10 Last-Minute Cotton Anniversary Gifts to Celebrate a 2nd Year in the Books

Being with the right person is a lot like finding the perfect shirt – at first it’s fresh and new, but over time it wears into something so soft and comfortable that you never want to let it go. But unlike shirts, which may wear out after a couple of year, your second wedding anniversary is just the beginning of a lifetime of wedded bliss. 

Traditionally, couples swap cotton gifts that symbolize the strength and comfort of their union for anniversary #2. But not all couples go by the books these days. Whether you already have the best cotton Anniversary Gifts for Him and are looking for a last-minute way to add a nod to the cotton anniversary tradition or simply haven’t found the perfect cotton anniversary gift to commemorate your love yet, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered.

1 - Text a Gift Card to Their Favorite Outfitter

Hook Your S.O. Up with Some New Cotton Clothes in Just a Few Clicks

Text or email a digital gift card in just a few clicks

The cotton anniversary is all about getting comfortable in your married life. The first year is notoriously tough as you navigate new waters together, but by year two, it should be smooth sailing. No matter how well you know someone, it’s still hard to pick out their comfy cozy items. After all, what’s snuggly to them might not be your style. So why not put the choice in their hands?

This certainly isn’t your parents’ cotton anniversary gift – today, you can send a personalized gift card to their favorite clothing store in just a couple of clicks with an online gift card vendor like GiftYa. Choose from an expert-created design or add a photo or video clip of you and your other half. Add a message, and it’s off! 

Still not sure where to start with cotton anniversary gift cards? Consider a couple of our favorites:

• Send an UNTUCKit gift card so your man can look his best in casual, button-down shirts that are designed to be untucked
• Share a Third Love gift card so your lady can upgrade her underthings with a brand built with comfort and inclusivity in mind
• Text a Homegoods gift card so your spouse can update the throw pillows or towels in their favorite room in your house

Not feeling the digital options? You can always customize a physical Visa gift card for your S.O. with Gift Card Granny’s build a card feature, too. Just choose a photo of one of your favorite memories together for the front, add a personal message, and a physical card is on its way.

2 - Custom Cotton Prints

Commemorate Your Vows or Another Reminder of Your Wedding Day

After two years, the memory of your wedding day is still fresh, but it may no longer be crystal clear. After all, you’ve shared two years of experiences since then – 730 days of laughter and tears, big events and little moments, countless memories.

Bring your big day back to the forefront with a Custom Cotton Print for your cotton anniversary. Consider having your vows printed on cotton paper, or a reproduction of your wedding invitations. Your S.O. will cherish this sentimental gift for years to come.

3 - Cotton Corded Bracelet

Simple Way to Symbolize Your Infinite Love for Each Other

When you hear “anniversary gifts,” a few classic choices come to mind: a nice dinner out, a bouquet of flowers, a nice silk tie, and of course, jewelry. Luckily for newlyweds who are just starting out and making all of those big price tag purchases of early adulthood (cars, homes, nurseries…), cotton jewelry is simple and inexpensive.

If you want to make your gift extra special, you can certainly take the DIY approach to this gift idea. Most craft stores will have cotton cord and clasps, so you can make your very own bracelet design. But if you don’t feel comfortable trying your hand at jewelry design on short notice, you can always pick up a pre-assembled option like these sweet matching infinity bracelets available on Amazon.

4 - “Cotton” Candy

Give the Gift of Food for Your Cotton Anniversary

Okay, so this one isn’t strictly speaking cotton, but hear us out. The cotton anniversary is only your second year together. You probably still have some sweet paper anniversary gifts tucked around the apartment, and you have plenty of other gifts to look forward to – leather, wood, copper… the list goes on. If you want to give a gift that sticks with the cotton theme but won’t turn into another knick knack tucked away in your attic, consider taking the whimsical approach.

Cotton candy is a sweet treat that you can share for your anniversary, and it feels particularly appropriate if your anniversary falls in the summertime (amusement park season) or fall (fair season for all of our country folks out there). Plus, gourmet cotton candy comes in all kinds of flavors, so you can get your spouse wedding cake cotton candy or any other flavor you think they’d enjoy.

5 - Personalized Cotton Robes

Cozy Up Together in Matching Cotton Robes

For couples that choose to share a last name, making the last name change is a big deal. By this point, you’ve probably filed the last of the forms and updated the last of the account, even if it felt like they’d never end for a while. So why not celebrate with a cotton anniversary gift embroidered with your new shared initial?

These bathrobes are perfect for him or her, with a comfortable waffle weave fabric that will keep you warm when it’s cold out but still be breathable when it’s warm. 

6 - DIY Cotton Thread Art

This Homemade Decor Only Requires a Few Materials

If you have some nails, thread, and a board lying around somewhere, you have what you need to make one of these sweet string design boards for yourself. You can make your home state, a house, a heart, or anything else you think your sweetie would like (and would look good on your wall). 

Not confident in your crafting ability? Not to worry. String art like this has become a pretty popular decor trend in recent years, so a quick search on Etsy should return plenty of customizable design options from craftsman all over the country.

7 - Embroidered Gifts

The Old School Cotton Anniversary Gift

Think back to the homes you visited as a kid – friends houses, older relatives – and one wall decor item probably ties them all together. Somewhere on the wall of the house, you could find a small embroidered design with the couple of the house’s wedding date on it. Maybe it was designed to look like their first house, or maybe it was an early family portrait like this one. Either way, chances are that it was a cotton anniversary gift once upon a time.

For the more traditional among us, a piece of embroidery is the ultimate cotton anniversary gift. If you know a thing or two about embroidery already – or you’re willing to give it a try – there are lots of bride and groom embroidery templates out there so you can make your spouse a one-of-a-kind gift. But if you don’t want to mess with pricking your fingers, you can always find an artisan who does custom designs as well.

8 - Cotton Christmas Ornament

Turn Your Tree into a Collection of Anniversary Gifts

For couples that celebrate Christmas together, the tree they put up each year becomes a living history of their lives together. They might inherit ornaments from loved ones, pick them up as souvenirs as they travel, and receive hand-made ornaments from any children they have. Consider starting a tradition of getting an ornament for each anniversary, too!

9 - XL Waterproof Picnic Blanket

Waterproof Your Cotton Anniversary Gift for Outdoor Fun

If you and your S.O. enjoy long walks on the beach, through the park, or in the forest, this is the perfect cotton anniversary gift for you. Hauling all of the supplies for a picnic to a scenic location can be a hassle, but it gets much easier when your blanket folds up into a convenient carrying pouch.

This waterproof blanket has a sturdy leather handle for easy carrying, which means that you and your spouse can bring it for your next beach vacation or to watch your kiddo’s morning soccer practice. It’s a practical take on the cotton anniversary gift that you’re sure to use for many years to come.

10 - Cotton Scented Candle

Fill Your Home with the Fresh Scent of Clean Cotton

Most of the gifts we’ve included here today have included items made out of cotton itself – but what about the cotton scent? It’s light, it’s fresh, and it’s homey, calling to mind images of sunshine pouring through windows and clean laundry on the line waving in a gentle spring breeze. 

Whether you’re moving into a new home together this year or you’ve been settled in the same space since your wedding day, candles are a great way to create a cozy ambiance and, of course, make your place smell amazing. If your husband likes to light some candles and settle in to read for the evening or your wife can’t resist a single three-wick candle sale, a cotton scented candle could be the perfect last minute cotton anniversary gift for your spouse.

GiftYa Recommends: Text a Yankee Candle gift card so that they can shop all their favorite cotton scents.

That’s it for our last minute cotton anniversary gifts.

Every marriage is different, which means that you and your spouse get to choose the traditions that resonate with you and ditch the ones that don’t. If keeping with the customary wedding anniversary themes is something you plan to do with your spouse, we hope that the gift ideas on this list have given you a good start.

We’ve covered options big enough to be your whole anniversary present and cute additions to an already amazing gift. No matter which direction you choose to go, we hope that you and your S.O. have an excellent cotton anniversary, and many more happy years to come!

Don’t forget – if you didn’t find the perfect gift on this list, you can check out the full GiftYa catalog for more inspiration. With thousands of local and national vendors to choose from, you’re sure to find something your spouse would appreciate.

Happy gifting!