5 heartfelt wedding and anniversary gift ideas
This month is my parent’s 44th wedding anniversary so it’s the perfect time to write a blog post about the most heartfelt wedding and anniversary gifts. Besides buying dishware or giving cash, here are 5 gift ideas that will make your favorite couple or spouse feel very loved and appreciated.
1. Custom vows, song lyrics, or poem print
The traditional anniversary gift for the first year of marriage is “paper” and the second year is “cotton.” So, a really thoughtful gift idea is to print wedding vows, song lyrics, or a romantic poem on handmade cotton rag paper. This thick luxurious paper has torn deckle edges making it a beautiful addition to any wedding or home décor.
If you need help with your wedding vows or want to gift a romantic poem for your anniversary, there are some really special R. Clift poems available in my shop now.
2. Romantic book
One of my go-to wedding gifts is a book by one of my favorite poets, Tyler Knott Gregson. In his book, All the Words Are Yours, he shares daily haikus on love. These short three-line poems are perfect to read and share with a significant other each day.
Another idea is to find a romantic antique book, one filled with love poems or love letters. Here are some I currently have available in my Etsy shop (might show as sold out by the time you read this post):
Because I Love You: Published in 1894 this anthology is filled with hundreds of love poems from authors such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Lord Byron, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Alfred Tennyson, and many more.
Love Letters of a Musician: Published in 1902, this is one of my favorite love letter books (I have one in my own collection!).
Love Songs of France: Likely published in the late 1800s, this book is filled with love poems by Baudelaire, Victor Hugo, De Musset, etc. plus a couple of beautiful illustrations.
3. Themed gift
My parents got married on August 19th, 1978. For their 35th wedding anniversary, I had so much fun putting together gifts from the year they got married. In 1978, there were 4.3 billion people in the world, so I made them a framed quote that said, “Out of 4 billion people, I chose U.”
I made them a CD with the top Billboard hits from their wedding day. Grease was the #1 movie at the time (rest in peace Olivia Newton-John!), so I gave them a DVD of that and some Reese’s pieces because they were introduced in 1978.
And as big Cowboys fans (my Great Uncle Chuck Howley played for them), Dallas beat Denver in the Super Bowl in 1978, so I gifted them tickets to a Cowboys vs. Broncos game.
Another idea is to create themed “date night” boxes. One box could have everything needed to make a delicious meal or cocktail together, another could have a t-shirt, foam finger, and tickets to a game, another could have a blanket, candles, and a romantic book of poems to read to each other. The list goes on and on.
4. Custom painting
If you’re looking for something really special, you could have an engagement or wedding day photo painted by a watercolor artist like my friend and art partner, Patricia Shaw. Her paintings are so lovely and detailed. Frame it in a floating or vintage frame and gift it to a newlywed couple or to your significant other.
To commission a piece of artwork, fill out the contact form on Patricia’s website.
5. Handwritten love letter
I think I put this in every blog post that I write, but a handwritten love letter is the least expensive and most romantic gift that you can give. It's such a beautiful and memorable way of capturing loving thoughts and giving someone something they can revisit over and over again.
If you’re not sure what to write, just think about how they make you feel, things they’ve done for you over the years, or just write compliment after compliment.
And if you want to have your letter printed on beautiful handmade paper, you can check out the custom love letter listing in my shop.
What’s your favorite thing to gift or receive for a wedding or anniversary? Comment below or reach out to me on social media any time.
With love,
Alison Rose
Social media: @alisonrosevintage
Shop: alisonrosevintage.com
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