Traditional & Modern Anniversary Gifts & Symbols
Below is a list of traditional gifts, modern gifts, symbols and materials for the first wedding anniversary, also known as the paper anniversary, as celebrated in various countries around the world:
| Traditional Gift – UK |  |
Paper |
| Traditional Gift – US |  |
Paper |
| Traditional Gift – Spain |  |
Paper |
| Traditional Gift – Germany |  |
Paper |
| Traditional Gift – Russia |  |
Cotton |
| Traditional Gift – France |  |
Cotton |
| Traditional Gift – Italy |  |
Paper |
| Flower Gift |  |
Pansy |
| Gemstone Gift |  |
Pearl |
| Modern Gift |  |
Clock |
About 1st Wedding Anniversaries
Congratulations on your 1st wedding anniversary and you think to yourself where did that time go? It only seemed like yesterday you were making a commitment to spend the rest of your life together with the one you love.
The first anniversary is traditionally known as the paper wedding anniversary and gift ideas would be a love letter or poem written on quality paper to be treasured. A new trend is to give each other adult colouring books…but the repercussions of this are unknown at this time 😉
1st Wedding anniversary Gifts for Him, Her and Them
Modern day gifts for him or her could be a concert ticket or a night at the theatre followed by a nice meal. Other modern gifts could include a romantic holiday to visit new places and maybe make that a tradition for the coming anniversaries.
Amongst the traditional gifts are clocks; whether it is an antique clock, a novelty clock, or an alarm clock, the tick-tock sound can mark the good times in your marital relationship, registering strong memories since you exchanged your vows.
Gold is surprisingly the precious metal for the 1st year anniversary and pearl the traditional jewellery, a smooth lustrous gemstone is representative of the 1st wedding anniversary.
The flower, a Pansy, is a very small, delicate flower, which represents the 1st wedding anniversary perfectly. Like a pansy, the beginning of a marriage is very delicate.
“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever”.
Quoted by: Alfred Lord Tennyson
1st Wedding anniversary gifts for Him
What should I buy my husband on our 1st wedding anniversary?
A 1st year anniversary gift for him can be romantic and simple.
On a Budget
- Traditional & Modern.
- Gift Voucher.
- Tickets (for a local show or favourite band) .
- Personalised romantic quote (this can be in a card).
- Book about your partner
- Paper Weight.
- Clock.
1st Wedding anniversary gifts for Her
What should I buy my wife on our 1st wedding anniversary?
Gifts for your Wife on your first anniversary can follow the traditional paper theme or modern being a clock, personalised to mark this special event.
On a Budget
- Plant out some flowers in your garden or a planter (traditional flower is the Pansy).
- Voucher (for books, clothes or to a spa).
- Clock (with a romantic quote printed on the face or the date of your wedding day).
- Framed print (I Love You message).
- Box full of her favourite sweets or choclolates.
- Pearl jewellery.
1st Wedding Anniversary gifts for Him & Her
Travel & Experience Gifts
- Location visit (Romantic and passionate).
- Tickets (concert, sports event, museum, musical, etc).
- Short romantic hotel stay.
- Restaurant (romantic dinner for two).
- Glamping break for two.
- Spa day for Him & her.
- Dance Lessons for both of you.
Jewellery
Traditional gem is Pearl.
- Earrings.
- Pendants.
- Rings.
- Necklace.
- Tie Pin.
- Cufflinks.
Something Different & Unique
- Learn a new craft or a course in shared interest (maybe this is the time to start).
- Surprise short holiday.
- Start a traditional celebration. (Theatre, adventure day, etc).
- Animal experience day (falconry, zoo, horse riding).
So why were the various 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, the gifts increase in strength and value from paper to diamond.
However you decide to celebrate your 1st wedding anniversary with your husband or wife, make sure it is done with romance and love.
Next Anniversaries
2nd wedding anniversary
3rd wedding anniversary
4th wedding anniversary
5th wedding anniversary
6th wedding anniversary
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.