Our First Wedding Anniversary: Gifts and What to Write

Your own first anniversary is the one nobody prepares you for. The wedding had a plan; this doesn't, and both of you are quietly waiting to see how seriously the other is taking it.

The answer that works for most couples: agree the budget in advance, keep the gift small, and put the effort into the card and the day.

The traditional UK symbol is paper, the modern list says clocks, the flower is the carnation. Paper is the useful one - it covers letters, prints, tickets and photographs.

Anniversary cards, printed in the UK

Funny, rude and heartfelt anniversary cards, blank inside so the words are yours. Printed in the UK, posted first class.

I Still Fancy You Peach Emoji Anniversary Card I Still Fancy You Peach Emoji Anniversary Card £3.87 There's Someone For All Of Us (Funny Wedding Card) There's Someone For All Of Us (Funny Wedding Card) £3.87 I Still Fancy You Eggplant Emoji Anniversary Card I Still Fancy You Eggplant Emoji Anniversary Card £3.87 365 Days Still Not Bored Anniversary Card 365 Days Still Not Bored Anniversary Card £3.87 Personalised Polaroid-style wedding card featuring an illustrated wedding cake and the text Just Married with custom names. Just Married Cake Polaroid Wedding Day Card (Personalised Names) £3.87 Personalised Wedding Card Featuring Pigeons Personalised Wedding Card Featuring Pigeons £3.87

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What to do on the day

  • Eat the top tier of the cake, if you kept it and you're brave.
  • Go back to where you got married, or where the reception was, and have one drink.
  • Look at the photographs properly - most couples haven't since the week they arrived.
  • Cook the wedding breakfast badly at home, which is funnier than a restaurant.
  • Write each other a letter to be opened on the tenth.
  • Book something for later in the year instead of spending on the day itself.

Paper gifts by budget

  • Under £10 - a card, and a letter about the year written by hand.
  • Under £25 - an A4 print for the first home, or a map print of where you married.
  • Under £50 - a framed print, or tickets to something you'll both remember.
  • Over £100 - a night away somewhere you can get to without an airport.

What to write to your wife

  • One year of marriage and I'd still choose you over a lie-in. Happy anniversary.
  • A year in, and you're still the best thing about every day.
  • Happy first anniversary. Same vows, more laundry, no regrets.
  • Paper for the first year, because we're still writing it. I like where it's going.
  • Twelve months married and I still can't believe you said yes.

What to write to your husband

  • One year down. Still the best decision I've made, and I've made some good ones.
  • Happy anniversary. A year of marriage and you've only shrunk two things.
  • First anniversary, and I'd do the whole day again tomorrow.
  • A year of you. Thanks for making it easy.
  • Happy anniversary. Here's to the next fifty, and to you finally learning where the plates go.

Getting the tone right

  • Agree a budget before either of you buys anything - it removes the whole problem.
  • Say one specific thing about the year, not a general compliment.
  • Reference something only the two of you would understand.
  • Write it the night before, not in the car park.
  • Keep the card. Year one is the first in a stack you'll read in thirty years.

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Prints for the wall

A5, A4 and A3 art prints, drawn in house and printed in the UK. They post flat and frame easily.

All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) All You Need Is Love / Love Is All You Need Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) Look At The Stars Song Lyrics Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) Music Sounds Better With You Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) 99 Problems but Excel Ain't One (A5 - A3) £8.00 Dancing On The Ceiling Music Print (A5 - A3) Dancing On The Ceiling Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00 Devils Roll The Dice, Angels Roll Their Eyes Poster Devils Roll The Dice, Angels Roll Their Eyes Poster £12.00 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics Print 12 Days of Christmas Lyrics Print £6.00 Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) Play That Funky Music Print (A5 - A3) £8.00

How to write it so it lands

  • Agree the budget before either of you shops.
  • Paper covers letters, prints, photos and tickets - use it properly.
  • Keep the card; it's the start of a stack.

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We make cards, pin badges, prints and party bits in house. These are from other shops we rate, and buying through the link costs you nothing extra.

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Husband & Wife Luggage Tags

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Anniversary book

Anniversary book

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Frequently asked questions

What is the first wedding anniversary gift?

Paper is the traditional UK symbol - letters, prints, photographs and tickets all count. The modern list says clocks, and the flower for the year is the carnation.

What should you do for your first wedding anniversary?

Something small and specific: revisit the venue, look at the photos properly, or cook the wedding breakfast at home. Most couples regret overspending on the day and never regret the letter.

How much should you spend on a first anniversary gift?

Agree it with each other first. Most couples land between £20 and £50, with the effort going into the card and the day rather than the object.

What do you write in a first anniversary card?

Name the year, name one specific thing from it, and add something only the two of you would get. Short and particular beats long and general.

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