Time really does fly. It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago I said ‘I do’ (well, the first time anyway!), and as a lover of creative and quirky gifts, it is only natural that in the days prior to celebrating this first milestone in our marriage, my brain was on overdrive trying to think of the perfect anniversary gift.
The meaning of anniversary gifts stems back to the medieval ages when husbands would give their wives a silver garland after 25 years together and a golden one after 50. Since then many more dates have been associated with different materials to symbolize that year in marriage.
Traditionally,
the first year is known as a ‘Paper’ anniversary, meaning the couple gift each
other items made of this material. Some believe it is because in the first year
of marriage the couples are trying to make ends meet and therefore need an
inexpensive way to show their affection. This makes sense if you consider that
as the years go by the cost of the chosen material gets a little higher.
Now, getting
back to the gift… there are unlimited choices for a paper gift, the most
traditional ones being something like a framed photograph of the wedding day, a
photo album, stationary, a book or maybe a hand written love note. A more
modern approach can be to gift a ticket to a musical or sporting event or if
you’re feeling generous plane tickets to an exotic destination.
My
favourite however are the personalized gifts, and in the era of Pinterest and
DIY tutorials the options are endless. Here are my top paper gifts with a
unique twist:
Picture Coasters
These are
my absolute favourites, which is why I actually chose to make them for my hubby
when the 29th June rolled around. They were incredibly easy and
after looking at a few tutorials on youtube I developed my own system and am
really happy with the result. I made 12 coasters and used pictures from our
honeymoon, mainly because wedding pictures always get framed but the honeymoon
ones disappear into the hard drive. I love looking at surfaces in our apartment
and seeing memories of our amazing honeymoon scattered around… and guests love
them!
Map Your Love
This is
my runner up for best paper gift, and you can really make this project your
own. As a multicultural couple I liked the idea of having a big heart made by
combining UK and South America maps, and as my husband and I met, got engaged
and then got married in three different countries then I could include smaller
hearts flanking the large one with all these places. I like this so much I will
probably end up doing it eventually anyway, would be cute to have around the
flat! Here are a couple ways to do it:
Origami Outfits
I think
this would be a lovely ‘him to her’ gift as it seems like the sort of thing a
wife would appreciate more, especially if she is particularly proud of her
gorgeous gown. I’m not suggesting the husbands learn origami or DIY this, I’m
just pointing out that a quick look in Etsy will leave you a few dollars
lighter but will earn you lots of brownie points!
A Song To Remember
Your
first dance as Mr. and Mrs. is one of the most romantic and intimate moments of
your wedding and if you’re anything like me then you’ll love looking back at
that moment and wishing you could be there again. This is why I love the idea
of a ‘first song’ canvas, use an image of your first dance, throw in the lyrics
of your song and voila! Well not quite, you might need someone with Photoshop
skills or to have it professionally done, but regardless of how you get it
done, it will be a beautiful addition to your home.
52 Things
The
funkier alternative to the traditional love letter, a ’52 Things’ booklet is a
great way of telling your hubby all the ways in which you love him. You can
really get creative and personal with this and maybe even throw in a few
anecdotes of when he’s done something truly special that definitely did not go
unnoticed. It’s a great way for him to feel special and for you to remember why
you love him when he’s driving you crazy!
Get Cartooned
As a big
fan of cartoon versions of real people, I just love this option, unfortunately
hubby was not so keen. Some people opt for having a cartoonist at their wedding
but if you were not one of them, you can still send a cartoonist a picture of
your big day or just get an original drawing done whilst you are out
celebrating your anniversary, planned or spontaneous, this gift will give you giggles
whenever you look at it!
Paper Shoot
If you
have some spare pennies in your pocket or a talented photographer friend with a
flare for the unusual, then this is definitely the gift for you. It’s a great
project to plan together and just think how much fun you would have coming up
with paper related poses and making your paper outfits! Creativity is a must
for this one, and it will certainly be a first anniversary you will remember. This
particular shoot is the work of art of Steph Fowler Photography.
These are
my absolute favourites, but for more great ideas, check out my Anniversary Gift Ideas Pinterest board!
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