An aluminum anniversary gift can celebrate both a milestone and a place you share. If your favorite memories begin at the lake—weekend visits, a wedding trip or the cabin you made your own—a map of that shoreline gives the occasion a place on your wall.
Our lake maps are cut from aluminum and can be ordered with personal details such as a name, date or house pin. Start with the lake that means something to both of you, then choose the detail you want to remember.
Why aluminum for an anniversary?
Tin and aluminum are traditional choices for a tenth wedding anniversary, as listed in Hallmark’s anniversary gift guide. A lake map follows the aluminum theme while leaving room for a story that belongs to your relationship.
Our map layer is made from 1/8-inch 3003 sheet aluminum with a brushed finish. The cut shoreline and optional backplate create the design. You can also choose one for another anniversary if a particular lake is the connection you want to celebrate.
Choose a lake with a shared story
The place you first visited together
A favorite trip or a long-running summer tradition can be a good starting point. The lake itself may say enough. If you want wording, consider a short phrase or the year of that first visit, and check that the date means the same thing to both of you.
The lake where you married
For a lakeside wedding, ask about a design with your names and wedding date. Decide whether you want to mark the wedding year or the anniversary year before submitting the wording. Keep a longer message in the accompanying card so the artwork has room to show the shoreline.
The home you made together
A family name, lake-house nickname or house pin can recognize the place where you now spend time together. If you request a pin, provide its location with your order details and check the placement in the proof. If the house or cabin is a recent purchase, confirm its name and location before making them part of a surprise.
Use our interactive lake map to find the right lake and state. You can browse designs such as Lake Lanier and Lake of the Ozarks, or ask about an unlisted lake. A custom request lets us discuss the design, dimensions and quote before you order.
Make three choices before ordering
- Personal details: Choose the customization option if you want names, wording, a date or a house pin. Send the exact spelling and layout request.
- Backplate: Check the choices on the selected product. No backplate lets the wall show through the cutout; black provides a dark background; a full-color backplate adds color. Backplates and personalization are separate options.
- Display space: Measure the intended wall and compare both listed map dimensions. Lake shapes have different proportions. For a surprise, choose a space you know or ask someone who knows the room to help.
The photographs here show actual products. A finish or backplate in a photograph is an example; check your selected options and the displayed price. For more help planning the wall, see our size, backplate and mounting guide.
The standard Beaver Dam Lake design without a backplate. Open cutouts reveal the background behind the aluminum. View this lake map.
The same Beaver Dam Lake design with a solid black backplate, creating a consistent dark background behind the cutouts. View this lake map.
Review the anniversary details in the proof
For custom designs, we prepare a proof from the information you supply. Check the lake, every name and date, the position of any pin and the wording’s arrangement. Send corrections before approving the design for cutting.
Personalized and custom products are final sale unless we made an error, so this review matters. Read the return policy before placing a custom order. Our personalized lake map gift guide has a fuller checklist for choosing options and preparing your brief.
Plan around the anniversary date
Production runs start each Tuesday. Estimated dispatch is 1–2 weeks for standard orders and 2–3 weeks for custom orders, counted from the scheduled Tuesday production start. Typical UPS transit adds another 2–4 business days after dispatch. Custom designs need proof approval before cutting.
Check our current production and shipping information and contact us before ordering for a specific anniversary date. These are estimates, so allow time for questions, proof revisions and delivery. If the date is close, discuss the schedule before choosing the gift.
Start with your lake
Find your lake, check its available options and make a short list of the details you would like included. A familiar shoreline and one well-chosen detail can connect an aluminum anniversary gift to the years you have shared.