Why is paper the first wedding anniversary gift

Paper is used traditionally as the gift for year one of marriage…. Gifts on paper are symbolic. Most believe that paper anniversaries and the paper gift is representing a blank page, a new beginning and the ability to write your own story.  This article on 1st wedding anniversaries published by the Spuce.com says it perfectly:

“Take care of the paper, and it will maintain a story for a lifetime. Handle the paper carelessly, and it will fade, tear, and disintegrate into nothing.“

Beyond that idea, paper gifts are a signature of your love. Think about the signing of your marriage documents, reading your written vows, viewing your printed marriage license and signing your life and commitment to another. Your life together began with very important paper documents.

Anniversaries are a yearly celebration of love, heart, soul, strength and endurance. Celebrating the connection between two individuals. After one year of marriage, the design of your life together has already begun. You begin to write your story as a couple and mapping those moments lock your two hearts together for life.

What better way to celebrate than to include the special words of your marriage, whether a love letter, your vows, or simply the words “I Do”, on a specially designed map printed on paper to showcase your love?

The colors of your wedding, from the flowers to the bridesmaids dresses can be included in the design of your wedding map as a remembrance of your special day.

Working with Jessica Wilkeson Design Studio to design a custom map of your beginnings is a fantastic way to achieve the best personalized first anniversary gift you could give that will last the lifetime of your marriage. Imagine your custom map hanging on the wall in your living room. Something that can remind the both of you where you started, fell in love, got married, honeymooned, bought your first home, had your first child…. The options are endless.

“An Anniversary is a time to celebrate the joy of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hope of tomorrow”

Your first wedding anniversary is a wonderful moment to reflect on the special memories of your wedding day, and the first year of married life you’ve experienced together. We’ve got some ideas of how you can celebrate this memorable moment in style!

What is the first wedding anniversary symbol?

The first wedding anniversary is traditionally also known as the paper wedding anniversary. Many couples like to nod to tradition when celebrating their wedding anniversaries, by incorporating the symbol associated with the year. The time will come for ruby, sapphire and golden wedding anniversaries, but your first year together is represented by paper.

 

What does the paper wedding anniversary represent?

The custom of celebrating wedding anniversaries is one going back many years, perhaps all the way to Ancient Rome. Various milestones are represented by different symbols, and these often increase in value over the years, taking you from your Paper to your Diamond wedding anniversary.

Some of the reasons that the first anniversary is your paper wedding anniversary have been suggested as follows:

• Paper represents the unwritten future ahead of you as a couple
• Paper is a modest beginning for the start of your marriage, to be built on as years go by
• Paper can be considered fragile when compared with the gemstones of later wedding anniversaries, but this is a reminder that your marriage will only grow stronger over time.

 

Celebrating your paper wedding anniversary

With lots of couples now rejecting the tradition of leaving the wedding for the airport just as the party is getting going, many are now enjoying their honeymoon months after the wedding day. Because of this, by the time your first wedding anniversary rolls around, you may still be feeling that wedding glow. And why not! It’s such a wonderful time in your life, so make sure to enjoy it for as long as you can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paper wedding anniversary gifts

For a really thoughtful first wedding anniversary gift, we’ve got some ideas on how to wow your spouse, all based around paper gifts:

• Create a homemade voucher book
• Give them a jar filled with paper notes of things you love about them
• Write them a heartfelt letter – in the digital day and age, this one means a lot!
• Print out paper copies of some of your favourite photos. Again, seeing your memories in print is often a novelty these days.
• Choose our paper wedding anniversary newspaper book as a one-of-a-kind gift. Pick from a wide range of regional and national newspapers to present your loved one with a personalised, embossed book containing the newspaper from your special day.

 

Date ideas for your paper wedding anniversary

Your wedding anniversary is the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together, and there are lots of great options for how you can mark the day. Some of our favourites are:

 

• Eat the top layer of your wedding cake – if you still have it! This old custom recommends you keep the top tier of your cake to enjoy on your first wedding anniversary. Just make sure it’s still edible!
• Buy your partner some carnations – these are the symbolic flower of your first wedding anniversary.
• The colours that represent your first wedding anniversary are gold and yellow. You could incorporate these into the day in a variety of ways. Perhaps you could choose yellow carnations if you’re already going down the flower route.

 

If you’re wondering about activities for your paper wedding anniversary, you could:

• Head to a museum, art gallery, theatre or film; these are always fun to discuss afterwards.
• Depending on when in the year your anniversary falls (and if the Irish weather allows), you could have a picnic or go for a hike for some quality time in nature.
• Keep it simple with a night at home. Make a nice meal together and throw on a film you’ll both enjoy.

 

Enjoy your paper wedding anniversary

However you celebrate, the most important thing is to take time out to be with each other. These moments are what matter most in our lives, and it’s wonderful to think back on your wedding day and at the same time look forward to the future together.

 

Our paper wedding anniversary newspaper book is the perfect gift to reflect on the events that shaped the world on the day you were married. It’s something you’re sure to keep forever and will only become more fascinating over the course of your lives together.

Is paper the gift for first anniversary?

The traditional 1st wedding anniversary gift is considered to be paper which represents your new marriage as like a blank sheet, and as relatively fragile.

What does the paper wedding anniversary mean?

The one-year wedding anniversary is also known as the “paper anniversary.” Why? Paper is symbolic of the fragility and freshness of your union. Just like a blank sheet of paper, it's still crisp, clean and holds endless possibilities.

What is traditionally given for a first wedding anniversary?

The traditional 1-year anniversary gift is paper. The modern one is clocks.

Why is 1st anniversary important?

The first year of marriage is often considered a year of adjustment. As you celebrate this special first wedding anniversary, reflect on both the delicate and enduring aspects of your marriage and your love for one another.