle-tree

I got my parents one of these

A couple of bottles of their favourite wine and a framed family photo.
I have been married 30 years and have got to the stage where I really don’t more stuff.

Buy them a meal at a nice pub/restaurant and wine.

after so many years together they have have plenty, but more importantly, each other.

For my parents 50th I managed to get some of their wedding photos (I secretly raided their house when they were out) and had some canvas prints made up.
They looked great, black and white but modern being on a canvas.

You could get some of their wedding pictures done as a canvas or printed and out in some nice frames, maybe with a ruby red colour for 40 years

You can get a newspaper from the day they were married.

Are they gardeners? Lots of options for roses and other plants.

Theres a company that does mystery tours of various places. I got one for my DS and DiL.

I got a lovely watercolour painting of one of my parents favourite places.

A family photograph framed in ruby red.

A red wine testing

I was going to suggest this too. David Austen have a few 'Ruby Wedding' varieties:

www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/pages/search-results?q=Ruby

I agree with the family photo idea. We're a close family and regularly go out for extended family meals but it's rare to get a good 'snap' on those occasions. I would love a proper studio portrait of my DC and DGC all together.

Could you book them a night in a ryokan when they're in Japan? It's a very interesting experience but I would think one night would be enough.

Choosing a gift for your parents' 40th wedding anniversary depends on their preferences and interests. Here are some ideas to help you decide:

1. Jewelry: Consider getting them a special piece of jewelry such as a necklace, bracelet, or watch, engraved with their names or anniversary date.
2. Vacation or Weekend Getaway: Plan a surprise trip for them to their favorite destination or a place they've always wanted to visit.
3. Personalized Photo Album: Create a beautiful photo album or collage showcasing special memories from their years together.
4. Customized Artwork: Commission a local artist to create a customized painting or sculpture that represents their love and journey.
5. Spa or Wellness Package: Treat your parents to a relaxing spa experience, including massages, facials, or a weekend retreat at a wellness resort.
6. Personalized Wine or Champagne Set: Order a set of wine or champagne glasses engraved with their names and anniversary date, and include a bottle of their favorite drink.
7. Renewal of Vows: Help arrange a small, intimate ceremony or celebration to renew their vows and mark the special occasion.
8. Tech Gadgets: If your parents are tech-savvy, consider getting them a new gadget or device that they would enjoy, such as a tablet, e-reader, or smart home device.
9. Cookware or Kitchen Appliances: If they enjoy cooking together, upgrade their kitchen with high-quality cookware or buy them a new kitchen gadget they've been eyeing.
10. Time Capsule: Create a time capsule filled with mementos, photographs, and personal messages from family and friends that they can open on their 50th anniversary.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to choose a gift that is meaningful and heartfelt, reflecting the love and appreciation you have for your parents.

We got some lovely red wine glasses in a graded red blush glass. With a bottle of wine.

DS bought us an original copy of The Times from the date of our wedding in a presentation box.
I would love a photo of the family all together. A friend got one printed on a canvas.
A friend made us a sampler specifically celebrating our anniversary. Maybe you can find someone who could make one?

For my parents golden wedding I bought the gold version of these
https://jodowns.com/collections/coasters/products/red-heart-coaster
And made them a box of heart shaped shortbread.
For silver, DB and I gave them a teasmade, no idea what ruby was!