Looking for a special silver anniversary gift that will be meaningful for a great married couple? Twenty five years is a long time for any relationship these days, so a 25th anniversary is a time to celebrate and recall blessings. The problem is, what to give that the couple doesn't already have?

After all, there is only so much room on table tops for engraved plates or plaques. And a $25 gift card for a dinner out, doesn't go very far. Big gifts, like sponsoring a second honeymoon to Hawaii can be hard on the budget. So, what do you buy that is affordable, yet still honors this wonderful accomplishment for the special couple?

Many married people who celebrate their silver wedding anniversary like to share the memory and company of their closest friends and family members. So, why not give a silver anniversary gift of a personalized portrait?

More and more family members are selecting professional artists to help them create a meaningful gift for special occasions. For anniversaries, surprising your loved ones with a professionally painted oil portrait of them is a special gift. The process is easier than it sounds, as long as you follow a few guidelines.

For example, an artist can work remotely, deliver drafts of the painting for review online, and then mail the finished piece directly to your home in time for the big anniversary party.

You can submit your favorite wedding photo, travel memories, or any every-day snapshot and the artist will advise you on how to composition an oil portrait out of them. Some artists will even be willing to compose a painting on multiple photos, such as to combine postures or facial expressions from different photos to create the perfect pose for everyone in the painting.

The end-result will be a beautiful piece of art, hand-made just for the special couple. Unlike photographs, oil paintings don't lose color and will last for generations. Framed and hung up on a wall, they celebrate memories of the past 25 years and show a commitment to a shared future together.

Finding a qualified portrait artist can be a chore these days, unless you know where to look. Here are four things to know before you submit your project.

1. Make sure to check the artist's portfolio and background. The artist should belong to a qualified gallery and have done a number of portraits. Judge the quality by their work. Ask for a PDF to be sent to you for your review.

2. Get testimonials whom you can contact to ask about the quality of the gallery or artist's work. Any professional gallery will be happy to let you contact their satisfied customers.

3. Choose and supply high quality color photos that the artist can obtain good details of the couple. Don't use a grainy, cell-phone or low resolution digital photo.

4. Give yourself at least six weeks to connect with the artist, see the work in process and receive it in time for the anniversary. You don't want to miss the extra surprise of giving the portrait on or near the anniversary date.

If you're interested in the idea and want to consider oil portrait paintings as a anniversary gifts, you can thrill a married couple with a portrait for their silver anniversary gift. All you need to do is find that qualified artist and gallery.