Friday, May 27, 2011

One Year Anniversary Gift Ideas: Paper

The hubs and I are in the middle of planning our one year anniversary and so I've been a busy bee researching gift ideas. We are planning to stick with the traditional give idea of paper, so it has been a challenge to find gifts that are still personal. I thought I'd share some of my favorite ideas :)

Savings Bond


This might seem unromantic at first, but I think the symbolism of waiting for a bond to mature to full value is sweet. Plus, then you could cash it in on your thirty year anniversary and do something fun with the money! 

Two 8 X 10 print's by Nicole Cohen of Sketch42


I think art is a wonderful way to get creative with a gift of paper. I've followed Nicole's blog for awhile and love her dreamy paintings. But, they are way out of my price range. So, I was so excited when she started to sell photographs of her paintings! I love the colors she uses and I think a set of two 8 X 10s hanging next to each other in crisp white frames would look phenomenal. She has a lot of different options, but these two are my favorite. I think there is something romantic and whimsical about them.  

Night Sky Print


Indigo Night has come up with such a cool idea! If you tell them the place and date, they can recreate what the night sky looked like from that location on that specific date. I think a print of the night sky from your wedding day would be such a romantic gift. 

Tickets to a Show


Neill and I don't go to shows too often, but when we do we always have such a good time. Well, except that time we went to the opera and I likened it to being tortured, but I'm willing to try it again. Tickets to dance, plays, and musicals would be a great gift because it is something we could do together. 

Personalized Anniversary Memory Album


I love the idea of having a special book to record how we celebrate each wedding anniversary and it would be so easy to design something on a site like blurb. The cover could be an engagement or weddings photos and then each page could have something like "June 12, 2060: 50th Wedding Anniversary" (how weird is it to think about the year 2060?).  Then there could be a few questions with blank space left for us to fill in the answers.

Photo Album of our Relationship


For our one year anniversary Neill and I made a photo album together and we planned to update it every year. Lovely idea right? We thought so too. But, unfortunately we never kept up with it. Sifting through all of the photos that we've taken over the years would be quite a daunting task, but the end result would be so worth it. 

Canvas Print of a Wedding Photo


Neill and I don't have any of our wedding photos hung and so it would be lovely to have one of our favorite photos printed on a canvas.

Love Art

 via


I've got to admit, this is something that I've wanted since I created our bedroom design board back in November. I love the simplicity of this piece and the romantic message. I planned to attempt a DIY version of this piece, but let's be honest - I'm just not a DIY girl.

* * * * *

Do any of these strike your fancy? What is the best anniversary present you have ever received? How did you and your hubby celebrate your one year anniversary?


xoxo
alisha

22 comments:

  1. Here's my votes - art/photo on canvas, or tickets to a show (an event that you can enjoy together is always a GREAT gift), or savings bond. It's practical, but you'll be happy down the road. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great ideas! I love the canvas print--canvas prints are so cool, and when I have my own place I really want to get some to decorate my house with :) Thanks for following! I'm following you, too :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. OH! And I forgot to mention that yes, Rum & Ginger Ale really does taste like cream soda :) It's delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi, I'm visiting from the Friday blog hop. I love all of your ideas for an anniversary gift, but the savings bond was my favorite. I like the idea of how it matures in time, just like your marriage. (Can you tell I've been married almost 39 years? LOL)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I absolutely love the night sky print. So romantic, and a conversation piece as well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've always loved the idea of giving traditional anniversary gifts, and I love your picks! I can't wait to see what you actually give him.

    Thanks for linking up today!

    xoxoxo,
    Joelle

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm a big fan of the last one. Love art. I think it's so cool.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the canvas photo idea but I don't think canvas is paper [lol its close enough in my eyes]. I love the idea of maybe writing a poem or letter to yourselves to open in like 30 years or another big anniversary if that makes any sense. Or a love note to your husband.

    ReplyDelete
  9. o wow! so many great ideas. i like the tickets idea-- that way you can do something together :) happy (soon to be) anniversary! xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams

    ReplyDelete
  10. The tickets to a show or the wedding print are my two faves!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I bought tickets for Josh for our one year anniversary, and didn't even realize it was the paper anniversary! Unintentional but awesome. :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the art!! That would be my vote!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Found you through Holly's blog and loooove your blog! Def. a new follower.

    Also, I am currently on track (three years down!) to get my PhD in Psychology/Neuroscience, and take clinical classes (just the assessment courses). I got excited when I saw you're in school to be a clinician. Love it.

    -Sar

    ReplyDelete
  14. We've only had our first anniversary. My husband (who is much more thoughtful than I am) got me something that fits into this old tradition, and something from the new tradition. He got me a beautiful journal, in which he wrote a sweet note about his hopes and dreams for our future. Then he also gave me an engraved clock (new tradition). I gave him a wallet (something for his papers) and a video game (something for his time).

    Honestly - I think the savings bond is a great idea. Kind of like investing your future financially, while symbolically investing in your relationship. I wish I had thought of that!

    ReplyDelete
  15. These are all perfect gift ideas! I especially love the idea of the savings bond because even though it seems so simple, it is such a creative idea! And so unexpected! Plus, the idea that you could cash the money on your 30th anniversary and take a romantic trip is incredibly sweet. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. These are all great ideas! I like the broadway tickets because I'm a big fan of experiences.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Alisha! These are all such great ideas. I LOVE the savings bond though. It does seem unromantic at first glance, but the meaning behind it is So romantic. And it's also practical! It's hard to find both of these together which is one reason I love the idea. Let us know what you pick!

    ReplyDelete
  18. i love love the savings bond idea..as a newlywed i am defintely stealing that idea. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love the canvas print idea! It's so beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love the canvas print, it takes a regular photo and makes it even more special!! but all the ideas are great. I like how creative you got with paper :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I have stumbled upon your blog before and can't remember if I commented on how much I adore that you recapped all the details of your wedding. In case I have commented before - consider this extra praise. I was just married three month ago and am just now starting to want to recap the whole thing. I am sure your posts will pose as some inspiration. I can't wait to get a moment to sit down and read them.
    Emily
    http://www.hope-squared.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  22. These are all great ideas! Our first anniversary is on Sunday (eee I cannot believe it has already been one year) and we are doing a little weekend getaway and staying at a B&B in a nearby town.

    For paper, I am getting J a year's subscription to his favorite magazine although I seriously contemplated getting him tickets to a concert but all his favorite artists weren't on tour in our area!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts. Every comment brings a smile to my face!