Paper is the traditional gift for a first wedding anniversary. It stands for a new beginning: a blank page the couple will fill together over the years ahead. (The modern list suggests clocks, which is why one of the ideas below is a clock.) Here are five paper anniversary gift ideas, plus quick ideas if you need something fast.
Five 1st Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas
1. Prints
A failsafe first-anniversary gift always has to be a personalised print. What better than a unique piece of artwork that you can display in your home together? There are loads of approaches you can take when it comes to what you include on your print, whether it’s related to your wedding or your relationship in general, there’s an option for every couple. There’s a print out there for almost every couple, whether you include song lyrics, poems, book extracts, or quotes. You could even combine it with a picture of your wedding day to give it an extra special touch. Think about:
- Do you have ‘a song?’ What song did you have as your first dance? There are so many wonderful designs of song lyric prints out there for you to give your other half a memento of that special song. If they’re a music fan, you could even go a step further with a print of the sheet music!
- Did you have a reading during your wedding ceremony? You could find a calligraphy print of the quote or poem that was part of your special day.
- There’s plenty of sites out there that will create a print from words, phrases, dates, and pretty much everything else related to your relationship too. Check out sites like Not on the High Street for ideas.
2. Tickets
When it comes to first wedding anniversary gifts, tickets are a fantastic option. Not only does it satisfy the paper theme, but it will also give you both a wonderful memory to look back on. If your other half isn’t particularly interested in any music or comedy acts (or you have very different tastes!), you can still treat them to an experience day or trip away. Great ideas for a first wedding anniversary can include a romantic meal for two, a spa break, or even a luxury city break. If you want to keep within the paper theme, there’s plenty of online tools around where you can actually create a ‘ticket’ for your gift – much more creative than just a print out of the confirmation email!
3. Get Creative
Okay, so the option may not be for everyone, but if you have a particular creative talent at your disposal, what better way to show your love for your spouse by giving them something homemade? If you’re lucky enough to have any musical talents, you could perhaps learn their favourite song and play it for them. You could maybe even go a step further and write a song for them! If you’re a dab hand with a paintbrush, perhaps create a piece of artwork they’ll love, like a sketch of your wedding venue. You could even create your own calligraphy print using some of the ideas from above.
Even if you’re not the most artistic, scrapbooks are a wonderful way of displaying all of the memories you’ve made together in your first year, and even better, you can add to them in the years to come. Stores such as Hobbycraft or Amazon will be well equipped with everything you need to get started, and you can use Pinterest for plenty of inspiration. If you’re not quite brave enough to make something yourself, there’s a handful of the first anniversary-themed scrapbooks out there that you can fill in with your own memories and photos.
4. Books & Stationery
Is your spouse a bit of a bookworm? If you know there’s a classic novel that they love, look into maybe finding a first edition or a themed gift around it. Perhaps there’s simply a book they’ve had their eye on for a while and never got round to getting it for themselves? You could perhaps even take a humorous approach with a comedy or parody book on love and marriage – provided you know their sense of humor of course!
Do they love to write or perhaps have a bit of a stationery addiction? A personalised notebook is also a lovely paper gift you can give them on your first anniversary, and even better, there are thousands of different designs out there you can choose from. If you want to kick things up a notch, perhaps write them a message on the first page, or you could even combine it with the tickets option and write what you’ve got planned for the occasion.
5. Clocks
A more modern alternative to the traditional paper gift for a first wedding anniversary is clocks and watches. Why? They represent the endless love and time you’ll spend together in your marriage. I don’t mean a cheap wall clock from eBay either! If they’ve got a particular love of antiques or quirky designs you could do a little research to find something truly unique that they’ll love, or you can find plenty of personalised designs out there too.
If you’re not sure a clock is a right way to go as a gift but you quite like the time theme, why not go for a wristwatch? Whether or not you choose something for them to wear on special occasions or something stylish for every day, it’ll be a fabulous memento that will remind them of you every time! You could also find some models and ideas from www.thewatchcompany.com that will cater to your partner’s preferences and style.
Whatever gift you give your spouse, and whatever you do on your first anniversary, it really is something to be celebrated, so make sure you don’t let the occasion pass by! Even if you’ve opted not to do gifts, at the very least arrange to do something special, even if it’s just dinner with a nice bottle of wine!
More paper anniversary gift ideas
- A jar of short love notes, one for each week of the coming year
- A custom map print of the place you met, got engaged or married
- A photo book of your first year of marriage
- Your wedding vows or first-dance lyrics as a framed print
- A star map print showing the sky on your wedding night
- A handwritten recipe book of the dishes you cooked together this year
- Paper flowers or an origami bouquet that will never wilt
- Tickets to a show, concert or game, presented in a handmade card
Quick answers
Why is paper the first anniversary gift?
Paper is the first gift in the traditional list of anniversary materials. It represents a fresh start, and it is fragile, like a new marriage, which becomes stronger with each year.
What is the modern first anniversary gift?
The modern list suggests clocks for the first anniversary. Many couples combine the two, for example a clock with a handwritten card.
What is the second anniversary gift?
Cotton is the traditional gift for the second wedding anniversary.
Looking for a song to print? See our Counting Crows wedding songs and Fleetwood Mac wedding songs.