Anniversary gift

[Foodiekaren]

It’s mine and dp first anniversary (relationship not marriage) next month. I know he has planned all sorts of extravagant things for us and has definitely gone overboard with a gift for me, his DD dropped hints about it and I’m pretty certain I know what it is. The issue is I have never been good at gift giving myself and struggle to find suitable things for specific people. I have no idea what to get him. He is into personalised, meaningful things he can keep as a memory. Very romantic and thoughtful. Whereas I’m happy with flowers or chocolates and wouldn’t even consider personalising something or going soppy as I find it forced and cringe.i don’t want to underwhelm him by gifting him something he won’t find special, so I’d really appreciate your ideas and stories of your first anniversaries please!
(please note it’s not a competition or a value comparison, I just want to return the effort back to him)

First anniversary is traditionally paper, so you could start from there? Perhaps get a notebook or diary made out of a book that has meaning for him? These people do it beautifully: www.reboundbooks.co.uk/

Or a map of somewhere that has played a part in your relationship? I'm much more into small meaningful gifts than big displays, so I'd think about something he'd see every day that would make him smile, rather than something naff & soppy.

I think experiences are nice gifts. Especially early on in a relationship when you are making lovely memories and actually want to spend time together
I bought DH a trip to the Sky Garden in London and a meal for one of our anniversaries and often buy him concert tickets.

Traditional first anniversary is paper but more modern interpretation is clocks, which I think might be an easier solution to go for if you want something that can be personalised. An engraved clock for his desk or maybe a twist to the clock theme and a watch with an engraved message date and/or initials? very personal but not so 'cringe' and you can choose something within any price range

One-Year Anniversary Gift Themes
Traditional Gift: Paper
Modern Gift: Clocks
Color: Gold or Yellow
Metal: Gold
Flower: Carnation

Thank you all

Experience gifts are the best, so tickets to events or certificates to fun classes or something of this kind should work fine. Also if you print the tickets out, it'll follow the paper theme of the first anniversary! Or could be a small photo book of your photos or a romantic collage in a frame. Or a whole romantic video if you have lots of stories and short clips of him.

I am a watercolour illustrator and I actually do quite a few first anniversary pieces. I am often asked to paint wedding venues (on paper, so perfect for a first anniversary) as anniversary gifts, or even a wedding gift from one half of the couple to the other.
My website is here if you would like to take a look. imogenpartridge.com/