Paper anniversary gifts: the story of your first year, in a book

Why a book makes a good paper anniversary gift

Tradition gives each wedding anniversary a material, and the first one is paper: fitting for a marriage whose story is only just being written. Letters, prints and tickets all count, but a book is the most natural paper gift there is.

Ours is made from your memories and photos. We shape your memories into a connected story, with artwork inspired by the people in it: 15 illustrated story spreads, each with a different illustration on the left and text on the right.

It can end however you like. For a first-anniversary book, the last-page field suggests “Here is to our next chapter.”

Celebrating a later anniversary? See our anniversary book for year two and beyond, or browse all our love story books.

What goes in “Our first chapter”

The story prompt is simple: “Take us from meeting each other to your wedding and your first year of married life.” Then three questions fill in the details:

• How your story began: The meeting and the moment you knew.
• Your wedding day: A date, a place, a favorite moment.
• Your first year together: The small traditions, milestones, and what comes next.

Add everyone who should be in the book, people and pets. You can add up to 8 photos of each person; clear face photos work best. Write it however it comes out. A list of moments works. So does a long paragraph.

Stuck on where to start? Our love story book ideas give you prompts for the first hello, the inside jokes and everything in between.

A paper anniversary gift for him, or for her

It is the same book either way; what changes is the voice. Pick the tone that sounds like the two of you: Sweet, Funny, Adventure, Romantic or Reflective. Then choose “Keep it true to our memories” for the real first year, or “Make us the stars of a fictional adventure” for an invented one.

Want it delivered to their door? Choose Ship to: Straight to them. Or ship it to yourself and hand it over on the day.

Not married yet? A book of your story also makes a wedding day gift to open on the wedding morning.

More paper anniversary gift ideas

Collecting ideas? Here are more paper gifts that feel personal. Ours comes first, of course.

1. A book of your first year. “Our first chapter” turns how you met, your wedding day and your first year together into 15 illustrated spreads. Start one here.
2. A letter for each month of year one. Twelve short letters: what happened, what you noticed, what you would do again.
3. Your vows, printed and framed. The words you said on the day, somewhere you will see them every morning.
4. Tickets to something you will do together. A concert, a play or a class: paper you get to use.
5. A map print of where you met. The street, café or campus where your story began, marked with the date.
6. A handwritten recipe from your first home. The dinner you made on repeat in year one, framed for the kitchen.
7. A journal for year two. A blank book with a first entry from you.

Giving it to newlyweds

Parents often want to mark a son’s or daughter’s first anniversary. Gather the couple’s memories first: how they met, what they remember most from the wedding day and what their first year has been like. Those are the same three things the order form asks for.

We send updates and proofs to the purchaser, even when the book ships as a gift. You can ship the finished book straight to the couple.

Timing

Allow about 3 weeks for a printed book, including creation, your prompt approval, printing, and delivery. Dates are estimates. Allow up to 5 business days for the first proof.

Your occasion date is a request, not a guaranteed delivery date. If the anniversary date is firm, contact us before ordering. You can also read our order and delivery details.