35 Best First Anniversary Gifts: Cheers To One Year

How long has it been since you and your partner went on a jet-setting adventure? Was it your honeymoon, a Christmas trip to visit family, or did you just get back from a cross-country road trip last week?

Whatever the case, if you and your partner have the travel bug, this map will be an incredible way to document your adventures! You can personalize it with your and your partner’s name and anniversary date, then use the 100 push pins to mark all the destinations you’ve explored.

By the time you’re celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary, it might be challenging to remember all the sweet surprises and romantic gestures your partner made over the decades of anniversaries together. This journal could be the start of an incredible documentation of your love, and a beautiful treasure to hand down to future generations.

We love the use of paper as the traditional first-anniversary gift because we truly believe your love story is up to you to write. This beautiful and unique art piece could serve as a reminder to you and your partner that your relationship is a blank page to fill up as you’d like. Customize this piece with your names and special date for a keepsake your partner will treasure for years.

We did say paper is the traditional first-anniversary gift; however, we didn’t specify which kind of paper. If your partner has a wicked sense of humor and a taste for the unusual, this could be a hilarious first-anniversary gift idea for him or for her. We’re not going to tell you how to romance your husband, wife, or partner, but we might suggest getting a non-silly backup gift to go along with this, just in case.

Gifts are great, but some people prefer quality time as their love language. This date night paint kit is the perfect combination of the two. You and your partner can celebrate the paper anniversary by creating unique pieces of art together. The set includes two canvases, paints, brushes, and instructions to give you and your partner a night to remember!

Picking out the perfect one-year anniversary gift is only half the battle; you also have to find a wonderful card to go along with it. But don’t bust out the glitter and construction paper just yet; you can find a loving card without going down a DIY rabbit hole.

Otters will hold hands with their mate while sleeping to avoid drifting apart, which is so otterly adorable we can’t stand it. This card is an extra cute way to let your partner know you never want to drift apart.

With your leftover invitations stuffed in a random drawer, a dried boutonniere at the bottom of your closet, and your cake topper chilling in the freezer, your keepsakes aren’t really being kept safe, are they? Before more time passes and more damage can happen, your first anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to preserve these beautiful symbols of your big day.

While the traditional first-anniversary gift is usually something made of paper, the modern 1-year anniversary symbol is the clock! A timepiece could be a great option if you want to get your husband or partner a gift that they can use every day. This watch is engraved with sweet messages on the back for a sweet memento your husband or partner can carry with him daily.

A bottle of wine for now and one for a few years from now — this first-anniversary gift also has you covered for a couple of anniversaries to come. You can customize this engraved anniversary wine box with your and your partner’s names, anniversary date, and which three years you want to crack open those bottles of wine.

The wine is not included, so don’t forget to hit up your local bottle shop to fill the compartments.

Was your first dance song particularly meaningful for you and your partner? Are you looking for a sweet and simple gift for a couple celebrating their first anniversary? This gorgeous work of art is completely customized to your taste, from the song to the color of the metallic foil. Whether it’s for your favorite couple or your partner, we’re sure the recipient will love this thoughtful gift!

Some couples collect mugs, and others collect passport stamps together. If you’re shopping for first anniversary gifts for couples that fit the latter description, this beautiful artwork could be a thoughtful choice. This art is fully customizable, down to the travel dates on the passport stamps, giving you a beautiful piece of art you and your partner will treasure for years to come.

Could you fill up a book with the love you feel for your significant other? Well then, why not do it? This fill-in-the-blank book comes with prompting questions that help you tap into exactly how you feel. If your partner’s love language is words of affirmation, then this gift feels like a no-brainer way to communicate those emotions.

Finding your other half can feel like finding the missing piece to your puzzle. This unique gift can commemorate finding your special someone and your journey to build a life together. You can customize this puzzle with a special location for you and your partner and unique whimsy pieces such as letters or shapes.

Colors like yellow and gold are often associated with first anniversaries. This fresh bouquet features those traditional colors and captures the cheerfulness your partner radiates. If your wife thinks roses are cliche, this bouquet of Alstroemeria, which can symbolize understanding, humor, patience, empathy, commitment, and respect, could be a meaningful alternative.

Can’t afford to whisk your partner off to Bali for a luxurious floating breakfast? You can bring the tropical experience home with this floating heart serving tray. Just imagine their surprise when you have croissants, mimosas, and a delicious array of tropical fruits prepared for them! Get your phone or camera ready because your partner is sure to want pictures!

Do you know a couple of die-hard Harry Potter fans who just celebrated their first year of wedded bliss? You might not be able to take them to platform 9 ¾ to celebrate, but you could get them this adorable Harry Potter-themed artwork. Plus, the figures are meticulously crafted out of paper, so you can nail the traditional paper anniversary gift theme.

While you might have given her a significant ring roughly a year ago, that doesn’t mean you’re done buying your jewelry for your wife. In fact, gold is the first-anniversary gemstone, so it seems only fitting that you should get this 14k gold ring for her. This ring combines elements of rough and refined artistry that symbolize the beauty and challenges in any relationship.

We’re picturing a rugged outdoorsman using this journal to document his findings out in nature. But if that doesn’t fit your partner’s description, that’s totally fine too! This lovely leather journal is made with recycled cotton paper and bound with exquisite details that any writer, poet, or artist would appreciate.

Your partner could physically wrap themselves up in your romantic words and promises of endless love; all you have to do is get them this beautiful blanket! This blanket is customized to feature both of your wedding vows and can serve as a tactile reminder of the commitment you made to each other.

According to the wonderful movie Elf, “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” However, we think this adorable and meaningful ornament could be the second best option, especially for a Christmas-loving (heteronormative) couple celebrating their first wedding anniversary.

Are you tired of having the same three conversations with your partner? Whether it’s asking them about their day at work or the drama at daycare drop-off, we can start to fall into the trap of surface-level chats with our partners. Relationship experts design these prompts and questions to help you and the love of your life dive deeper and continue getting to know more about each other.

If you are lucky enough to be married to an artist, crafter, or serial doodler, you probably won’t be surprised to find out that they almost always want more sketch pads. This set of three sketchbooks is a simple and practical gift that all creative types will enjoy.

Can you think of seven memorable moments from your first year of marriage? How about 14 moments? You could surprise your partner with a gift that combines romance and nostalgia. Choose seven images to feature in this awe-inducing reel viewer, or (if you have too many moments to choose from) double down and purchase an additional reel for 14 total images.

We’re going to let you in on a secret— framing nice photos of you and your significant other is almost always a good idea. Don’t have any recent pictures of the two of you? Give your partner this picture frame and then surprise them with a small photoshoot.

It doesn’t have to be serious or overwhelming, but having cute pictures (that aren’t selfies) could be a really meaningful gift and gesture for your partner.

While there is comfort in routine, there is always excitement in adventures! Each book contains 50 ridiculous challenges that will no doubt help you and your partner, or your favorite couple, get out of their comfort zone and make some memories. Couples could aim to do a challenge every week to fill an entire year with zany adventures.

Do you want to give your partner a one-of-a-kind gift but can’t write a lyric or hold a tune to save your life? Neither can we, so we may as well leave it to the professionals! The talented musician David Morgan can turn your anecdotes and stories into an incredible testimony of your love and give your partner a first-anniversary gift they’ll never forget!

Do you know a couple that hasn’t stopped sharing pictures from their wedding nearly one full year later? We suggest you just go ahead and make them these customized coasters with some of their favorite wedding pictures. Alternatively, you could also feature pictures of their pets or highlights from their travels together on this set of four personalized coasters.

What milestones have filled up your first year as a married couple? Did you move into a new home together? Have you adopted a furry, four-legged friend? Have you finally managed to successfully share the blanket all night long?

Whatever your accomplishments are in your first year of marriage, we think you should document them all! There are about 25 pages inside that you can use as a scrapbook, sketch pad, notebook, or however you want to express yourself! This is the perfect first-anniversary gift idea for those couples that prefer handmade tokens of affection.

Are you looking for a first-anniversary gift that is unusual and a bit intimate? This Love Is Art Kit definitely fits the bill. You and your partner will get down and painted to create a unique and one-of-a-kind piece of abstract art that you can proudly display in your home (but people will probably ask where you got it, FYI).

Some circles consider gold the first-anniversary gemstone, while others claim it’s peridot. Considering the confusion, we thought you might just want to hedge your bets and get a piece of jewelry that combines the two beautiful options! This gold and peridot necklace is a wonderfully subtle piece that still adds a pop to any outfit.

Do you want to get your partner a one-year anniversary gift without feeding into reckless consumerism too much? You don’t need to buy a new set of glasses to celebrate each anniversary. These stemless glasses can be customized every year for party cups that can be used again and again instead of sitting in your cupboard gathering dust.

Are you struggling to figure out what to get for a couple celebrating their one-year wedding anniversary? Especially if you shelled out a fair chunk of cash for their wedding gift, you might not want to go overboard for their first anniversary. You could save yourself the stress by picking up a nice bottle of wine and using this first-anniversary-themed wine bag to complete the gift!

Romantics traditionally wrote love letters on paper, so consider these love letter cufflinks totally on theme for a paper anniversary gift. You could give your partner these cufflinks before letting them know that you have dinner reservations at a restaurant that requires fancy attire. It is your first anniversary, after all. It’s time to celebrate in style!

Are you looking for first anniversary gift ideas that are small and thoughtful tokens of your love? This paper rose flower is a wonderful symbol of your love, and will last significantly longer than a bouquet of real roses. The creator of this paper rose has options for various anniversaries, so you could even start a collection that you carry on every year.

Whether your family structure is modern, traditional, or somewhere in between, it definitely deserves to be celebrated! You can commemorate how your family looks now at one year in, whether it’s just the two of you, your fur babies, or a blended family structure, on this personalized pillow.