The traditional first anniversary gift is Paper. Romance and meaning don’t necessarily come to you when first thinking about giving your loved one paper for a gift. Hardly seems like the best way to start off your marriage! But after doing some research, paper actually has tremendous symbolism to newlyweds as it represents a clean slate with which the couple can start to write their love story, page by page, year by year. The beginning of that story can start with one simple gift to memorialize starting a new life together, which unlike paper that is often fragile, will gradually strengthen in the years to come alongside gifts of harder metals and precious materials. Sounds like paper might be the best way to start your anniversary gifting traditions!
Gifts We Love!
Photo: Pexels
Travel Tickets
Expand your horizons and the definition of “Paper” with a vacation! For your 1st anniversary, book flights, reserve a hotel, and find some exciting new excursions to take your partner on a second honeymoon. Print and wrap your itinerary, but leave open some time on your trip to plan a few activities together!
Books are the obvious choice for paper gifts, but what to do when your shelves are full and your partner breezes through books like they’re short stories? It might be time for a Kindle! The modern take on a home library where you have access to basically every book ever written at the touch of your fingertips. Add a membership to Kindle Unlimited or Audible to give your favorite reader ultimate access to over 2 million titles.
A book with no pages is still… paper? Close enough! This brings your wedding videos to life in an elegant, high-tech coffee table book design that is sure to impress. There are so many customization options to make this book truly one of a kind, just like your partner.
Take me out to the ballgame! Or the theater or a concert, the possibilities are endless. Plan a fun and relaxing day around seeing your favorite sports team. Or opt for the more romantic option of dinner and a show for your 1st anniversary together. So many possibilities exist when you move beyond the traditional idea of paper itself.
Michaels is your one-stop-shop for all things crafts and it doesn’t get better than this charming scrapbook. Add a variety of paper sheets and stickers to make this album truly unique. Take some time together to fill it with photos and memories of your special day.
Does your partner love to write down memories or keep all their reminders and events in one place? This fully customizable journal would be the perfect place to jot down all those thoughts and ideas. This store has so many options from daily planners to notebooks and some great digital items for your 1st anniversary.
A bouquet of flowers will brighten any room for a few days, but these hand-crafted botanical paper arrangements will leave a lasting impression. Each handmade bouquet is a unique work-of-art, perfect for reminding your partner how special they truly are.
It’s like taking a page out of a Nicholas Sparks novel! What a fun and romantic way to write that special message to your loved one on your 1st anniversary. Beautifully crafted with cream parchment paper in this old-fashioned bottle, you can present this gift in the included gift box or perhaps hide it in the sand before a long walk on the beach for an incredible surprise!
With kids, after school activities, meetings, date nights and everything inbetween, our lives can get a little hectic at times. We have calendars synced in our phones but sometimes it’s easier to actually see what’s ahead written in one place. This personalized dry erase wall calendar would solve so many problems! If there’s not enough wall space, try this custom desk calendar that beautifully displays your pictures, names and special dates!
Customize this beautiful frame with your wedding vows or first dance lyrics along with a photo from your special day to really make this picture stand out. Multiple framing and font options will let you find the perfect design to match your living space.
This is such a creative way to display your first dance song! Pair it with your favorite photo from your special day and display it anywhere you want a constant reminder of those magical few minutes dancing as a married couple for the very first time. Simply scan the Spotify code from the app and your song instantly starts streaming. The perfect way to bring you right back to that amazing moment together!
We had an upcoming vacation scheduled to Scottsdale, AZ so I bought us tickets to a Phoenix Suns game as this year’s paper gift. It was a fun and different activity after a dinner that we’d already planned in the city during our trip. Tickets are a great way to expand beyond the basic idea of paper. And even better, they provide for a fun experience together with memories that will last beyond a traditional gift.
Jay to Annie
They say after years of marriage that a couple often starts to think alike. Well, it didn’t take long for us – I also bought Annie tickets and a watch for this year’s gifts! I planned a day with tickets to see Mamma Mia! on Broadway followed by dinner in New York City afterwards. As we said earlier, Broadway isn’t paper and tickets typically aren’t printed anymore (15 years ago they were!), but the present was just a few degrees away from the main category, which we feel is close enough! We’ve since seen several Broadway plays together, but we’ll always remember the whole theater joining in for Dancing Queen after our first show together as a married couple.
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