My parents celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary this year, and I really am having trouble thinking of something original to buy them. I want to get something red as it is their Ruby Anniversary, but I don't to buy the usual red rose bush, red ornament etc.

Can anyone please help me think of something a little different? Thank you.

You could get a beautiful ruby colored double picture frame. On one side put a picture of them from their wedding day, on the other put the picture of them today.

After 40 years together they probably have everything they need. (household related)
I'm not sure how much you have to spend. You (and/or brothers and sisters) could buy a little weekend getaway for them for after the party. Sort of like a second honeymoon.

Presents don't have to be materials things! You could pay for tickets to the theatre to see a special show, or an evening meal. Whatever you buy, it will be special to them.
Have you any brothers and sisters? Perhaps you could all get together and organize something between you.
One of my friends treated her parents to a special 'photo sitting' with all the family. It now hangs over the fireplace and they are constantly reminded of their special day.
Good luck in choosing.

Thank you for your suggestions.

They already have a very nice picture of themselves on the wall, and Clarebear is correct about them having all the household items they want.

I had originally thought of paying for a short break for them, but found out they had already booked themselves a holiday as a second honeymoon.

I would like to buy them something that they could keep, but I'm now getting desperate! I just want it to be something a little different.

It is very sweet of you to want to do something special. I am not sure what your financial status is, but a nice camera or camcorder would be useful for their trip and for future family events.

You could contact a wine merchant in your area about finding a good wine, preferably a red wine,or a brandy that was made the year of their marriage.
Present the wine with a set of "wine charms" with ruby coloured decoration? Or a pair of glasses with ruby stems?

I'm glad you're in the UK. If you still have a few weeks to arrange it, you can get a very nice commemorative wedding certificate from the General Register Office. They do them for silver, ruby, gold and diamond anniversaries. They cost (from memory) £25. My cousin got one for my ruby anniversary and I can assure you it made a very acceptable gift.

Click on my screen name and select profile, then click on my e-mail address. Send me a message and I can then reply with a picture of the certificate. Please be sure the subject line of your message mentions Answerpool and Vixen, so that I don't delete it unread!

I like Ewood's idea. That WOULD be a perfect gift!

Thank you all very much for your further help.

I too like Ewood's suggestion, and am going to e-mail him to ask for a picture. I also like MrsS's suggestion of a bottle of red wine from the year they were married. I think the two of them together would made a very original gift that could be both enjoyed and kept as a memento.

(Sherasi, your idea was also a good one, but they already have a good camera.)

Thank you again. I would never have thought of this on my own (I didn't even know you could purchase a commemorative wedding certificate from the General Register Office).

Vixen, even members of local Family History Societies don't know about these certificates. I didn't, and I am a member of my local Society. After the event I submitted an article to the local Society's Journal, starting "You may not have seen ... ", which was polite shorthand for "I bet you didn't even know about ... "!

If anyone else in the UK is following this thread with thoughts of an anniversary in their own family, the cost is actually £40.

And Clarebear, these are a British thing. There may be something similar in the US. I wouldn't know. I imagine the place to ask would be the records center of the State where the marriage took place.