Has it really been 12 months already?! Time often flies in the first year of marriage, and before you know it, you’ve got first wedding anniversary gifts to think about. Traditions dating back 200 years make this the paper anniversary, with many couples keeping up the ritual when it comes to gifting.
Whether you’re approaching the first anniversary of your own marriage or looking for something to give to friends or family members who are getting ready to toast a happy 12 months together, we’ve got some paper wedding anniversary gift ideas that will help you find a gift that hits the mark.
1. A first anniversary card
You might want to celebrate a year of love, or you may just be glad to have survived without killing each other! Either way, we’ve got a selection of first anniversary cards that will capture the appropriate sentiment and raise a smile, a hug, or at the very least an eye roll.
We’ve also got personalised anniversary cards that mean you can upload your favourite images and make it one-of-a-kind!
Have a scroll through our collection – you never know, the card you choose might just inspire your gift selection too. (And if you need help with wording, take a look at our first wedding anniversary wishes!)
And if you’re looking for something easy to add on to your card purchase, you can find some sweet and simple gift ideas from our selection of gifts.
2. Photo album
Photos count as paper too! So, if you’re after a sentimental gift that you can pull together yourself, why not create a photo album of all of your favourite moments so far? Simply order some prints and put them into a nice book for a montage of memories.
Whether you decide to only include images from the first year of marriage or the full relationship, it’s completely up to you. And if you’d like to continue adding to it in years to come, just make sure to leave some space for future adventures!
3. Date night jar
Another crafty paper anniversary gift idea that can be handmade or purchased online is a date night jar. Depending on how often you and your loved one like to devote a night to spending quality time with each other, you can give a write 12 suggestions for monthly date nights, or go all the way to 52 if you reckon you’ll manage to fit them all into your weekly schedule!
(Psst, our blog full of anniversary date ideas may come in handy here.)
4. Paper bouquet
Flowers are a timeless present choice (and for good reason too), but since we’re wanting a paper anniversary twist, what about a paper bouquet?
If you’re confident enough and love any excuse for a creative activity, you could try DIY this one yourself, or there are companies out there that you can order from if you think it’d just end in countless paper cuts.
Alternatively, if you think they’d probably rather just have the real floral thing, be sure to check out our selection of flower and plant gifts. Considering these come accompanied with a card, it still fits the paper theme, right?
5. Travel map
For those who love to see the world with their partner, a travel map is the perfect idea for a first anniversary gift. There are plenty of different options out there, but if you want to keep track of where you’ve been or where’s next, then we suggest opting for a scratch map or picking up some push pins to mark destinations accordingly.
If the recipient is a real wanderlust, our blog on gifts for holiday lovers will likely come in handy when it comes to shopping for other special occasions!
6. A newspaper print
For those on a budget or who have set a firm price cap for gift-giving, a classic newspaper print of the headlines (which we’re sad to say won’t include the wedding) from the day the words ‘I do’ were said is a lovely, sentimental gift.
Personalising this newspaper print to then feature the actual nuptials on the main page will come at an additional cost but is a one-of-a-kind present worthy of a first anniversary.
7. A new book
There’s truly nothing like a new book, and given that the first wedding anniversary is marked by paper, this feels like an easy gift choice. Obviously, there are endless books to choose from, so the hardest part is going to be picking just the one. Your best bet is by starting with their favourite genre or author, with this also gaining you additional brownie points since it will show just how much you listen.
8. Couple’s cookbook
Is there a chef in the marriage (or maybe you both are)? A blank couple’s cookbook sounds as though it would be a welcome gift in which household recipes can be jotted down for future reference in years to come.
9. Jigsaw
For a partner or couple who enjoy puzzling, a jigsaw not only fits the bill given the imagery is printed on thin paper which is then on top of thick cardboard (or chipboard in some cases) but is also a gift that they’ll happily while away the hours solving.
10. Tickets to an event
We know that these days physical tickets are much rarer than they once were, but we’re still counting this as a paper-themed anniversary gift idea! Whether it’s to see their favourite stage show, singer or band, or a comedy gig, picking up a couple of tickets to an event makes for a great anniversary present. And as their other half (and purchaser of the tickets), you’re pretty much a guaranteed plus one!
Who knew there were so many paper-themed ideas! If you found this helpful, we’ve got tons more gifting inspiration over on the thortful blog.
