Traditional, Modern and Symbolic Anniversary Gifts
Below is a list of both traditional and modern gift materials, as well as classic flower and gemstone symbols, which mark a couple’s 1st wedding anniversary in countries around the world…
| Traditional Gift – UK |
 | Paper |
| Traditional Gift – US |
 | Paper |
| Traditional Gift – Spain |
 | Paper |
| Traditional Gift – Germany |
 | Paper |
| Traditional Gift – France |
 | Cotton |
| Traditional Gift – Italy |
 | Paper |
| Flower Gift |
 | Carnations |
| Gemstone Gift |
 | Mother Of Pearl |
| Modern Gift |
 | Clock |
Page Index
- About 1st Wedding Anniversary
- How to Celebrate Your 1st Wedding Anniversary
- Common Questions About the 1st Wedding Anniversary
- 1st Anniversary Gifts for Him
- 1st Anniversary Gifts for Her
About 1st Wedding Anniversaries
Congratulations on your 1 year wedding anniversary. You might very well be thinking to yourself, where did that time go? It only seemed like yesterday you were making a commitment to spend the rest of your life with the one you love.
In many countries (including the UK and US) the 1st wedding anniversary is traditionally known as the Paper Anniversary. One gift idea, sure to be cherished, would be a love letter or poem written on quality paper.
A new trend is for partners to give each other adult colouring books, certainly unusual although perhaps a little too out of the (paper) box for some people.
How to Celebrate a 1st Anniversary
This is, in many ways, the most significant wedding anniversary you will celebrate – the first of anything invariably provides an indelible snapshot of wonderful memories for your photo album.
After 12 months together as a married couple, you will know your partner, and their interests, much better. So how about combining a romantic holiday together, in an exotic setting, with an excursion and associated activity that accommodates your shared tastes and preferences.
Perhaps visit a cultured pearl farm by the sea and a take a skin-diving course together so you can later search for your own precious gemstones.
Closer to home, modern-day gifts for him or her could be a concert ticket or a night at the theatre, followed by a candlelit dinner near a river or lake. Clinking Champagne glasses as the flickering flames reflect off the glistening waters – with oysters as a sumptuous aperitif, of course.
If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever.” Quoted by: Alfred Lord Tennyson
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1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him, Her… and the Couple
Clocks are also an excellent gift with modern connotations but traditional appeal. Whether it is an antique clock, a novelty timepiece or an alarm set, the tick-tocking sound will start marking off the wonderful times in your new marital relationship – helping to register the many great memories since you exchanged your vows.
Gold is – perhaps surprisingly – a typical precious metal for those celebrating their 1st wedding anniversary. Pearls are the traditional jewellery: a smooth, lustrous gemstone representative of the first 12 months of your married lives together.
The classic pansy is a relatively small and fragile flower, which marks 1st wedding anniversary celebrations in perfect fashion. Like a pansy, the beginning of a marriage can prove to be quite delicate.
Common Questions About the 1st Wedding Anniversary
Q: What is the 1st wedding anniversary called?
A: The 1st wedding anniversary is known as the Paper Anniversary.
Q: What is the 1st wedding anniversary gemstone?
A: The 1st wedding anniversary gemstone is Mother of Pearl, an iridescent substance that forms on the inner layer of shells.
Q: What is the 1st wedding anniversary symbol?
A: The 1st wedding anniversary is symbolised by paper anniversary.
Q: What is the 1st wedding anniversary colour?
A: The colour synonymous with the 1st wedding anniversary is Yellow.
Q: What are the traditional and modern gifts for a 1st wedding anniversary?
A: The traditional gift for the 1st wedding anniversary is paper, and the modern gift is a clock.
Q: What is the 1st year anniversary flower?
A: The classic flower for 1st wedding anniversary celebrations is the Carnation. Carnations are used to symbolize affection.
1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him
What should I buy my husband on our 1st wedding anniversary? Buying the first anniversary gift is a very important decision. It’s important to start things as they mean to go on. Be creative, thoughful and look for something unique and meaningful. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it has to show that some thought went into it.
A first year gift for him can be romantic yet simple. Here are some ideas to get you started…
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We have a selection of anniversary gifts to suit all budgets and interests. Check out some further gift ideas below:
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1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Her
What should I buy my wife on our 1st wedding anniversary?
Gift ideas for your wife to celebrate your first year together can follow the traditional paper theme, or be more modern – such as a cool clock, a chic watch or some elegant pearl jewellery. The first anniversary is one of the anniversaries that is least searched for online, showing that perhaps it isn’t given the importance that it should be.
Take your time and choose something thoughtful for your partner, she’s going to appreciate the time you put into selecting her gift as much as the gift itself. This is an important milestone reflecting things to come.
Below are some ideas for gifts that your wife may appreciate….
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To mark this special day, plant some flowers in your garden or in a planter (the traditional 1st wedding anniversary flower is the carnation). Or maybe put together a framed print of another treasured moment together. Check out some of our other gift suggestions below…
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1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him & Her
Buying something for friends or your children that got married last year? Here are some gift ideas to help you get some insipiration for something that you can buy for both of them:
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Travel & Experience Gifts
Who doesn’t enjoy getting away, even just a weekend away for a romantic night in a quaint hotel? Or a hot air ballon ride that you can enjoy together?
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Still looking for some more travel and experience inspiration? Here are some additional ideas…
- Location visit (romantic and passionate)
- Tickets (concert, sports event, museum, musical, etc.)
- Short romantic hotel stay
- Restaurant (candlelit dinner for two)
- Glamping break for two
- Spa day for two
Something Different & Unique
- Learn a new craft or take a course involving a shared interest.
- Enjoy a surprise holiday getaway.
- Initiate a traditional celebration (theatre, adventure day).
- Arrange an animal experience day (falconry, zoo, horse riding).
A little history of anniversary gifts
So why were certain materials chosen as presents to symbolise specific anniversaries? To a certain extent, the reasons and meaning are clouded in mystery.
However, it is generally believed that increasingly durable gifts were chosen for successive years to represent the progressive strengthening of the marriage relationship. As the years go by, gifts increase in strength and value – from paper to diamond.
In whatever way you decide to celebrate your 1st wedding anniversary with your partner, make sure it is accompanied by oodles of romance and love.
Next Anniversaries
2nd wedding anniversary
3rd wedding anniversary
4th wedding anniversary
5th wedding anniversary
6th wedding anniversary
About The Author
This page has been written by Justin Aldridge. Justin is passionate about helping couples to make their anniversary as special as possible. Justin enjoys being creative and coming up with different and inspiring ideas for couples to celebrate their anniversary in style each year.
An anniversary sundial is a good idea, a clock that uses the sun. There is one that you can find online that sits on the windowsill and makes rainbows in the room when the sun shines, and you can have it made with an anniversary line that the sun will follow on the special day. We love ours!
Great tips! I have one to add to your article. My sister-in-law received a sketch of her wedding dress created by a Dreamlines artist. It was so impressive that my husband gave me one on our wedding day. It was the most detailed, pretty and just perfect gift. I can’t say enough nice things about this company and gift idea.
Awesome list! I’d also add getting a personalized comic book as a great ‘paper wedding anniversary’. I got one for my partner and he loved it 🙂