A paper gift is the traditional offering for the first wedding anniversary.
It may not seem exciting, but the symbolism is rather romantic. A blank paper is full of possibilities, allowing couples the space to write their future together. Paper’s fibres also represent the strength and connectivity of a new marriage. Very cute, wouldn’t you agree?
If you’re looking for a nice gift to celebrate the first 12 months of newlywed bliss, rest assured that there are greater, fancier options than an empty page of A4.
A book is a good, if obvious, shout and will be welcomed by bookworm types with open arms (especially if you manage to get your hands on a first edition).
Similarly, posters and art prints will go down well, especially if you’re still tweaking your interiors. Head to small business hubs such as Not On The High Street and Etsy for imaginative takes on the theme, from personalised comic books to framed papercraft to hang on the wall.
Failing to drum up much excitement over paper? Understandable. Luckily, it’s not the only way to go; flowers and gemstones offer a reprieve and different opportunities for creative gifts. For the first year, carnations are the customary bloom, while crowd-pleasing gold is the precious metal to pick if you’re heading down the jewellery route.
For purists who want to stick to paper, we’re with you. We’ve rounded up the nicest options below to show you the material can be both exciting and romantic and completely fitting for marking an anniversary.
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The Portland Co. Personalised Wedding Song Papercut
Still smile at each other when you catch a note of your first dance song? Commemorate the moment with this stunning piece of wall art crafted from laser-cut paper. The piece is personalisable too: add the couple’s name and wedding date for an extra special touch.
Buy now £40.00, NOTHS
Commodity Paper fragrance
There's a reason books will never go out of fashion, despite tech’s best efforts. For many, the smell of paper is a comforting, revered thing, a scent that reminds many of childhood bedtime stories or getting lost in a life-changing read. Commodity, a specialist in capturing unusual scents, has bottled paper's vibe with woody amber notes that dance and develop on the skin.
Buy now £130.00, Commodity
Avallen Paper Bottle Calvados
Raise a toast to your first year with Avallen Calvados, a special kind of brandy made from apples, water and nothing more. The floral and fruity serve is a delight at any time of year and this special edition comes in a paper bottle (yes really). It’s just a small show of the company’s eco-credentials - they’re also B Corp certified and part of ‘1% for the Planet’ a group of businesses that donate a portion of sales to environmental causes.
Buy now £45.00, Harvey Nichols
Don't Buy Her Flowers The Book Gift Box
Fussy types will adore this book hamper that can be built from scratch, meaning you can tailor it to their exacting tastes. Options include fiction, cookbooks, gardening guides and self-help books, covering a range of genres. Once chosen, add on other extras - think snacks and gift vouchers - to complete the personalised hamper.
Prices start from £8.50.
Buy now £8.50, Don't Buy Her Flowers
A&J Comics Personalised 1st Anniversary Comic Paper Anniversary
Commit your main character energy to paper with this playful comic book gift, which makes your love story the star. Crafted in classic comic strip style, the book charts the first year of marriage using your supplied images before being bound and delivered by Royal Mail to your doorstep.
Buy now £29.99, NOTHS
Kindle Paperwhite | 16 GB
Bookworms adore Amazon’s Kindle tablet, which allows you to take a British Library’s worth of reading material wherever you’re going - on the commute, on holiday or simply from one room to the next.
Buy now £159.99, Amazon
Flower Decoration Peonies paper bouquet
If your anniversary falls outside of the small peony window we enjoy in the UK, there’s another way to present the pretty blooms - and you’ll never have to remember to water them, either. Paper bouquets make a sweet, eco-friendly gesture and these by Flower Decoration are amongst the most convincing.
Choose your arrangement between 1 - 25 flowers which will be handcrafted from Italian crepe and sent to your door.
Buy now £17.99, Etsy
The Letteroom A Book On One Page Print - Matilda
Best quote: “Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world”
Many of Roald Dahl’s children’s books have been adapted for the big screen, including Matilda, the story of an overlooked girl with tremendous untapped powers. Not only does this print capture the gifted Wormwood squaring up to one of her biggest bullies, but the design is made up of the full text of the book, all on one page. A lovely idea for a kid’s birthday or for fans of the film.
Other classic books turned into prints include Alice in Wonderland, Romeo & Juliet and Peter Pan.
Dimensions vary: Matilda is 70cm x 100cm.
Buy now £34.95, NOTHS
Ginger Fox Cactus Origami Kit
This kit contains a stock of colourful card, and instructions on how to fold it into five desktop-size cacti. If you’ve ever found yourself wishing for a risk-free opportunity to handle a cactus for an extended period of time, here it is.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Normann Copenhagen Manikhin Playing Cards
If you’re fed up with board games, give games night a vintage twist with a fresh deck of cards. Inspired by the art of burlesque and vintage postcards, this set is illustrated by artist Roma Manikhin and will add an erotic and slightly peculiar edge to your next poker game.
Buy now £17.50, Not Another Bill
