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1st Wedding Anniversary

Congratulations on your 1st wedding anniversary

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
United Kingdom
Paper
Traditional Gift – US
United States
Paper
Traditional Gift – Spain
Spain
Paper
Traditional Gift – Germany
Germany
Paper
Traditional Gift – Russia
Russia
Cotton
Traditional Gift – France
France
Cotton
Traditional Gift – Italy
Italy
Paper
Flower Gift
Flower
Pansy
Gemstone Gift
Gemstone
Pearl
Modern Gift
Modern gift
Clock

About 1st Wedding Anniversaries

Congratulations on your 1st 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

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.

1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him

What should I buy my husband on our 1st wedding anniversary?

A first year gift for him can be romantic yet simple.

Buy him a Thomas Sabo Multicolour Lucky Charm Beaded Bracelet for this anniversary gift
Thomas Sabo Lucky Charm Bracelet
Buy now acotisdiamonds.co.uk
Buy him a credit card powerbank for this anniversary gift
Credit Card Power Bank
Buy now prezzybox.com
Buy him the game over mug
Game Over Mug
Buy now prezzybox.com
Buy him a Gents Timex Quartz Analog Green Watch
Gent’s Timex Analog Watch
Buy now acotisdiamonds.co.uk

We have a selection of anniversary gifts to suit all budgets and interests.

Buy him the viking beer horn with personalised stand
Viking Beer Horn
Buy now thegiftexperience.co.uk
Buy him Personalised Beer 3 pack Man's Virtues Set label
Personalised Beer Pack
Buy now thepersonalisedgiftshop.co.uk
Buy him some mens sporting clothes or shoes.
Men’s Sporting Clothes & Shoes
Buy now .jogging-point.co.uk
Buy him an anniversary gift for Men from the Body Sop
Activist Fragrance Kit for Men
Buy now thebodyshop.com

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.

Buy her Thomas Sabo Grey Pearl Pink Charm Bracelet for this anniversary gift
Thomas Sabo Pearl Bracelet
Buy now acotisdiamonds.co.uk
Vibrant Celebration Bouquet
Buy now flyingflowers.co.uk
Start a family tradition with my family cookbook gift
My Family Cookbook
Buy now prezzybox.com
Buy her a ladies Timex Quartz Analog Two Tone Watch
Ladies’ Timex Watch
Buy now acotisdiamonds.co.uk

To mark this special day, plant some flowers in your garden or in a planter (the traditional 1st wedding anniversary flower is the pansy). Or maybe put together a framed print of another treasured moment together. Check out our other gift suggestions below…

Buy her a neon love heart for this anniversary gift
Neo Love Heart
Buy now prezzybox.com
Buy her the mega fudge hamper for this anniversary gift
The Mega Fudge Hamper
Buy now funkyhampers.co.uk
Buy her this Pearl spiral pendant for this anniversary gift
Pearl Spiral Pendant
Buy now acotisdiamonds.co.uk
Buy her a dancing panda speaker
The Dancing Panda Speaker
Buy now prezzybox.com

1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Him & Her

Buy them a Brewmaster barrel style Clock.
Brewmaster Barrel Clock
Buy now thegiftexperience.co.uk
Buy them this Belleek Living Galaxy Lantern Luminaire for their anniversary gift
Living Galaxy Lantern Luminaire
Buy now belleek.com
Buy them the Pacific Blue Dots 16 Piece Dinner Set for the 1st anniversary gift
Pacific Blue Dots 16 Piece Dinner Set
Buy now royaldoulton.com
Buy them the dead celebs card game.
Dead Celebs Card Game
Buy now prezzybox.com
Buy them an experience day with red letter days.
Treat each other – or the couple – to one of many experience days: driving, spas, gourmet meals and so much more. Buy now redletterdays.co.uk

Travel & Experience Gifts

  • 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

Jewellery

The traditional 1st anniversary gemstone is pearl.

  • Earrings
  • Pendants
  • Rings
  • Necklace
  • Tie Pin
  • Cufflinks

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, etc.).
  • Arrange an animal experience day (falconry, zoo, horse riding).

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 1stt 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

Comments

  1. Rebecca B. says

    02/10/2016 at 9:56 pm

    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!

    Reply
  2. Ellie Jay says

    02/03/2017 at 12:58 am

    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.

    Reply

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