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Kate is a senior editor covering home, registry, and wedding décor. She has been with Brides since 2015.

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We all love a theme, especially when gift-giving is involved. If you’re celebrating your sixth wedding anniversary, it’s time to start thinking about iron, as it’s the symbol of your sixth year together. Iron symbolizes strength, honor, and confidence in your love, as well as the "ironclad" (we had to) life you have built together. 

The practice of giving a specific gift for each anniversary can be traced back to the Victorian era. By now, you might have already purchased paper, cotton, leather, linen, and wood gifts for your first five years of marriage.

"Anniversary gifts are about empowering the couple to share an emotion," explains gift expert Marisa Lytle. "The stories behind these traditional materials help guide that emotional bond that's celebrated in each anniversary." The sentiment and symbolism makes the practice of gift giving that much more special.

Marisa Lytle is a gift-giving expert and VP of consumer engagement at DEMDACO.

Read on for the best iron gifts.

Nothing says forever like a Le Creuset cast iron cooking piece. This shallow, covered braising pan is perfect for the home cook who loves to make slow-cooked meats, baked frittatas or the perfect cinnamon rolls. The cast-iron dish is made to last for generations, and is coated in colorful enamel hues (choose from 17 different colors!).

Make it personal with a beautiful keepsake iron bowl, complete with a sweet message. This stunning anniversary gift works as a catch-all for trinkets or as a serving piece, and comes with the option to add a custom touch with stamped lettering. Add a quote from your wedding song, your names, or your anniversary date to make it extra special.

While iron bar sets can be a tad on the bulky side, this cocktail shaker set is anything but. Crafted out of galvanized iron, this set features a double-walled cocktail shaker, double-sided jigger, strainer, bottle opener, long-handled spoon, and tongs, all placed neatly on a magnetic organizer stand. It adds a nice rustic touch to any at-home bar.

Many of us can agree: Pizza is a sign of true love. And this cast iron pizza pan is a great sixth-anniversary gift for homemade pizza chefs. On top of that, the set also features an iron comal, a curved, shallow pan that can be used for heating tortillas (tacos are another delicious way to express your love), making perfectly crispy bacon, and so much more.

Gifting your book lover an iron title might be a little much (and very heavy), but an iron bookmark is a sweet and sentimental way to highlight your sixth anniversary in a more subtle way. This design also allows for some personalization, making it all the more thoughtful.

From the iconic French brand, Staub, this cast iron oval baker is another great option for a home chef or baker. The oven-to-table design (also built to last) is ideal for small casseroles, mashed potatoes, and baked fruit crisps and cobblers.

In lieu of anniversary flowers that will inevitably fade, try this option for a more everlasting gift. This iron rose sculpture is a fun and unique way to say “I love you” on your sixth anniversary. Once gifted, the flower can be kept on display in front of a favorite wedding photo or used as coffee table or bookshelf decor.

Love is in the cards with this bold dish. Made of heavy duty, molded cast iron, this dish makes a great sixth-anniversary present for card players and can be used to hold rings, keys, and knickknacks. Or, stay with the card theme and use it as a bottle cap holder or serving dish for at-home poker nights. 

For the loved one who takes grilling very seriously, a personalized branding iron is a great gifting option. Customize it with your loved one’s first or last initial—and if grilling isn’t their thing, but woodworking or leather crafting is, this iron can also be used on those materials as well.

When it comes to gifts that are both useful and beautiful, you can’t go wrong with a ring dish. This heart design is hand-forged by a blacksmith in North Carolina and features a customizable engraving on the edges (or choose from sweet sayings like “I Heart You” and “Happy 6th.”)

For the gambler or dice player, these iron dice are not just thoughtful—they’re useful, too. Crafted from hand-forged metal, the sturdy dice set will last a lifetime, just like the love you share together.

If you’re looking for a more sustainable iron anniversary present and your partner loves golf (and beer!), this is a great gift option. This artisan takes recycled golf irons and repurposes them into unique bottle openers. For added personalization, it's possible to request a specific iron number—choose the number 6 to mark your anniversary year, a number from your wedding date, or your partner's favorite lucky number.

While we may tend to lean toward silver or gold for jewelry pieces, iron is a bold and unique alternative. With so many blacksmith jewelers on Etsy, there are some gorgeous options for sixth-anniversary jewelry. This sleek necklace from Steel Toe Studios is lightweight and modern in design. And, speaking of unique: Each iron piece is hand twisted so no two are alike.

Commemorate your sixth anniversary with a special piece for your home. Handmade in Waco, Texas, this sign features a sweet and thoughtful anniversary message—it will serve as a reminder of your love and life together for years to come.

If you and your significant other love to host together, an iron serving piece is a great way to ring in your sixth year together. This contemporary tray is made of round hammered iron and is perfect for displaying small appetizers and finger foods at your gatherings.

This gift is as sentimental as it gets. Wedding songs are a beautiful way to tell the story of your love and feelings about each other. This iron sign is fully customizable with your song’s lyrics, your names, and anniversary date.

Mark this special occasion with a delicate iron ring. This minimalist piece may be made of iron, but the slim design gives it a uniquely elegant feel that would pair beautifully both in a stack or on its own.

Add an iron touch to a floral arrangement or anniversary bouquet. These modern iron vases come in a set of three different sizes—group together as a trio or place as individual decor pieces throughout a room.

If your significant other is into crystals, an iron pyrite gift is a must. This bracelet is made up of iron pyrite beads and signifies protection and abundance. Wear it alone or stacked with other bangles and beaded pieces.

When selecting the perfect iron anniversary gift, Lytle says there are a few things to consider. “Keep it interesting—tool sets are useful but not very meaningful—unless of course you love to do DIY projects together,” she explains. “Choose a piece with some sentiment attached to it rather than a purely functional item.” 

“Pick an item that creates a conversation,” says Lytle. “Wall art is especially nice because the sentiment is usually obvious, and it can be displayed in a place where it reminds a couple of the occasion each time they see it."

“A sixth wedding anniversary is traditionally called the iron anniversary as it symbolizes the strength of a couple’s relationship and the strength of each partner,” says Lytle. “For a sixth anniversary, it is traditional to gift products made with iron or iron accents.” 

“A versatile gift option for an iron anniversary for either men or women are serving trays,” says Lytle. “These trays can be dressed up with treats the couple can share on their anniversary, filled with snacks for a movie night or game day, and put on display to hold keepsake decor items”

“Wall art with iron accents are a great gift option and provide an everyday reminder of an anniversary milestone,” she says. "Vases made of iron are also statement-making conversation pieces that would look even more stunning filled with floral arrangements.” 

Contributing writer, Jessie Quinn is a bridal-obsessed lifestyle journalist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Journalism. At Brides, she covers everything from what jewelry to wear on your wedding day to the best invitation options. Jessie considers gift-giving her love language and finds great joy in finding the perfect gift for her loved ones.

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