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.
Read on for the best iron gifts.
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Braiser
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!).
Coach House Forge Metal Catch-All Dish
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.
Galrose Dezigns Cocktail Shaker Set
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.
Victoria Cast Iron Comal and Pizza Pan
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.
Coach House Forge Personalized Iron Bookmark
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.
Staub Oval Baking Dish
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.
Makuli Smit Metal Rose Sculpture
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.
Cheungs Cast Iron Clubs Table 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.
OnlyGiftsDotCom Circle Initial Branding Iron
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.
Northern Crescent Iron Heart Ring Dish
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.”)
Pan Panak Personalized Forged Iron Dice
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.
OldGolfClub Golf Iron Bottle Opener
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.
Steel Toe Studios Iron Necklace
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.
Magnolia Grow Old Together Sign
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.
Crate & Barrel Iron Serving Platter
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. It's an especially sweet sentiment if you had a cheese board at your wedding).
Honeycomb Proverbs Wedding Song on Iron
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.
IRONYJWLR Thin Black Iron Ring
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.
Demdaco Metal Cube Vases
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.
Norse Tradesman Iron Bracelet
Leather and hand-forged iron come together for a rustic bracelet featuring snap closures that adjust to three different sizes: 7.25-inches, 8-inches, and 8.75-inches. It’ll sit nicely below a rolled up cuff sleeve.
Ufine Koi Fish Cast Iron Teapot Set
Recreate a Japanese getaway with this stunning Ufine Koi Fish Cast Iron Teapot Set. Within Japanese culture, the koi fish represents good luck for your partner’s health, professional life, family, and love. This present is ideal for unwinding with your significant other after a long day or for entertaining a small group of friends over tea.
Luxe Buffalo Good Luck Horseshoe Door Hanger
Bring good luck into your space with this horseshoe door hanger for your iron anniversary. You can hang the leather hanger anywhere in your home, from the bedroom to the dining room, as it is so elegant. The horseshoe is a feng shui tool for inviting in positive energy and prosperity.
Dandelion Metalworks Custom Song Lyrics Sign
The magic of music lies in its ability to take us back in time to relive those unforgettable moments we shared with our one true love. This personalized song lyric art piece is a classic token of affection, whether it is for the song you danced to on your wedding day or the song playing the night you first met. It’ll remind you of the beautiful memories you’ve created so far with your mate and the ones yet to come.
Kraft Street Paper 6th Year Anniversary Card
If you’re keeping the gift giving low-key this year, opt for this punny little anniversary card that reads “You’re still hot and steamy” with a picture of an iron stamped onto the front. You can use the blank interior to keep the puns going or to write a sweet sentiment about how much you love your partner.
Cufflinks Inc 'Iron Man' Cuff Links
Is your spouse a Marvel lover? Then they’ll go crazy for these Iron Man cufflinks. The red and gold will pop against a white cuff sleeve and make your guy feel like a superhero himself.
Uncommon Goods Golf Club Adjustable Bracelet
An iron club-shaped bracelet will delight the woman who loves to be out on the green. Handcrafted in Mexico out of sterling silver, it’s six inches long with an open cuff design that makes it adjustable. It will gleam against a bright white tennis set.
BergHOFF Cast Iron Grill Press
No grillmaster is complete without a grill press. Available in a bright red and a forest green, this cast iron option will help everything from burgers to paninis cook to perfection. Plus, it features bamboo handle that won’t get hot for easy handling.
ghd Original Styler
GHD is a classic in flat ironing tools, and with good reason. Their original styler has a pre-set temperature of 365-degrees to make hair smooth and shiny without the heat damage. It heats up within 30 seconds and goes into sleep mode after 30 minutes of no use, so it’s efficient and safe, too.
Joss & Main Hynes Iron Pot Planter
Made of textured ceramic and a mixed metal frame that includes iron, this planter set will look just as good indoors as it does outdoors. Your plant loving partner can cultivate their green thumb with this gift—just note the planters don’t have drainage holes, so you might want to keep the planters in their original pot for watering.
Steel Toe Studios Iron Belt Buckle
This iron belt buckle can be personalized with your anniversary date, tally marks signifying the six years you’ve been married so far, or the coordinates of where you first met, had your first date, or got married. What a sweet touch!
Boska Cast Iron Fondue Pot Set
Complete with a cast-iron pot, burner, and four forks, this fondue set is ready for some action. Whether you’re dipping some bread into gooey cheese or strawberries into melted chocolate, it will have all your bases covered. It’s something you can pull out time and time again for an at-home date night.
Barebones All-In-One Grill
This cast iron grill will fulfill every griller’s fantasy—it’s a jack of all trades. It smokes, braises, roasts, fries; you name it, it does it. At 18-inches high and 13-inches wide, it’s also portable, meaning you can take it with you to a tailgate or camping trip.
Anthropologie Forged Iron Elowen Chair
Treat yourselves to some redecorating by upgrading your old dining chairs to some classy striped ones. In two different black-and-white designs, this chair features viscose-linen upholstery, a plump cushion, and forged iron legs.
Pottery Barn Weston Hanging Iron Frames
For a sweet and sentimental gift, pop your favorite photo of the two of you into this elegantly rustic frame, which comes in two sizes. It’ll look perfect hanging above the mantel or nightstand, evoking fond memories every time one of you walks by.
Everyday Essentials Cast Iron Kettleball
A cast iron kettlebell is a gift any fitness lover would appreciate. With the classic flat bottom and wide handle, these ones are ready to be used for squats and swings. They’re sold individually, so you can buy just one, a pair, or a set in a variety of weights.
Bed Bath and Beyond Iron and Glass Terrarium
A copper colored terrarium of iron and glass will encourage your loved one’s gardening hobby while adding a chic touch to your home. Gift this set as is or go ahead and add succulents or plants to get the mini garden started.
Urban Outfitters Aida Iron Table Lamp
Spruce up your bedsides with a set of sleek and modern lamps featuring a cylindrical base and domed shade. Available in black, olive, and cream, they’ll emit a subtle glow to help set the mood.
Pottery Barn Easton Forged-Iron Pillar Candleholder
Candles have a lifespan, but a sturdy iron candle holder will last forever. Gift just one, a set of three, or a set of six, and for anniversaries here on out you can gift a new candle every year to use with it.
Casa Amarosa Recycled Iron 5 Bells Wind Chimes
Every time these iron bells chime on a windy day, you’ll think of each other. They’re perfect for the front porch or back patio, where you can relax in the breeze and reminisce.
Sunday Citizen Iron Wood Gift Set
Smell is associated with nostalgia, so gift a scent that will remind both of you of your sixth wedding anniversary. This set comes with a reed diffuser, candle, and acrylic diffuser tray with a scent that contains notes of sage, basil, black tea, and sandalwood.
Staub Round Cocotte
Every kitchen needs a dutch oven, and your sixth wedding anniversary is a great excuse to splurge on one of the best. Made of cast iron, this one boasts an enameled interior that will cook any one-pot meal you desire without staining or rusting. Available in five different sizes and eight different colors, you’ll definitely find one that suits your needs.
Monopoly Luxe Maple Edition
Game night gets a facelift with this elevated Monopoly game, complete with a maple wood cabinet that features a drawer for cards and Monopoly money, plus game pieces and dice with an iron and gunmetal finish. It’ll become a staple for the competitive couple’s at-home date.
Nori Press Compact Iron & Steamer for Clothes
Gifting an actual iron may feel a little too on the nose or for the 20th century, but we promise this two-in-one iron and steamer is a gift they’ll appreciate. Not only does it have dual capabilities to de-wrinkle clothes more effectively, it’s compact and dual voltage, meaning it’s ideal to throw into a suitcase for a trip abroad.
Great Jones The Cast Iron Family
Cooked meals at home will taste that much better with a new set of cast iron pots and pans. This one comes with two dutch ovens and a 12-inch skillet, ready to cook up a storm. We love that it comes in an array of gorgeous jewel tones: mustard, blueberry, and broccoli.
Etsy Custom Iron Map Tray
Customize this iron tray with a map of the city you married in, your initials, and your anniversary date. It’ll be a sweet spot to rest anything from wedding rings to car keys on.
What to Look For in Iron Anniversary Gifts
Sentimentality
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.”
Conversation starters
“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."
Why Trust Brides
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. She consulted an expert to assist in picking the best iron anniversary gifts:
- Marisa Lytle: Lytle is a gift-giving expert and VP of consumer engagement at DEMDACO.