14 Perfect Paper Anniversary Gift Ideas
Searching for the best Paper Anniversary gift ideas? We have 14 epic options that will make great first anniversary presents for your husband, wife, or if you are shopping for the couple. Save yourself time and use our detailed breakdown of 14 terrific gifts meant to celebrate one full year of marriage.
So much happens during those first 365 days and hopefully, the honeymoon vibe is still going strong. Couples have gotten to know each other better, blended their routines, and likely dueled over closet space by now! One year passed by and many happy years still to come. So let’s start with the reason for the symbolic nature of anniversary gifts then dive right into our gift list.
It’s Official - On Paper
Many historians point to the need to strengthen marital bonds way back in the day. More on that in a moment. But some experts say choosing certain gifts for year one, then two, five, etc. goes as far back as the ancient Romans. They were pretty romantic people despite enjoying gladiators and the like. Still, modern love and marriage took a turn for the better in the 1800s.
In ancient times it was often not love that was the reason to get married. Weddings were arranged and many involved land deals. Not exactly ideal nor romantic, right?
Watching the first few seasons of Game of Thrones tells that story pretty well. You could end up married to a mad king. Or be in love with a kind lady but get pushed to marry another woman you’ve never met. These arrangements made things “official.”
Strangely these deals that led to couples getting married would also lead to husband and wife staying together forever. And when modern times rolled around, many say that people needed a natural way to symbolize and strengthen their love.
If no land deal or war was to be avoided by getting married the theory was that few people would stay married. But love clearly proved that all wrong and folks are still walking down the aisle.
The bond still needs an official feel though. Hence the ceremony, the elaborate receptions, and traditional gifts that go with any big celebration. Then as the years passed it became logical that each year made the marriage more official, standing the test of time. It’s no wonder that specific gifts evolved to mark each anniversary.
We believe the Paper Anniversary is the hardest to reach. Why? It takes courage to get married, to devote yourself to someone so fully. And when you reach that one-year mark, that is worth a huge celebration and the perfect gift.
Without further ado let us give you our breakdown of 14 gifts that will be treasured for year-one’s Paper Anniversary.
1. Hand-Drawn Couple Caricature
From: Give A Laugh Drawings
Price: $42.99
We have hundreds of photos on our phones. And married couples will take tens of thousands of photos together over the course of decades together. Those are precious. However, for a special occasion like a wedding anniversary, a hand-drawn caricature is something to be treasured forever.
What gives it that special feel?
- – Captures the couple’s personality
- – Adds fun and flair to a portrait
- – Custom design is flexible
- – Once-in-a-lifetime moment captured
Some couples get lucky and find an artist to draw them on a vacation at a park or downtown. Those are spontaneous, like romance, sure. But you don’t get much time to pose for the cartoon depiction that you really want. Because you’re on a trip and don’t want to sit still – too much to see and do!
And the artist can’t go back and redo anything you would rather change. That’s why Give A Laugh Caricatures are the way to go.
First off, all these caricatures are hand-drawn by real artists. Human beings with soul and super skills when it comes to artwork. No computer-generated drawings allowed there!
Also, when you purchase one of these drawings, you get to pick the direction it will go. The caricature comes to life because of the details and direction you give the artists. They are all ears and ideas!
The best part is you get to see the caricature in progress and give feedback as to what you love and anything you want changed at each stage.
Their only goal is to make you happy with your custom caricature. A Paper Anniversary is super special and these artists want the couple to love the drawing.
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Give A Laugh Caricatures (10-point system):
Originality
10
Style
9
Custom Options
10
Tear-Jerking Power
8
Paper Theme
10
2. Paper Rose
From: Camellia Bees
Price: $31.99
What could be more perfect or romantic on your one year anniversary than a bouquet of paper flowers?
We like the simple gift that still shows so much affection and highlights craftsmanship. This gift comes in at under $50 also and is a good value considering the work involved. Have you ever made a rose out of paper!
Unlike real roses that will wilt with time, these roses are made from crepe paper, each petal is cut, trimmed, bent, and tied together by the hands of artisans meaning that they will never lose their form, and will make a perfect decoration that will stand the test of time, just like your marriage will.
Roses have a long history of being associated with love. Dating back to the Romans, who would put roses in the bedrooms to represent the love and beauty of the goddess Venus. In Christianity, roses are a symbol of the Virgin Mary who is referred to as the “rose without thorns” and take on the added meaning of purity.
So take your relationship back to the beginning, when showing up on your date with a bouquet of flowers was how your date started.
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Camellia Bees (10-point system):
Originality
7
Style
10
Custom Options
5
Tear-Jerking Power
8
Paper Theme
10
3. Personalized Anniversary Star Map
From: Our Love Was Born
Price: $39
If your Paper Anniversary gift is going to a couple whose love was written in the stars, this gift is worth checking out. A lovely custom star map and it’s under $50! Pretty cool and affordable. Newlyweds buying for each other can always use a deal after all the “startup” costs of moving in together.
Oh, and that little shindig called the wedding!
What’s so special about this map?
- Handmade
- Premium luster paper
- Personalizable
It is a nice addition to a bedroom or home office, as it shows off the night sky and our stars in a unique fashion.
We think the main color (blue and white) is ideal but you get the option of several different colors. Choose what your spouse likes best or take an educated guess if you’re buying for a couple. You can’t go wrong.
Be sure to choose which font you prefer too. It’s the little things that make perfect gifts perfect, right?
What else you might need to know:
- Comes with an optional frame
- Measures 12 in. x 18 in.
- The packaging is very elegant
This is a great choice for a star-crossed couple. Perfect for rainy days and rainy nights when the stars can’t come out to play.
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Our Love Was Born (10-point system):
Originality
9
Style
9
Custom Options
7
Tear-Jerking Power
8
Paper Theme
10
4. Book with Couple’s Initials
From: Folded Books
Price: $60
How do some people come up with these crafty creations? Lots of free time on their hands, perhaps. But that’s great because this gift is a special find. Book lovers may really go for this hand-designed book craft that shows off each spouse’s initials with a heart in the middle.
The artist takes older books and makes use of them with art meant for lovers. It truly is an outside-the-box idea. It does go over the $50 mark, unlike some Paper Anniversary gifts we already looked at. Yet, it’s worth it for a married pair of educators. And a couple of librarians would find this fun piece of art irresistible.
Other cool things about his gift idea:
- High-quality paper
- Customizable letters
- Type of gift that can’t be mass-produced
*Printed books are not out of style btw – 2021 revealed that the printed book market remains healthy: 825.75 million units were sold.
Also, instead of a book sitting idle on a thrift store shelf for ages, it now has an upcycled purpose. And how many books has this anniversary gift kept out of landfills? Yep, it’s a thoughtful present for a married couple and nice for our planet too.
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Folded Books (10-point system):
Originality
8
Style
8
Custom Options
6
Tear-Jerking Power
9
Paper Theme
10
5. Travel Maps
From: Three Options
Price: Starting at $27
Let us guess. Young lovers love to travel and have a big ole list of places they are salivating over? A great gift for them on this Paper Anniversary may be a travel map. Not just any map. We tracked down one that is a work in progress.
You scratch off the beautiful locales you visit to reveal more color – which travel provides to the soul, right?
This map is a great way to celebrate travel, adventure, and one year of marriage. Maps are touching paper. GPS and digital mapping are great but not very romantic.
What else makes this map a great gift? Let’s look closer:
- An American artist does the watercolors on each country
- Easily framed
- Big! Measuring 30 in. x 20 in.
We went down a map rabbit hole and found a couple more just in case you wanna window shop. This next map is a little more expensive but still affordable at $35. And we think it is a bit more classy while the first one we listed is more on the artsy side. Both, very nice.
- This map is also on Amazon and offers free returns
- Silver and black – stylish!
- 34 in. x 22 in.
Wait, that’s not all the maps. The last one you should look at doesn’t require scratching off destinations. Less worrying about damaging the map. This map lets the couple pin their adventures like in the old days, with push pins. The price tag on it is $89.
You can’t go wrong with any of those three Paper Anniversary maps. If you get lost in picking, just start back at the top of this gift list!
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Travel Maps (10-point system):
Originality
8
Style
9
Custom Options
7
Tear-Jerking Power
9
Paper Theme
10
6. Anniversary Question Card Games
From: Two Options
Price: Under $25
Finally… a game on the list. We love how games are a way to start conversations. Even newlyweds need a kickstart sometimes as our little tech devices hog all our attention, don’t ya think?
We’ve got two card games.
The first one has a great look just on the packaging itself. But the game is what strengthens the love bond. It is perfect for a stay-at-home date night. Perhaps after a fun anniversary dinner too?
Features we liked:
- Over 100 cards with fun inspiring questions
- Helps relive memories
- Starts new ideas flowing
- Perfect for group game night also
The other card game option, you might find a better fit for your spouse. Or for a couple you love and want to show it with an awesome gift. It’s called Love Lingual, a very poetic title with hints of passion!
This game is just a few bucks more than the prior card game we listed. The packaging is simpler and not as love-themed but still cute. However, this game has more cards, more questions, with 150 in the box, guys!
Here’s what else:
- The questions are inspired by couples psychologists
- Read #1 again!
- High-quality paper according to reviews
- Over 10,000 ratings
*Playing board games has been shown to increase the release of the “love hormone “oxytocin.
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Anniversary Card Games (10-point system):
Originality
10
Style
8
Custom Options
5
Tear-Jerking Power
9
Paper Theme
10
7. Soundwave Song Art
From: Rindle
Price: $70
Hear that? That my friend is the sound of love in the air. Soundwaves, brilliant! Who comes up with these inspiring ideas – just plain neat. And to be honest, this gift got us misty-eyed. Music gets us every time.
And now you can see the power of music in soundwave art on Etsy. Great idea and it fits a first anniversary where a couple has a favorite song together. Could be their wedding song or the first song they ever danced to.
But also could be:
- A song one wrote or plays for the other
- A lullaby for a baby on the way
- The song that they heard when they first met
You should check these pieces of art out. They are impressive and have solid reviews. Now, if you’re buying for someone who isn’t into music, it doesn’t fit. But if your husband or wife loves a good tune you can’t go wrong here. The art, even if it were unrelated to music, is standalone lovely. Plus, you get an array of frame options to fit your home decor.
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Rindle (10-point system):
Originality
7
Style
10
Custom Options
8
Tear-Jerking Power
9
Paper Theme
8
8. Custom Paint By Numbers
From: Amazon
Price: $84.99
What says happy anniversary on paper better than a painting? One that you have to paint together. And the couple doesn’t need any artistic abilities to paint this lovely portrait. Good thing because not everyone is a painter. That takes years of experience.
But with paint by numbers, this painting comes out perfect every time. Here’s the thing though. You get to upload the photo that is to become the painting.
Think of the possibilities for that with a Paper Anniversary:
- Couple’s kiss
- Couple’s vacation
- Couple’s first home
- Wedding memory
The list goes on and on. And what many shoppers like about this paint-by-numbers kit is that it ships from the USA. No waiting for weeks on a shipment from overseas that might as well be shipping from the moon!
Plus, the kit includes up to 34 colors and has 3 high-quality brushes. And the canvas is listed as “gift-quality.”
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Paint By Numbers (10-point system):
Originality
9
Style
7
Custom Options
9
Tear-Jerking Power
7
Paper Theme
10
9. Framed Marriage Poem
From: Papermints
Price: $24
For under 15 dollars – wow – you can give one of the most moving gifts of all time. The Art of Marriage poem has been a staple of married life for so many couples that get lucky enough to read it. It is a simple roadmap to keeping a marriage together and love alive in all its glory!
Here’s the first lines in case you have yet to read this beautiful poem.
“Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens, a good marriage must be created.”
If that doesn’t move ya, check your pulse!
Now, what is special about this printed version we tracked down for you on your search for a great Paper Anniversary gift?
- Super affordable for budget-minded shoppers
- Larger sizes are available but increases price
- Museum-quality matte paper.
You can also choose from four styles:
- Classic
- Canvas (*restrictions)
- Chalkboard
- Vintage
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Papermints (10-point system):
Originality
7
Style
8
Custom Options
8
Tear-Jerking Power
10
Paper Theme
10
10. Couples Bucket List Journal
From: Amazon
Price: $9.99
Bucket lists have been a thing for a while but got truly famous with the Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson film. Well, who better to create and document a bucket list with than your partner for life? “Nobody” is the answer you’re looking for!
Life’s an adventure waiting on us to enjoy as many of them as possible. And when we write them down, we’re more likely to take these adventures on.
So for just 10 bucks, you have here a great adventurous gift that can lead couples to a life full of fun and a way to reflect on those experiences. A couple’s journal to track their bucket list goals.
Just be sure the spouse with the good handwriting does the entries!
Here are the highlights of the lowest-priced gift on our big list of Paper Anniversary gifts:
- 101 bucket list ideas
- Brainstorm prompts to create more bucket list items
- Lots of space to document the activities and travel
- Reminders to reflect on your journey together
- Travel-ready size
*Many studies find people report their greatest regrets are things they did NOT do.
Gift Score
Here’s how we scored Our Bucket List (10-point system):
Originality
8
Style
7
Custom Options
10
Tear-Jerking Power
8
Paper Theme
10
In Conclusion
You are ready. We did all the work we could to help ya out. Now grab the gift that is best for a couple you want to surprise. Get the gift that makes your spouse go WOW!
And congrats to you if you are celebrating. We love that you found love.
If you are shopping for friends or family who are the happy couple, then thank you. For the care you have taken to shop for them.
If you choose a fun unique gift like the custom caricature from Give A Laugh, you chose the best gift for the right person. And if you got them a soundwave poster that impressed them, you knew who you were shopping for.
So – great job!
Oh, please tell the happy couple we said – Happy First Anniversary.