The 24 Best Paper Anniversary Gifts to Celebrate Your First Year of Marriage

If your spouse loves to read but doesn't have the space in their work or travel bag for a hefty hardcover, consider gifting them a Kindle Paperwhite. Although it's not made of actual paper, this device's slim, lightweight feel makes it seem as if you're reading a paperback.

Any design aficionado will marvel at this coffee table book with images of renowned designer Miles Redd's interiors. While the content between the pages is the main event, the book's bold cover gives it a decorative feel that's just as exciting.

Who knew journaling could look so chic? This refillable journal is perfect if your partner is big on handwritten meeting notes or daily journal entries, given that they can reuse this stylish croc-patterned leather cover over and over again.

This retro poster is the perfect surprise for any vintage lover. It serves as a cool art piece for your home and commemorates your special day (one year later!) uniquely—we love how it's equally personal and versatile.

Another way to memorialize your wedding day and decorate your home with unique art is to purchase this custom venue portrait for your partner. To get this letterpress print, upload your favorite wedding venue photo, personalize your text, choose your frame, and voilà!

If your spouse has season tickets to your city's baseball team or is just as passionate about his favorite team as they were on your wedding day, this anniversary gift will feel extra special. Featuring reprinted pages from The New York Times’ coverage of your MLB team of choice, they'll spend hours looking through this book after you gift it.

Flowers are never a bad idea for a special occasion. Fresh Sends offers the cutest floral deliveries wrapped in faux newspaper, which go along perfectly (and cheekily!) with the paper anniversary theme and will make your spouse's day.

Everyone needs a solid stationery set to keep handwritten notes alive—we love Papier's notecard options the best. Personalize a set with your partner's full name (bonus points if they changed their name post-ceremony) and choose the card quantity, orientation, card shape, foil color, and paper thickness.

If you haven't already, there's no better time than your first anniversary milestone to print and display your wedding photos properly. Artifact Uprising's Wedding Layflat Photo Album is one of our top choices for wedding albums due to its timeless, ultra-customizable design. Even if you're not design savvy, the company offers its White Glove Album Design Service, which links you with a designer to create the wedding album of your dreams.

If your first year of marriage was also your first year living together in a new home as a couple, consider customizing these paper matchbooks with your names for your new space. Place them in a decorative bowl by the front door for guests to grab as a keepsake after you entertain them at your place.

The “Where Should We Begin” card game by famous psychotherapist Esther Perel is ideal for couples to strengthen their bond in a playful yet thoughtful way. Each of the 280 questions is guaranteed to spark a deep, important conversation with your partner.

Gifting paperclip-style jewelry is a modern way to fit the first anniversary theme. Ring Concierge's Small Link Chain Necklace in 14-karat gold (available in yellow, white, or rose gold) is made for any minimal dresser who deserves a special, heirloom-quality piece.

The proclaimed chef of the house will love having this adorable recipe journal to keep all of their go-to meals in one place. We especially love this gift idea for anyone who wants to jot down every detail of passed-down family recipes.

Your bibliophile spouse will thank you for this Book of the Month membership, which sends a hardback novel from a curated list to your doorstep every month. There's a reason so many fiction lovers rave about this service—it does the arduous task of figuring out your next read for you.

If your better half hates wasting paper but needs a notebook for work, consider the reMarkable Tablet. This device feels like paper but is a digital notebook that converts handwritten notes to typed-out text in the storage drive of their choice.

Understated yet stunning, these paperclip earrings can be dressed up or down, making them the perfect anniversary gift option. Made from 14-karat yellow gold and featuring pavé diamonds on each hoop, they are worth the splurge for this special milestone.

While this Diptyque perfume bottle is objectively stunning, that's not the only reason we'd recommend it for a first anniversary gift. The name "Papier" also uniquely fits the theme; the notes of white musk, rice steam accord, and blonde woods are heavenly.

With this Minted framed photo set, you can get Polaroid pictures without buying a new camera. Choose 12 of your favorite photos with your spouse from your wedding day, a recent vacation, or any other special time in your lives, and customize the frame color, size, and text under each photo.

If your partner is looking for a new work or travel tote, this Bottega Veneta option, in raw paper leather and in a timeless light brown hue, remains true to the first anniversary theme.

Made from 100 percent paper, this bucket hat is perfect for your spouse's next beach vacation. It makes a statement, but it's still versatile enough to wear with every bathing suit and cover-up.

If you've both been bitten by the interior design bug after moving in together, consider gifting one of these cheery wall coverings. Each whimsical design, from a peacock-printed option to a pretty pineapple design, is available in both peel-and-stick and traditional wallpaper versions.

If your spouse spends most days in the office, this sophisticated memo tray is an excellent addition to their desk. While it's not made of paper, it's essential for keeping day-to-day documents in one place and preventing important notes from getting lost in a cluttered desk.

For the partner who's always trying out a new hobby, this travel watercolor set is the perfect small but meaningful present for your first anniversary. It includes all the essentials for any beginner to try out a new skill without making a mess: a sketchpad, a 16-color palette, and a water pen brush.

If you're both into the retro design, choose some of your favorite photos of your spouse (or of the two of you together) to print with this vintage-esque “luster” effect. Get any quantity of premium-quality, semi-gloss prints in sizes from 3.25 inches x 3.25 inches to 7 inches x 5 inches with border and no-border options.

FAQ

• Paper is a lovely symbol for the first year of marriage, connoting a fresh start and a blank page for the life you’re creating together. It’s both strong and delicate and offers endless possibilities for creativity and expression.

• Of course not! Traditional and modern anniversary themes are simply guidelines and not strict rules. If you and your spouse would rather celebrate in a way that reflects your shared interests, feel free to make it your own.

• Paper is the traditional gift for a first anniversary, while the modern alternative is a clock, symbolizing the passage of time and the bright future you’re sharing together. The anniversary is also associated with yellow and gold, and the classic flower of choice is the carnation.