First Anniversary Gifts: 17 Ways to Surprise with Paper

Custom “Layflat” Photo Album: Remember the Day

The days of tacky photo albums are long gone. It’s now easier than ever to create an archival-quality custom photo book from your wedding day, honeymoon, or favorite social media shots. When it comes to first anniversary gifts, you can’t go wrong splurging on a Layflat Premium Photo Album from Artifact Uprising.

Print and paper quality for these albums are second-to-none, they have a nice weighty feel in your hand, and perhaps best of all, they lay perfectly flat when open. Combine that with Artifact Uprising’s “make it right” guarantee and you can be confident you’ll have a paper anniversary gift that’s worthy of your first year together.

Tickets for First Anniversary Gifts: Grab a Show or Fly Away

Go do something together. Have a new experience! You can gift a paper ticket to a concert, a sporting event, a play, a hot air balloon ride, or just about anything else for that all important first anniversary gift. The possibilities for sports events, big name concerts, and everything in between are endless with StubHub.

You can even splurge and get a plane ticket and surprise your partner with a spontaneous trip. Just make sure to print out the ticket on paper. If it doesn’t come with an official printable ticket, you can make one yourself.

Adult Coloring Books: Keep the Calm

Coloring books aren’t just for kids anymore. Lost Ocean and Secret Garden are just two of hundreds of options. Match your selection to your spouse’s favorite interests, whether it be cooking, gardening, or swearing.

Make sure they also have the right tools for the job, like this Studio Series Coloring Set.

Consider pairing an adult coloring book with one of these beautiful ceramic coffee mugs for calm and quiet mornings.

Art Prints: Bring Your New Home to Life

If you’re also celebrating your very first year of living together, a piece of art is a great way to add a custom touch to your new home. Since this is a paper anniversary gift, go with something wedding-related or choose a theme that has personal meaning to your relationship.

Minted supports independent artists while offering different size and framing options. You can shop their Limited Edition Art collections by theme: beach, cities & states, botanical, food, landscapes, and even bohemian.

Couples Journal: Treasure the Time Together

The creatively designed Our Q&A A Day: 3-Year Journal for 2 People is a great way to stay connected the whole year through. With a different question to answer each day and only enough room for a sentence or two each, this is one daily practice that will never seem like a chore. Watch your relationship evolve as your answers change from year to year!

The Big Activity Book for Couples is a bit less personal but still loads of fun! Make it a complete gift set by adding a set of colorful Micro-Line Pens or IceyDesigns’ lovely engraved pencils.

Paper Flowers: Don’t Add Water!

Faux flowers can be a wonderful paper anniversary gift as they’re available in all sorts of colors and last A LOT longer than real flowers. The first anniversary is the perfect opportunity to give her a brilliant bouquet made by The Flower Craft Shop. Remind her that your love will never wilt!

Our other favorite Etsy sellers for paper blooms include:

• Thee Paper Girl – Check out her custom bouquet made from the pages of a favorite book.
• Posh Studios – Go big with a spectacular paper flower backdrop or request something custom.
• A Paper Event – Vibrant colors, exquisite details, and intricate arrangements made in North Carolina.

Custom Portrait: Personal Art for Two as a 1 Year Anniversary Gift

For the artistically inclined, a hand drawn custom couples portrait is a guaranteed hit. If you’re a risk-taker, go ahead and draw something yourself.

But if you’re like the rest of us and stick figures are the best you can muster, then check out this custom illustrated portrait service from Etsy shop Discovering You.

We also love Etsy shop Pretty Timely for custom anniversary portraits with a more formal look!

Letterpress Vows: Personal & Elegant

Your vows may very well be the most important words you’ve ever said to each other. This custom letterpress print with deluxe pigment ink from Minted is a great way to preserve your vows for posterity. They’ll even mount and frame it for you. All you have to do is endeavor to live up to these words each and every day!

Rare Books: Comics, Cookbooks, and More

Whatever your spouse’s passion, take the time to find a special version of a book that’s important to them. Track down a first edition of their favorite novel or vintage sheet music from a favorite artist. Source a cherished comic book or out-of-print cookbook.

Watercolor Starter Set as a Paper Anniversary Gift

A fancy watercolor starter set is a nice spin on the paper theme for anyone that could use a bit of digital detox. If your partner doesn’t draw or paint you can also include this great how-to watercoloring book, and of course there’s no shame in adult coloring books.

Custom Jewelry with Your Vows

Among many unique first anniversary gift ideas to choose from, another fun option is to have your vows or wedding song inscribed and preserved under solid glass. Etsy shop Paper Anniversary Love offers amazing custom sterling silver necklaces and earrings at affordable price points.

If you’re shopping for him, the custom wedding vows cufflinks are a good bet. They’ll do rush production too, just in case you’re running out of time!

Card Games to Play Together

If you’re into card games, finding a new one is a great 1 year anniversary gift, especially if you make it into a whole evening of fun. Here are a few of my favorite picks because they are easy to learn and work great with only two players:

• Phase 10
• Mille Bornes
• Fluxx 5.0

If your spouse is into traditional card games with a standard deck of cards, Theory 11 produces many beautiful playing card sets including the exquisite black and gold Monarch playing cards.

Vintage Maps: Celebrate Your Places

An antique paper map of your town, the place where you met, or where you took your honeymoon would make a beautiful and meaningful first anniversary gift. RareMaps.com offers a wide selection of maps and price points.

Also check out these heart-shaped map collages from artist Angelica Gottberg.

Jewelry Box Made From a Hollow Book

Your spouse will think they’re getting just a book but when they crack the cover, surprise! It’s a handcrafted secret safe filled with whatever you decide to pre-load. This is a fun and whimsical way to play with first anniversary gifts outside the rules of tradition.

There are tons of books to choose from too!

Heart-Shaped Photo Collage

If you’re having trouble deciding which romantic photo of the two of you to have printed and framed, Minted’s Heart Snapshot Mix® means you don’t have to choose. Personalize it with 30 casual snapshots and Minted will automatically arrange them into a fancy heart design for archival printing at whatever size you desire. They have a great selection of frames too!

This one also makes an excellent long distance relationship gift to help keep your best memories front and center.

Dreamlines First Anniversary Gift Sketch

Dreamlines’ custom wedding dress sketches have surprised thousands of brides (and wives) since 2004. It’s not easy to capture a treasured memory on paper, but Nikki’s team has mastered the art form.

Fortunately, your part of the process is easy. Just select your dress style, add optional accessories, choose a delivery timeline and check out. Then submit a photo of the wedding dress and sit back while the magic happens.

First Anniversary Gifts: Framed Push-Pin Travel Map

Scratch off maps and push-pin travel editions are showing up on walls across America. There’s now something for every wander-lusting couple. Whether you and your sweetie aspire to see the world, hike every National Park, or get a sunburn on every island in the Caribbean, there’s a map for that! Order it framed with a custom title and then sit back and let someone else do all the work for you.