The process of planning a wedding often receives a lot of attention. However, less emphasis is placed on celebrating the first anniversary a couple experiences after tying the knot. It’s likely you will want to mark the occasion in a special way when approaching your first anniversary. If that’s the case, review this quick guide to celebrating your first year of marriage and put together a moment that beautifully captures the heart of your relationship. 

The Paper Celebration

The traditional name for the first year of marriage is the paper anniversary. Typically, traditional themes for each year of marriage are based around symbols that represent how strong and durable the bond is at that point in the marriage. It represents the idea that your marriage is still somewhat fresh and new as paper is not a very resilient material. It is a blank page that has many possibilities. At the same time, it is also easily torn or destroyed when one is careless.  

Many people opt to purchase gifts for their spouses based around the concept of paper. It can be fun to stick with traditional themes and see what clever presents you get each other. Some easy go-to solutions for the paper anniversary include a book, notebook, and personalized stationery.

The Modern Outlook On a First Anniversary

Traditional themes aren’t the only option to consider for celebrating your first year of marriage. Each anniversary also has a modern theme associated with it for couples who are looking to step away from older or outdated traditions. A device meant for telling the time is a modern gift people tend to buy for this celebration. This type of gift can include a clock, a watch, a phone, or anything that can help track the passage of time.

The Color and Flower

If you’re not really feeling the traditional or modern approach to this anniversary, there are still several more options. The color theme of this anniversary is yellow, meaning that you can get any gift that includes this shade. The precious metal of the first-year celebration is gold, which is an incredibly easy material to work into a gift for a spouse. Additionally, Carnations are a flower typically associated with youthful romance, making them a popular choice for the first anniversary. 

A First Anniversary Outing

Gifts are far from the only aspect of celebrating an anniversary. Often, couples will go out and enjoy themselves on this date. If you’re saving for a more exciting investment like a home or car, then you might not have taken many opportunities to treat yourselves over the last year together. Use your anniversary as a chance to cut loose and have a bit of fun with your money. Marking these occasions with appropriate celebratory actions can make each passing year feel more exciting and meaningful. 

The Personalized Path

Finally, don’t feel as if you need to adhere to a strict set of rules when celebrating an anniversary. You can feel free to toss out all of the suggestions about themes and how to celebrate if none of them are appealing. Go with your gut and pick out gifts and activities that appropriately reflect your partner’s tastes and interests. By customizing the experience and ditching the universal methods of anniversary acknowledgment, you are less likely to stress about finding a perfect gift that fits with the theme of the celebration.

There are several different approaches you can consider when it comes to your first anniversary. You can follow traditional norms and go with paper gifts or buck tradition and start your plans from scratch. A little work and dedication will guarantee this is a celebration you will both remember for many years to come.