The 1st anniversary is paper
Turn your love story into a custom illustrated map
Every place that made you two, the bar you met in, the pub of your first date, the spot where they proposed, the house you bought, illustrated as one winding road. Send your story, see a draft within 3 days, print it at any size you like.
Digital download · 4–5 days · 4.9★ from 120 reviews
What it is
A custom love map is a personalised illustration that charts a couple’s relationship as a map: where they met, their first date, the proposal, the wedding, the homes and the pets, each labelled with its real place name and date. Ali illustrates yours from the milestones you send and delivers a print-ready 300 DPI PDF in a 2:3 ratio, scaling to 30×45, 40×60, 50×75 or 60×90 cm, usually in 4–5 days, from $49.
-
4.9★
120 reviews
-
530+
maps illustrated
-
3 days
to first draft
-
300 DPI
print-ready file
Why it does not look generic
Not a template with your names dropped in
Three things separate this from every stock map print, and all three are visible in the finished work.
-
Your real places, illustrated
Name the places and they become their own illustrations rather than generic icons. Past maps have included The Alma pub in Crystal Palace, Adriatico’s Pizza in Columbus, halls of residence at Ohio State, a family camper-van business and the Cape Town hospital where a customer’s children were born.
-
A draft before the files
You see the map and approve it before the final artwork is sent. Move a milestone, fix a date, add the detail you forgot. This is the step that makes it yours rather than a gamble.
-
Files in 4–5 days
A first draft comes back within 3 days and the finished files usually within 4 to 5. Because it is a file rather than a parcel, that is the whole timeline: no shipping window stacked on top of it, and nothing to be delayed in transit.
How it works
Order, send your story, get your files
-
01
Order
Buy the map on Etsy and add your two names in the personalisation box. Nothing is drawn until we have your story, so ordering first simply reserves your slot in the queue.
-
02
Send your story
Message your five to eight milestones in order, each with the event, the real place name and the date. This is the part worth getting right, because the map is built around the sequence. Describe anything distinctive, and send the wording of a personal note if you want one.
-
03
Approve the draft
A draft usually comes back within 3 days. You get one round of changes on it, covering corrections and small details, so send everything at once. The print-ready files follow, usually 4 to 5 days after ordering.
On the wall
Black ink on warm paper, in any room
Because it is black and white, it sits with almost any wall colour and any frame.
-
Oak frame, soft daylight, the most requested styling.
-
At 50 × 75 cm the smallest labels stay easy to read.
-
Paired with a simple botanical print in a gallery wall.
What you get
A print-ready file, not a parcel
You own the file, so you can print it large for the wall and small for bookmarks or favours, as many times as you like.
| File | 300 DPI PDF, black and white |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 2:3, the file scales to any 2:3 size with no cropping |
| Exact sizes |
|
| A4–A1 | A4–A1 also work. A-series paper uses a 1:√2 ratio, so a 2:3 poster prints with thin white borders on the left and right. |
| Turnaround | First draft in 3 days; finished in 4–5 days |
| Delivery | Digital download, made to order, nothing is posted to you |
What goes on it
Most people’s first question is “what do I even put on it?”
Five to eight milestones is the standard map. Here is what other couples chose.
- Where we met, a bar, a market, a school corridor
- Matched on Hinge
- First date, restaurant by name
- First trip away together
- Moved in together
- Engaged, at the exact spot
- Eloped
- The wedding venue, drawn
- Bought our first home
- Adopted the dog, by name and breed
- Each child’s birth
- A “to be continued” arrow
Reviews
What buyers say
4.9 out of 5 from 120 reviews on Etsy · 96% five stars · 97% of buyers recommend it
-
★★★★★
I love our Love Map. The drawings are so cute and Aliden was so easy to work with! We got our Map done within 2 business days, even after receiving some feedback! They incorporated feedback well and made a truly unique, and personalized gift for my husband. I am so excited for him to open it on our 1 year anniversary. Thank you!
-
★★★★★
Ali was amazing from start to finish. She helped guide the process from the beginning and created a beautiful & creative design using the inspiration provided. The review process was wonderful as well; Ali accommodated the changes and tweaks perfectly. Ali was also very quick with the initial design and the final product. Could not be happier!
-
★★★★★
I am so happy with this purchase, such a great wedding gift idea for friends/family. Aliden turned this around within 3 days and was able to draw the cabin and house to match how it looks in real life. I am so impressed and know this will be a cherished gift for years to come!
-
★★★★★
I made the purchase on Thursday, and by Sunday I already had the downloadable file (with my adjustments included). She was also very accommodating regarding my suggestions. I haven’t printed the image yet, but she sends instructions with recommendations for printing and framing. 100% recommended!
-
★★★★★
Very nice quality! Artist was able to match the look of my current house. Amazing work!
-
★★★★★
I was so impressed with how this turned out, it is a pleasant reminder of all the major milestones we have accomplished in our lives in an illustrated timeline. I was also amazed at how accurate the illustrations were, they fit the activities or the features of the area we were in. Very nice gift to give to any loved one you have a history with. Aliden was also very easy to work with and answered any questions I had in a timely manner.
The tradition
Why the first wedding anniversary is paper
Paper is the traditional gift for a first anniversary: delicate on its own, but able to last a lifetime once it is looked after. A printed map is literally paper, with your own story on it rather than a greetings-card verse.
Questions
Before you order
What is a custom love map?
A custom love map is a personalised illustration that charts a couple’s relationship as a map. A road winds through the places that mattered: where you met, your first date, the proposal, the wedding, the homes and the pets. Each one is labelled with its real place name and date. It is delivered as a print-ready file, so you choose the size and print it wherever you like.
What size is the file?
The file is a 300 DPI PDF in a 2:3 aspect ratio, so it scales cleanly to 20×30, 30×45, 40×60, 50×75 and 60×90 cm (8×12, 12×18, 16×24, 20×30 and 24×36 in). A4–A1 also work, but A-series paper is a 1:√2 ratio, so a 2:3 poster prints with thin white borders on the left and right.
Do I get a printed poster in the post?
No. This is a digital product. You receive files, not a parcel, which is why there is no shipping cost, no customs delay, and nothing that can arrive late or damaged.
How many milestones can I include?
Between five and eight. That is the range the layout is built for, and it is what reads cleanly at poster size, eight labelled stops is already a dense poster. If you have more moments than that, the map is better for choosing the eight that changed something than for fitting everything in.
Can you include our actual pub, campus or wedding venue?
Yes, name it and describe anything distinctive about it, and it becomes its own illustration instead of a generic building. Past maps have included The Alma pub in Crystal Palace, Adriatico’s Pizza in Columbus, the Taylor Tower and Bradley Hall halls of residence at Ohio State, a family camper-van business, and the maternity hospital in Cape Town where a customer’s children were born.
Can you include our pets and children?
Yes, by name, and by breed. Dogs, cats, babies and even a grandchildren family tree have all been part of previous maps.
Can you add a personal message?
Yes. A handwritten-style note can be lettered into the map, and short lines or inside jokes can be scattered along the road as little pinned notes. It is one of the most loved parts of the map and costs nothing extra, just send the words you want on it.
To be continued
Start your love map
Send your names and five to eight milestones on Etsy. A draft comes back within 3 days, and you approve it before the final files are sent.
Digital download · 4–5 days · no shipping