At the end of your first year as a married couple, your wedding probably feels like a really long time ago, but also like it only just happened yesterday. What an amazing and magical time as you and the love of your life took the plunge to spend eternity together.
To mark such a momentous time in your marriage, you might want to give your partner a special gift. But what should you give your partner for your first wedding anniversary? Of course, you could give them whatever you or they want – there are no set rules you have to follow. But, if you’d like to give them a gift that symbolises something, there are traditional and modern anniversary gifts that many couples like to give.
So, if you’d like to give your partner a 1st anniversary gift with meaning and history, then we have all the information you’ll need below. We’ll let you know the traditional and modern gifts for a first anniversary, as well as the traditional gemstone and flower. That way, you’ll know the meaning behind them and why they make for such a thoughtful gift. We’ll also offer you plenty of ideas that fit the theme, so you can give your partner a wonderfully memorable gift to commemorate your first wedding anniversary.
For more information about what different wedding anniversary gifts you can give from 1 to 90 years, read our complete year-by-year wedding anniversary gift guide.
What are traditional and modern gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary?
If you’re looking to give your partner a 1st anniversary gift with meaning or something that has special significance, you can give them a traditional or modern gift. Or, there’s always something that features the traditional gemstone or flower.
Traditional 1st anniversary gift – Paper
Paper might seem like a small and inexpensive gift (you still might be feeling the effects of paying off your wedding after all) but it symbolises new beginnings, which is just perfect. Paper can be used for such a wide variety of things and can be the start of amazing things – just like your marriage. It also offers you plenty of opportunities for creative gifts.
Modern 1st anniversary gift – Clocks
The modern gift for a first anniversary is a clock, which is something else that provides you with different possibilities, from a lovely wristwatch to a brand new smartwatch, or perhaps even an ornate grandfather clock to put in the hallway of your home. Clocks represent time and the eternal love you have for your partner.
1st anniversary gemstone – Gold
Okay, gold isn’t actually a gemstone, it’s a precious metal, but that preciousness is a status that describes your marriage to a tee. Gold is a luxurious gift, and fits with a wide range of gifts and jewellery.
1st anniversary flower – Carnation
Carnations are big, eye-catching flowers that come in an array of bright and bold colours. Carnations represent love and devotion, so could there really be a more appropriate flower for your first wedding anniversary?
How do you choose a gift for a 1st wedding anniversary?
How you choose what type of gift to give your partner for your 1st wedding anniversary depends on you, your budget and your preferences. While you might love to give your other half a gold watch, it might not be possible. And that’s perfectly okay! But bear these points in mind when thinking about what to give your partner to mark your very first wedding anniversary.
- Do you follow traditions or not? They’re only there as guidelines, and both the traditional and modern gifts were created in the early 20th century, so might not fit with what you’re looking to give as a gift. Speak to your partner about your plans and expectations ahead of time.
- Do you have the appropriate budget? Gold can be expensive, as can clocks and fresh flowers. A paper gift can be affordable and can be interpreted in lots of different ways.
- Do you choose something personal? Personalised gifts show that a lot of thoughtfulness went into your gift.
- What are their interests? Is there something your partner might like in particular and has dropped hints about or asked for?
If you’re a friend or family member, you might also like to give a traditional or modern gift – they’re not exclusive to the couple themselves. So if you want to join in with the fun and give them something papery or clocky (not their technical terms) then go ahead, they’ll definitely love the thought and symbolism behind your gift!
50 ideas for a 1st wedding anniversary gift
Looking to give your partner a thoughtful gift to mark your 1st anniversary but not sure where to start? Below, we have 50 ideas to help you think of the perfect gift for the love of your life. And if you’re someone with a loved one soon celebrating their 1st anniversary, our choices below should also give you plenty of inspiration for a thoughtful gift.
10 traditional gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary
The traditional gift to give to mark a 1st wedding anniversary is paper, so here are 10 paper gifts to consider giving your other half on this special occasion.
1. Commission an artist to draw or paint your favourite wedding photo
One of the highlights of your whole wedding was no doubt getting your photo album back so you could look through your photos and relive your big day over again. You could reignite those same feelings all over again by commissioning an artist to draw or paint one of your partner’s favourite wedding photos. Digitally produced artwork can easily be printed and framed, which fits nicely with the theme of paper.
You could hire an artist on Etsy, or otherwise speak to an artist you admire by contacting them through their website or on social media.
2. Create an anniversary-themed comic book
If you and your partner have a shared love of comic books or graphic novels, you could create a personalised comic book that features your incredible love story. There are templates you can follow, like the one on Not on the High Street, to create a comic book using photos that are automatically stylised. Or, you could ask a comic book artist to draw something truly unique to you.
3. Frame your wedding vows
Many couples love to write their own wedding vows, which is a super passionate and personal way of telling your partner how you feel in front of your friends and family during your wedding ceremony. To forever immortalise those wonderful words, you could print your vows on high-quality paper, or hire a calligrapher to pen them in handwritten ink. Websites such as Calligraphy Studio offer a bespoke service.
4. Give your partner paper jewellery
Jewellery is always a popular gift, but how can you combine that with the traditional first anniversary gift? Well, there are very talented jewellers out there who can hand-craft delicate and beautiful pieces of jewellery out of paper – everything from bracelets to necklaces. Check out Wire Moon and Li-Chu Wu who are both super-talented paper jewellery designers.
5. A print of your favourite place
After spending so much time together, you probably have a favourite place where the two of you love to hang out, whether it’s your favourite city, a romantic spot somewhere deep in the woods, or beach vista where you like to watch the sunset. Etsy has a huge selection of city art and more which would look wonderful hung up in your home.
6. Where you met heart map
Looking back, there’s nothing quite like the moment you met the person you went on to marry. It might have been a chance encounter at the pub, or you sat beside each other in a university lecture, or you went to see a film together at the cinema after meeting online. Wherever you met, you can have it framed and pinpointed on a heart-shaped map. Check out Positive Prints who can do all the work for you.
7. Printed sheet music for your first dance song
Without a doubt, you’ll always remember the song you had your first dance to for the rest of your lives. Whenever you play it on Spotify or it comes unexpectedly on the radio, you’ll look at your partner with a loving smile (and maybe dance around the lounge, why not?). You can have those wonderful notes and perfect words printed and framed so you can always be reminded of their special meaning. Blim & Blum offers lots of great customisations and styles so they’ll go in any room.
8. Personalised notebooks
If your partner studies or writes a lot of notes for work, or they’re a keen writer, they’ll probably have a lot of notebooks lying around. Combine practicality and thoughtfulness by giving them personalised notebooks, which could include some of your favourite wedding snaps. Getting Personal has a huge variety of different notebooks you can choose from to personalise in loads of different ways.
9. Mini photo book keyring
Your wedding album is possibly one of your most precious possessions, but the problem is that it’s probably quite chunky – not exactly pocket-sized. Well, why not rectify that, with a mini photobook keyring, like the one offered at Wanapix? You can put together a personalised photobook filled with your favourite photos from your wedding, which is dinky enough to attach to a pair of keys and pop right there in your pocket or bag.
10. Paper craft kit
If you and your partner love getting crafty together, you could pick up a paper craft kit, so the two of you can hang out on your anniversary and do some crafting. Makebox has a range of wonderful high-quality paper craft kits available that look great on a shelf or desk once you’re done.
10 modern gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary
If you’re not sure about a paper-themed gift to give to your partner on your anniversary, the modern choice is a clock, which initially might not feel like it opens up your selection, but it does. So, here are 10 clock-themed gifts to consider giving your partner on your first anniversary.
1. Paper clock
You could combine the meanings behind a paper gift with the meaning of a clock-themed gift, by giving your partner the best of both worlds in the form of a paper clock. A clock made from recycled paper has a brilliant meaning to it, with the added bonus of looking smart and being practical.
2. Amazon Echo Show
Smart-home tech is the future, and an Amazon Echo Show not only lets you tell the time (or ask Alexa for it if you’re busy), but is also a handy gadget for cooking, communicating, finding out the weather, setting reminders and more. Plus, it’s always fun to start the day by asking Alexa to tell you a joke (even if they can be a little bit cringe).
3. Personalised clock
A clock might not seem like a super exciting gift, but if you personalise it so that the numbers are photos of your wedding instead, it suddenly means so much more. A personalised clock is unique and thoughtful and unlike any other personalised gift you might give the love of your life.
4. A unique cuckoo clock
Is there anything more beautiful than an ornate cuckoo clock? They’re eye-catching works of art that look great in any home. And they don’t need to be the traditional Swiss cuckoo clock either – like those available at The Bradford Exchange, which are themed to Star Wars, Disney and Ghostbusters among others.
5. An engraved clock
Tell your partner how much the last year has meant to you, and how much you’re looking forward to the future, with an engraved clock. The Engraved Gifts Company has plenty of styles and designs to choose from to suit a wide range of budgets, and they allow you to personalise them with a loving message.
6. A garden sundial
Remember, clocks haven’t always ticking hands that tell the time. Before the clock was even invented, everyone had to use the sun to figure out the time of day using a sundial. Sundials have the added bonus of looking fantastic in your back garden, and come different styles, like those available at Discount Garden Statues. It’s an unexpected historical twist on this modern gift!
7. A gold watch
Not only is your first anniversary linked closely to clocks, but also to gold – so a gold watch seems like a nice meaningful gift. And the good news is, watches come in more shapes, styles and sizes than you can count, plus they can fit a budget of any size. Check out your favourite high-street jeweller as a handy starting block.
8. A projection alarm clock
An obvious choice for a clock-themed gift is an alarm clock, but how can you elevate the humble alarm clock into becoming a unique gift? Well, why not get an alarm clock that both of you can see at the same time, with one that projects the time onto the ceiling? Plus, they have customisable options so it fits with your bedroom and even doubles as a handy mirror.
9. A clock kit
Clocks are complicated to put together, but a clock-making kit means your partner can have the satisfaction of creating something with the functionality of a fabulous-looking clock. Magic Holz has a range of quirky designs, that just so happen to be wood – so they’re technically made from paper, too!
10. A personalised map clock
What could be more lovely every time you glance at the clock, than to be reminded of the place where you and your partner met, or the venue where you both said I do? A clock that features a map makes for a brilliantly unique gift, like those offered by Bombus.
5 affordable gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary
If you’d love to give the love of your life a thoughtful first anniversary gift but you don’t have a big budget (and who can blame you after paying for your wedding?), then don’t worry – there are still plenty of options available. Here are five affordable first anniversary gifts to treat your partner with.
1. A personalised line drawing
Not all personalised gifts come with a big price tag. A personalised line drawing is a simple and effective gift, and one that’s super personal and extremely affordable too. It also looks amazing when hung on the wall.
2. Anniversary toilet paper
Okay, so this one is a bit of a joke gift, but it totally fits with the paper theme of your big day! Anniversary toilet paper is cute and funny, and for a limited time, you’ll be reminded of your anniversary every time you do your business!
3. Love coupons
For something very affordable but also thoughtful and funny, love coupons give your partner the right to cash them in whenever they please. From a car wash to a snuggly movie night in, it gives you an excuse to add a little fun to doing chores and date night.
4. A tiny paper flower
Combine a floral gift with a paper gift, and don’t pay much in the process – three birds with one stone! Plus, it looks incredibly cute and is full of thought, so make that five birds with one stone. Not on the High Street has a selection of lovely paper flowers.
5. A book in their favourite genre
There’s nothing quite like escaping into a good book. If your partner loves to read, you can usually pick up a paperback from your local bookshop for around £8. If you know the sort of book they enjoy reading, read a few blurbs at your local bookshop and ask for some recommendations so you can pick them up something they might love.
5 DIY gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary
Add an extra level of personalisation to your anniversary gift by creating it yourself. Many ideas don’t need a lot of time or skill, just a little bit of creative thinking. Here are five DIY 1st anniversary gift ideas to get you started.
1. A ‘what I love about you’ journal
You no doubt have a ton of really complex feelings about your partner – it’s why you married them in the first place! A what I love about you journal gives you plenty of space to get those thoughts and feelings down on paper, which they can always look back on with love and fondness.
2. A bouquet of paper flowers
Because the traditional gift of a first anniversary is paper, you could hand-craft a bouquet of paper flowers to surprise your love. That might sound tricky, but there are plenty of paper flower video tutorials available, and you can craft them from coloured paper or something meaningful, like the pages of a book or a map of your favourite place. So if you give yourself enough time, you can create a lovely little bouquet that has extra special sentimentality.
3. Paper bunting
Bunting looks great hung up to celebrate any occasion, and homemade paper bunting that features personalised decorations is a wonderful way to tell your partner how you feel. It could feature photographs, ticket stubs, maps, memorabilia… anything you can think of. There are also paper bunting video tutorials to help get you started.
4. Dates in a jar
If you have a sheet of paper and a spare jar, you have everything you need to make a sweet and thoughtful gift. Write down a bunch of ideas for date night (watch a romantic comedy under the covers, have a pizza picnic in the park, read a book together…) and either fold them carefully or tie them up with some string. Once you have enough, you can give them to your partner and ask them to pick one at random every time it’s date night!
5. Homemade scavenger hunt
Write some clues and leave them around your house so your partner has to go on a scavenger hunt. The clues can get progressively harder, and build up to something special at the end, like tickets to a show or co-ordinates to your favourite restaurant.
5 experience or activity gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary
A great way to spend your anniversary is by giving your partner an experience that the two of you can share together. Thankfully, because tickets are often paper, it also lets you tie your gift into the traditional first anniversary theme! So, here are five experience gift ideas for you to consider.
1. Tickets to a cinema with beds
If you’re a cinephile, you might go to the cinema quite regularly, so where’s the sense of special occasion in that? Well, did you know that some cinemas now have beds in them? It’s a simple way to elevate a cinema trip to the next level. It’s true – even big cinema chains like Odeon have seats at the front that allow you to lay down and get snuggly… just no funny business, okay?
2. Theatre tickets
A trip to the theatre is always magical, so why not catch a play or a musical in London or at your local theatre? Check out sites like London Theatre Direct to get a discount on a show you and your other half would love to see.
3. Afternoon tea for two
Is there anything more quaint than afternoon tea for two? Treat your partner to cucumber sandwiches, delectable sweet treats and yummy creamy scones. And if you say ‘time for tea’ it loosely (continuing the tea humour here) connects it to clocks, too! Okay, it’s a bit of a stretch, but afternoon tea is always a winning gift. Virgin Experience Days offers plenty of choice up and down the UK.
4. A night in a nice hotel
Escaping from reality is a great way to spend your anniversary, which you can do by spending a night in a nice hotel. It could be somewhere you’ve been to a thousand times before, or somewhere completely new. Wherever you go, it’ll be lovely to spend time relaxing in each others’ company. Buyagift has some great options for overnight stays.
5. A game of giant Monopoply
Remember shuffling through piles of paper money when you land on someone’s hotel while you’re playing Monopoly? Well, you can do that on a huge scale thanks to lifesized Monopoly! The only thing we ask is that you play nice, because Monopoly is a serious (but extremely fun) game.
10 1st anniversary gifts that contain gold
The first anniversary gemstone (even though it is actually a precious metal) is gold. And of course, gold is one of the most luxurious and eye-catching precious metals there is. Gold jewellery goes with almost anything, and also suits a huge range of styles and budgets. So, you could consider the following types of jewellery that look great in gold:
- Earrings
- A ring
- A necklace
- A bracelet
- A broach
- A locket
- A watch
- An anklet
- A hairpin
- Cufflinks
Many high street jewellers will have different items of gold jewellery, so whatever your budget you’ll likely find something that your partner will love. Or, you could check out the range of wedding jewellers we work with, many of which also offer lots of other types of jewellery, too.
5 floral gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary
The traditional anniversary flower to give when celebrating your first anniversary is the carnation, but there are lots of variations to make it extra special. Here are just five floral gift ideas to give your partner something blooming wonderful on your first anniversary.
1. A big bunch of carnations
There’s fabulous meaning behind anniversary carnations, as they symbolise love and devotion, plus they have the added bonus of being big and colourful. They tend to last around two weeks, so they won’t go anywhere fast if you keep them watered and give them flower food.
2. A paper bouquet
Tie the themes of flowers and paper together with a bouquet of paper flowers that are guaranteed never to wilt. Paper Tree offers a lovely bouquet that’s sure to hit the spot.
3. A scented flower card
The anniversary card to top all other anniversary cards, complete with a gorgeous watercolour flower and authentic floral scent. A showstopping 3D flower card is sure to be a gift that your partner will never forget. Check them out at The Luxe Co.
4. Carnation seeds
If you have a garden and space to plant some flowers, carnations will grow quite happily in the UK. If you plant the bulbs after the last frost of winter, you should have some incredible blooms at the end of spring and into later summer. You should be able to find carnation bulbs at your local garden centre.
5. An origami flower
What’s more romantic than a single rose painstakingly crafted using ancient origami techniques from the page of a book? Absolutely nothing. Visit The Origami Boutique to choose the perfect floral gift for your partner.
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Happy Planning!
