A first anniversary paper gift: the book of your texts

Why a book of your texts works for a first anniversary

Most couples' first year is written down, message by message, in a chat: the careful first text, the plans, the good mornings, the photos sent from somewhere new. It is all on a phone, where nobody scrolls back that far. A printed book puts that year in order, on paper, in a form you can hand over and keep on a shelf.

What to put in

• From the first message to the anniversary. Set the dates so the book covers exactly your first year.
• Every message, or the best moments. A busy first year can run long; the best moments edition keeps the loving, funny and grateful messages and the photos, with the messages around each one, and makes a shorter book.
• A title of your own. Your names, a nickname, or a line only the two of you understand, and a line under it, such as “Year one”.

The page that surprises people

Every book opens with your story in numbers: the first message and who sent it, how many messages each of you sent, how many days you talked, your busiest day, your five favorite emoji, and how many times you said “love you”. It is the page couples read out loud.

How to make it

1. Export your chat from WhatsApp with media (steps).
2. Drop it into the book maker, set the dates to your first year, and look through every page.
3. Pick a cover color and order. It arrives as a paperback, with the PDF to keep.