Traditional First Anniversary Gift Ideas

My anniversary, birthday, and husbands birthday are all 1 month apart with Christmas following shortly after. We have such a hard time in the Fall coming up with gift ideas for each other! Because of that, and a love for tradition, we decided to stick to the “traditional anniversary gifts”.

Year one? Paper! It sounds like such a normal and not gift worthy item, but so many great things are made with paper. For our first wedding anniversary Teylor and I went to Heidelberg, Germany and exchanged gifts. I gifted him a half drawn portrait of our little family (just us and the puppy at the time), and he gifted me a stack of 5×7 photos with a beautiful leather bound Jenni Bick photo album. Did he cheat a little with the leather? Sure, but I loved it and he’s a guy- thought that counts? 😉 Also- I still need to finish that family portrait drawing for Tey, oops.

Without further adieu, first anniversary gift ideas from moi that go with the traditional paper theme!

The Anniversary Experience and Tangibles

My absolute favorite choice for your first anniversary gift to your spouse? An Anniversary Session and Heirloom Album– of course 😉 I love when gifts are more than just a gift, but an experience. It’s so much more memorable!

Don’t tell Teylor, but there are birthdays I don’t remember what he gifted me! It wasn’t because my gift wasn’t great, but it wasn’t an experience. It wasn’t us making memories together. So it literally wasn’t memorable. That’s why for anniversaries we try our best to give each other an experience!

Your Anniversary Experience will be unforgettable. Traveling to a beautiful destination is an incredible experience, and then add a photography session to celebrate your anniversary? There’s nothing quite like it. Learn more about the Anniversary Experience, and check out my anniversary sessions on the AYP Journal!

Tickets to …

Again, it’s all about the experience and the making of memories as a couple to celebrate your marriage! Gift yours truly a ticket to the theater, or a concert, or even a special museum exhibit you know you’d love to experience together.

There are so many options in the ‘tickets’ category. I don’t need to tell you this- but choose tickets to experience something that reflects your relationship well!

Usually if you Google “city guide” you’ll find all sorts of amazing resources for upcoming events that you can purchase tickets to and start making memories!

Artwork

You could take this to mean several things! One of my favorite artwork gifts is commissioning a custom painting or watercolor. The possibilities are endless what subject you could have commissioned. Did you buy your first home together this past year?

Have an architectural watercolor piece painted to commemorate that life milestone (bonus points if you make it a tradition for every home you move into. Can you imagine what an amazing wall gallery that would make?!) Ashley Bunten creates some seriously beautiful home paintings that you’ll love showcasing!

You could also have a painting done of you two together! I have seen some darn adorable ‘family portraits’, including pets, painted and framed.

Another artwork gift idea is to have your vows written by a calligrapher and framed. This is something we did to have our vows in sight and in our minds. This is a unique way to remember your marriage in a way that reflects the commitment you made.

You know I’m all about the experience! Take a series art classes together, or have a private class and have the instructor draw you up something more personal to create together. This can be such a fun, or funny, learning experience and one you won’t soon forget.

Heirlooms from your Wedding Day

This first anniversary gift idea is near and dear to my heart. There is a lot going on around your wedding day. You’re planning it, then the busy day comes, then you’re jet setting to your honeymoon, coming back and possibly making some pretty big life changes like moving… Life doesn’t stop.

I do my best to not let this happen with my couples, but it’s easy to let ordering your heirlooms slip. Your one year anniversary is the perfect time to take the time, sit down, and think about what heirlooms you want around your home to remind you of you wedding day and that commitment as well as what heirlooms you want to pass down to your great great grandchildren.

Your wedding album? Fine art prints? Your museum box filled with beautifully matted prints? Did you say thank you to your parents with a parent album? If you didn’t, now is such a great time.You’re online wedding gallery expires on your one year anniversary so getting gifts in for that milestone is perfect timing!

Alicia Yarrish Photography

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