Chances are that up until your wedding day, you may have had a different date in mind for your “anniversary.” Maybe when you first met, had your first date, first kiss, or first made it official? But now that you’ve been married a full year, it’s time to celebrate and figure out the best first wedding anniversary gift to mark the occasion.
Whether you’re celebrating big with a trip or prefer a more low-key night in, your first wedding anniversary gift tends to have a lot of pressure around it, as it’s the first one. But don’t worry! We’re here to help.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite first wedding anniversary gifts from traditional to modern. We even included some out-of-the-box ideas, too. (We’re looking at you, toilet paper). Before we get into them, let’s go over some wedding anniversary gift basics.
SEE MORE: Celebrating a different milestone year? Check out our list of the best anniversary gifts by year.
Traditional 1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts
If you’re following tradition, paper is the traditional theme for a first wedding anniversary gift. But it doesn’t mean you have to give a notebook or journal and call it a day. Paper—which symbolizes the blank page that you began together on your wedding day—actually opens up a wide range of creative gift ideas. SO many awesome gifts out there are made with paper (including good ol’ cash) so you can have fun shopping through the options to find the best first anniversary gift.
Modern 1st Wedding Anniversary Gifts
To commemorate and celebrate the time you’ve spent together, the clock is the modern first wedding anniversary gift. You can get creative here, too. The clock theme can work for watches, art that depicts clocks or time, and even innovative alarms and sleep accessories. A memory photo book that takes your partner “back in time” is also a great idea.
Whichever theme you decide to go with, just remember to really think about what your partner will enjoy. This is always the best route to go, vs. gifting something just because it’s expensive. And remember, don’t wait until the last minute! It’s usually obvious when a gift is an afterthought, so don’t make it one!
WGM Says: Looking for a gift that fits with the first wedding anniversary theme without spending any money? Sit down with your partner (separately) and a blank sheet of paper. Write down the five things you love most about each other. Or, list your top five favorite moments from your relationship so far. Read your lists out loud to each other and save the pieces of paper so you can refer back to them on each anniversary. Then, do it all again next year!)
The Best First Wedding Anniversary Gifts for 2023
Whether you’re looking for a funny gift to make your partner laugh, or something they can hold on to and cherish forever, these gifts work for every budget.
First Anniversary Toilet Paper, $12.99
For the humor-loving couple, this one year gag gift is perfect, and paper…toilet paper, that is. This themed roll is 2ply, 500 sheets and comes in a ready-to-gift box. It reads “Happy 1st anniversary, my love. I love the ____ out of you!” Surprise your partner by replacing your usual roll with this, and you can thank us later.
Paper Flower Ball, $49
For the humor-loving couple, this one year gag gift is perfect, and paper…toilet paper, that is. This themed roll is 2ply, 500 sheets and comes in a ready-to-gift box. It reads “Happy 1st anniversary, my love. I love the ____ out of you!” Surprise your partner by replacing your usual roll with this, and you can thank us later.
Engraved Anniversary Pocket Watch $34.95
As a tribute to your “time” together so far, this engraved pocket watch is a classic way to show your love and appreciation on your one year anniversary. This thoughtful personalized pocket watch features a white dial with filigreed hands, is easy to set and start, and is equal parts vintage meets modern. You can carry it as a traditional pocket watch or display it on your favorite shelf or desk. Either way, they are sure to love it.
Personalized Comic Book, $29.99+
A fun twist on a photo album, we love this custom comic book that can be created using an easy-to-use template. Whether you want to write your own story (like the story of how you met, an adventure you experienced, or your favorite date !) or just include photos, the Etsy seller then stylizes the photos like a comic book and sends you a PDF to proof before shipping. It’s a fun, creative way to honor the paper theme while creating something personal.
Personalized Clock, $99.99
A gorgeous addition to any home, this personalized, battery-operated clock is crafted from cherry wood with roman numeral markers and quartz movement. It’s laser engraved with your family name or monogram and wedding date and even comes with a built-in easel and wall tooth hanger so you can either hang it or display it in your home.
Custom Engraved Hourglass, $69.99
Think a little outside of the box and go beyond the modern “clock” theme with this custom hourglass. Filled with bright white sand, you can personalize it with any name and choose from four time-related verses to remind your loved one how much you love your time together, and the time ahead When flipped, it runs approximately for one hour so it’s functional and sentimental.
Paper Art Decor, $99+
Available in different sizes and colors, this gorgeous paper art showcases your wedding date in roman numerals and is handcrafted out of intricately cut, fine French paper. Contrasted against a dark color frame, this handmade art allows the date to “pop” beneath protective clear acrylic and even comes with a message explaining the significance of paper for your anniversary.
Origami Wall Clock, $78.12
For the over-achieving gift giver looking to combine the traditional theme of paper with the modern theme of a clock, this origami wall clock is the perfect find. Made with high quality FSC certified paper and a battery-operated, silent clock mechanism, the clock comes fully assembled and in a variety of colorways.
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We have an anniversary sundial that you can find online, it is made of glass and sits on the window sill and was handmade just for us so it would work where we live. It is a clock that tells time by using the sun, but the coolest thing is that it makes really vivid rainbows in our home when the sun shines. We were able to add a date line to our sundial that the time shadow follows on our anniversary day each year and there is even a special mark on that anniversary line to celebrate the actual MOMENT we got married! My husband tells me that the sun and moon and planets all move every day, but they will always align for us on our day together (awww) It really is a great gift though because it also makes brilliant rainbows on the floor when the sun shines, and our toddler loves to play in the colors on the floor. I don’t remember what its called but you can find it online with a search – it has become a real touchstone in our home!