A wedding gift marks the beginning of a couple’s life together, but an anniversary gift honors a great accomplishment. Celebrate a marriage that has withstood the test of time with a gift that recognizes the past and celebrates the couple’s future together.

A socially accepted list of traditional items for each year of marriage guides the gifting process, but modern alternatives may better fit contemporary tastes.

Here are standard traditional gifts and their modern alternatives for milestone anniversaries:

Spice up gifts by putting a unique spin on your selection. For a personal twist on the traditional paper theme, for example, purchase a gift certificate printed on paper or a pair of (paper) tickets to the couple’s favorite theater, music or sports event. If you’re feeling crafty, make a scrapbook that chronicles the couple’s first year of marriage

A little creativity goes a long way when making extravagant gifts more affordable. Rather than splurging on a sapphire, for instance, select another item with the same brilliant hue.

One idea that’s sure to spark memories is a video collage. Gather pictures of the couple and their family and friends through the years. Enhance the video with love songs from the era they got married. Ask guests if they can remember what songs were played at the wedding reception. Dig a little further to find out whether the couple has a special song from their dating days.