While the 25th is traditionally the silver anniversary, it's OK to flaunt or forgo tradition as long as you surprise your one-of-a-kind wife with a one-of-a-kind gift. Whether you’re gift giving on a budget, or you have some financial wiggle room, you can find the ideal gift by investing a little creativity and a whole lot of heart.

Surprise your wife with a romantic handmade gift that won't break the bank. Consider burning a CD full of music for her, complete with a roster of songs that have meaning for her. These might include the song playing during your first dance and the music that was playing in the background when you proposed. If you're wrapping the gift, skip the store-bought paper and use white butcher paper instead. Draw pictures and love notes all over the paper and then wrap your gift inside. To keep things festive with a silver twist, you could use silver paint or metallic marker to design a card or the outside of the CD case.

Commemorate your 25th anniversary by presenting your wife with a photo gift she can treasure for years to come. You can rummage through old photo albums to find a favorite photo from each of your 25 years together and assemble the collection into an eclectic collage to frame or organize all your favorites into a new photo album for the two of you to look through together. You might also have your favorite wedding photo laser-etched in crystal or turn it into a work of art by having it professionally painted or digitally altered to look like an oil painting or artist’s sketch. You can even slip a little tradition into your gift by displaying the photo in a silver picture frame. If you're going to opt for jewelry for your 25th anniversary, opt for a silver locket with a wedding photo inside and personalize your gift by having it engraved with your anniversary date or a short message of love.

Surprise your wife with an anniversary night at the place where the two of you first met, the site of your first date, or the place where you proposed. Better yet, if you still live close to all three, rent a limo and surprise your wife with a visit to each one. Alternatively, you can relive your honeymoon by planning a vacation to the same destination -- and book the exact same hotel room to add to the romance factor. For a weekend-long 25th anniversary event, plan a getaway to a romantic bed and breakfast, private cabin hideaway or a spa resort. If you’re planning a getaway for your anniversary, keep the destination a surprise. Getaways can be close to home, as well: Try arranging for a helicopter or hot air balloon ride above the city, or taking your wife on a romantic dinner cruise.

Use your anniversary years as the theme for your wife’s gift. You can surprise her with 25 roses or bake 25 of her favorite cookies. You can present her with a little coupon book with 25 small favors for her to redeem, such as massages, a candlelit dinner prepared by a personal chef -- even if it's just you -- a bubble bath for two and breakfast in bed. You can draw out the celebration of your milestone anniversary by presenting your wife with a small gift or favor each day for the 24 days preceding your special day and one more gift on your anniversary. If you have a way with words, write 25 small love notes and leave them in various places throughout the house, such as on the coffee pot, in the cupboard or medicine cabinet and on the car seat, for your wife to find during the day.