Gemstones and flowers are as commonly published in US lists; sources differ, so use them as ideas.
Paper gift ideas for the 1st anniversary
- A love letter or a book of letters
- Framed print of your wedding vowsFind it: AmazonEtsy
- Tickets to a show or a match
- A custom star map of your wedding night
- A journal for the year ahead
- A scrapbook of your first year: ticket stubs, menus, photos
- Custom map print of where you met, married and liveFind it: AmazonEtsy
- A first-edition or signed copy of a book you both love
- Paper lanterns and a backyard dinner
Clocks gift ideas
- A clock or watch
- A smart home clock
- A wall clock for your first home
- A watch engraved with your wedding date
Gemstone and flower ideas
- Gold jewelry: a ring, pendant or earrings with the year’s stone.Find it: AmazonEtsy
- Carnation: a bouquet on the day, or a plant that lasts.
An experience instead of a thing
Recreate your first date, or book a table at the restaurant from your wedding week.
Make it personal
Pair the theme with something only you two would understand: a place, a song, a date. A short handwritten note listing a favorite memory from each year costs nothing and is often the part people keep. Need words? Try the message writer.
These are the themes most widely published in the US. Lists in the UK and elsewhere differ for a few years; follow whichever your family uses.
Never miss your 1st anniversary
Tell us the date and we will email you two weeks before, with paper and clocks gift ideas for that year. Add the year you married and we will match the theme every year after.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional 1st anniversary gift?
Paper. Ideas include a love letter or a book of letters, framed print of your wedding vows, tickets to a show or a match.
What is the modern 1st anniversary gift?
Clocks.
What is the 1st anniversary gemstone and flower?
Many US lists give gold as the gemstone and carnation as the flower. Lists differ, so treat these as ideas, not rules.
How should we celebrate our 1st anniversary?
Recreate your first date, or book a table at the restaurant from your wedding week.
Tips from travellers
Got a great 1st anniversary gift idea? Share it. The first good one goes right here.