First Anniversary Gift Ideas for Your 1-Year Wedding Anniversary

Discover paper anniversary gifts for you and your partner's first wedding anniversary.

While the modern one-year wedding anniversary gift theme is a clock, the traditional first anniversary gift is paper. We're sharing some of our favorite paper anniversary gift ideas that your beloved will adore.

By Kelcy Christy

Photo: The Hickenloopers

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Congratulations on this wonderful marriage milestone! You've officially been married for 365 days and it's time to celebrate your one-year wedding anniversary. You're likely preparing to cut into the top tier of your wedding cake that you've been saving for this special occasion, and you may even be searching for the perfect first anniversary gift.

While couples can certainly choose their own wedding anniversary gifts based on their partner's taste, many pairs choose to follow tradition and gift their beloved with a present that fits within the theme of traditional anniversary gifts.

Special occasions should be celebrated, and the first anniversary of your new marriage is certainly one to cherish. After all, it's the first anniversary celebration that you and your new spouse have had as a married couple!

Whether you're searching for a one-year anniversary gift for your beloved or you're gifting a special couple with a present to honor this moment in their young marriage, we're sharing some of our favorite first-anniversary gift ideas based on tradition.

What is a traditional one-year anniversary gift?

Each year of marriage comes with a traditional anniversary gift theme that couples can choose to follow if they wish. As the anniversary years get larger, the themes typically become stronger. For the first year anniversary, the traditional gifting theme is paper.

Couples are encouraged to think outside the box by purchasing gifts personal to their relationship or even embarking on DIY projects to create a truly one-of-a-kind 1st anniversary gift. Need one-year anniversary gifts outside of paper flowers? Discover one-year anniversary gift ideas, below!

1st Anniversary Gift Ideas

Whether you're going full-force on paper anniversary gifts or you're looking for a paper element to make your first-year anniversary gift in line with tradition, we're sharing 10 first anniversary gift ideas that will put a smile on your partner's face. Be inspired by the first-year anniversary gifts including personalized photo art gifts, below:

1. Personalized Stationery

Even if you already have an anniversary gift in mind that isn't paper, a set of personalized stationery is an easy addition to your non-paper first-year anniversary gifts or your modern first anniversary gift to cover both traditions. It’s especially thoughtful knowing you designed stationery personally for your beloved, and it can also be exciting to receive stationery with a new married surname (if one was taken).

From fun and colorful to timeless and classic, take a look at these stationery designs:

“Softspoken” personalized stationery in Cloud by Sara Hicks Malone for Minted

“Modern Line” personalized stationery in Ecru by Hooray Creative for Minted

“Mosaic” personalized stationery in Blush by Anelle Mostert for Minted

2. Framed Wedding Vows

Enjoy life's biggest moments throughout your married life with wedding vows & quotes art. Fill your home with beautiful pieces of art featuring your wedding vows, love quotes, or even excerpts from some of your loved ones' wedding speeches. Paper gifts should be meaningful – the options are endless!

Browse some styles below – from letterpress to gold foil:

“Your Vows as a Foil Art Print” in Gold foil with Matte Black frame by Minted

“Our Vows Art Print” in Rustique with Matte Brass frame by Minted

“Your Vows as Letterpress Art Print” in Indigo with Champagne Silver frame by Minted

3. Wedding Album or First Anniversary Photo Book

If your beloved is the sentimental type, the perfect anniversary gift will be a custom photo book filled with photos from your first year. If you haven't purchased a wedding album yet, an anniversary celebration is the perfect time to do so. As first year anniversary gifts are traditionally paper, a beautiful photo book or photo album to display on your bookshelf or coffee table is a great idea.

See a few of our favorites, below:

Hardcover Annual Photo Book by Artifact Uprising

“Hardcover Annual Photo Book” for the first year of marriage in an array of sizes, colors, and styles by Artifact Uprising

Leather Bound Clear Pocket Photo Album from Pottery Barn

“Leather Bound Clear Pocket Photo Album” with monogram option in Black from Pottery Barn

“Signature Photo Album” featuring personalized debossing in pressed foil, lay-flat pages, and genuine leather covers by Mpix

4. Custom Maps

If you want to create a piece of art that's subtle yet meaningful, consider custom maps for one of your anniversary gifts. The perfect first anniversary gift, you can choose to customize the map with a special location that's dear to you both: the city where you reside, your wedding location, or even where you first met.

From classic letterpress styles for a timeless look to foil designs for a modern gift, browse some of our favorite custom map first anniversary gifts, below:

Minted Custom Map Filled Foil Art on Dark Paper by Minted

“Custom Map Filled Foil Art on Dark Paper” of special location in Gold with Matte Brass frame by Minted

Minted Custom Map Letterpress Art by Minted

“Custom Map Letterpress Art” of special location in Burgundy with White Wood frame by Minted

Minted Custom Map Filled Foil Art by Minted

“Custom Map Filled Foil Art” of special location in Gold with White Wood Frame by Minted

5. Personalized Journal

If your beloved loves to write or even jot down notes on paper versus their phone or computer, then a personalized journal or anniversary journal will be a practical gift that goes along with the traditional theme of this major-milestone anniversary. Customize the journal with their name or even special photos to turn this traditional gift into one of the best anniversary gifts for your first anniversary.

Take a look at some of our favorite designs, below:

You and I journal by Kimberly Nicole for Minted

“You and I Notebooks” journal with custom photo selections by Kimberly Nicole for Minted

“Minimal Linen Notebooks” journal in Beige by Susan Brown for Minted

Minted Elegant Notes Notebooks journal in Powder by Iveta Angelova for Minted

“Elegant Notes Notebooks” journal featuring bold typography in Powder by Iveta Angelova for Minted

6. Framed Favorite Photos

For couples who want their first anniversary gift to offer a memory of the wedding day, we love the idea of incorporating your favorite wedding photos into beautiful photo art for your home. Consider incorporating your vows, all of your favorite images from the big day (or experiences throughout the first year of marriage), or your wedding date for a piece of art that makes the perfect gift for your first anniversary.

See some ideas from Minted, below:

“Our Vows” custom photo art with wedding date in Snow with Matte Black frame by Minted

“Wedding Moments Landscape” custom photo art with wedding date in Diamond with White Wood frame by Minted

Big Date custom photo art in Noir with Rich Black Wood frame by Minted

“Big Date” custom photo art with names, wedding location, and wedding date in Noir with Rich Black Wood frame by Minted

7. A Custom or Personalized Book

The paper anniversary offers an excellent opportunity for couples to gift each other with a special book. Whether it's a first edition of their favorite novel, a customized book that reminisces on the events that occurred on your wedding day in years past, a collection of their favorite books, or even a coffee table book that's been personalized with their name, books are an excellent option for paper anniversary gifts.

Take a look at some options below:

New York Times Custom Anniversary Book from Uncommon Goods

“New York Times Custom Anniversary Book” with front pages from your special day and personalized cover from Uncommon Goods

“Rose World Classics Gift Book Set” by Booth & Williams

New York Times Personalized Golf History Book from Uncommon Goods

“New York Times Personalized Golf History Book” for the golf enthusiast with personalized cover from Uncommon Goods

8. Custom Portrait

If you haven't framed any of your wedding photos, your first anniversary – known as the paper anniversary – offers the ultimate opportunity. For those couples who have already framed their wedding portraits, we love the idea of having a custom letterpress portrait made of your home.

Browse a few custom portrait first anniversary gifts, below:

With a Heart Portrait in Taupe with Brushed Silver frame by Minted

“With a Heart Portrait” featuring couple's last name and wedding year in Taupe with Brushed Silver frame by Minted

Custom House Letterpress Portrait Art in Black with Matte Brass frame by Minted

“Custom House Letterpress Portrait Art” with personalized details in Black with Matte Brass frame by Minted

Love Letters custom photo art in Rose Gold with Brushed Silver frame by Minted

“Love Letters” custom photo art in Rose Gold with Brushed Silver frame by Lehan Veenker for Minted

9. Sweet Message or Love Letter on Paper

Whether you're looking for paper anniversary gifts that will be stashed away in your love's drawer or displayed in your home, you can't go wrong with a classic love letter, a sweet message printed on a photo from your first year married or your wedding day, or a letter detailing your love during your first year of marriage in a beautiful frame.

For inspiration, view the first anniversary gift ideas, below:

Wax-Sealed Love Letter by Papersome Design for Etsy

“Wax-Sealed Love Letter” complete with an envelope featuring a heart-theme liner and confetti hearts by Papersome Design for Etsy

Minimalist Quote Keepsake Portrait with Champagne Silver frame by Minted

“Minimalist Quote Keepsake Portrait” featuring custom photo and personal quote with Champagne Silver frame by Minted

One Year Anniversary Gift print by Sara Cristina Design for Etsy

“One Year Anniversary Gift” print with script font detailing any custom text by Sara Cristina Design for Etsy

10. Sentimental Keepsake of Wedding Day Memories

If none of the above ideas are the right fit for your sweetheart, consider a 1st wedding anniversary gift that's entirely personal to you as a couple. Gift sheet music of your beloved's favorite song, have the lyrics to your first dance song printed in elegant script, have a custom puzzle made for a future at-home date night, or have a piece of custom art created in a modern theme that highlights the coordinates of a location special to you both.

See some sentimental first anniversary gift ideas, below:

Custom Lyrics: Print by Samantha James Print Shop

“Custom Lyrics: Print” for first-dance song, wedding song, or favorite song shown in Bold and Script fonts by Samantha James Print Shop

Chic Minimal 252-piece custom puzzle in Glacier by Minted

“Chic Minimal” 252-piece custom puzzle with couple's last name and special date in Glacier by Melanie Kosuge for Minted

Where the Heart Is custom coordinates wall art in Charcoal with Matte Black frame by Minted

“Where the Heart Is” custom coordinates wall art ideal for wedding location, home, and more in Charcoal with Matte Black frame by Annie Clark for Minted

Whatever you choose to gift your husband or wife for your first wedding anniversary, they'll honor and cherish it for years to come. As the first wedding anniversary gift you both will give, be sure to make it special and choose something from the heart. Congratulations to you both!

For more wedding ideas, browse unique wedding invitations, discover the best wedding invites you can buy online, discover rustic wedding invitation ideas, view some of our favorite save-the-date card ideas, view traditional wedding invitations we love, and see some of the best affordable wedding invitations!