Choosing 1st wedding anniversary gifts

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The first wedding anniversary is often one of the best and most memorable of all anniversaries, as most of the people who celebrated the wedding last year as guests will want to congratulate the happy couple on their first year together as a married couple. It will evoke in everyone happy memories of the day. It is especially important for the key people who attended the wedding e.g. the bridesmaids, the best man to mark the day with a special gift and card.

Usually the newlyweds will still be setting up their home together, so often something practical for around the house will be appreciated. Another good idea would be a pamper day or experience day, as often the couple will have worked hard through the year to get themselves established.

The first wedding anniversary is also known as the “Paper” anniversary – so something made of paper would obviously be particularly apt. This might be a newspaper from their wedding day, a poem, or even the best man speech that was delivery exactly a year ago ! (well maybe !). In recent years “family tree kits” are proving more and more popular. These enable you to trace your ancestors, an appropriate thing to do as the happy couple will have made a new addition to their own family trees ! If they don’t already have one, a marriage certificate holder is a great idea.

You may have taken some photographs on the wedding day that the happy couple haven’t seen yet – so putting these in a lovely photo frame would be a particularly nice idea. Best not to include any pictures from the stag party though !

As with any celebration, a bottle of champagne or champagne glasses always goes down particularly well, and the couple are sure to think of you when they drinking it !

Most of the couple’s friends will most probably be young and perhaps on limited budgets, and as with any gift, it’s the thought that counts.

Novelty gifts often make good first anniversary gifts. Such gifts include a Scottish Lairdship, a Personalized message in a bottle and even an Acre of the moon ! Other personalized gifts and engravings would also particularly well received, baring the couple names and perhaps the date they were married and the person giving the gift. In years to come the couple and even their children will look back and remember the gift and the person who gave it, with much affection.

Another popular idea is a figurine. There are some beautiful ones available these days at very reasonable prices, and they make an attractive ornament which will last for decades. You could get the figurine engraved at the front or underneath. If you are sending it through the post though be sure to pack it well and get it insured as they are quite heavy and fragile and it might be seen a bad omen if it arrives broken !

On their first anniversary, the newlyweds will probably want to spend the occasion alone, so turning up at their house with drinks and party poppers might not go down very well! Even close friends and family should be careful not to encroach unless they have been specifically invited.

If you are buying a gift for your spouse on your first wedding anniversary it is particularly important to chose your gift carefully and plan a romantic day and/or evening to celebrate your marriage and first year together. It might not be a good idea to plan a surprise – as your husband or wife may also have planned a surprise with the inevitable consequences ! Most importantly of all – do not forget the anniversary ! Add it to every imaginable place as forgetting would be a momumental disaster !

A romantic meal, a weekend away, or even a night in the hotel that you spent your first night as a married couple are all old favourites, but the important thing is that you spend some quality time together, relax and contemplate your first year together. If you’re planning a meal it’s obviously vital to book a table, and tell the restaurateurs what the occasion is, so they can find the best seat the house, and maybe even afford you a complimentary drink !

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