Congratulations! You've been dating your man for almost one year! So, what are you going to get him as a gift? If you need help coming up with ideas on what to give him and how to celebrate, we've got you covered. From the comfort of your home, explore these one-year anniversary gifts for your boyfriend and celebrate everything unique about your relationship.
Experience Gifts to Celebrate Your First Year Together
Giving your boyfriend the gift of a fun or unique experience together can be really meaningful. Whether you go with traditional activities or something more outside the box, it can be something unforgettable that lets him know how much you love him.
Tickets to a Sporting Event
Many guys love games, so plan ahead and buy two tickets to a sporting event and add a special surprise to celebrate the anniversary. Even if there's no national league like the NBA or NFL nearby, see if there are any other local games that might be fun to go to. Here are some options (depending on the time of year):
- The local minor league baseball team
- College basketball, baseball, football or soccer
- Hockey at a nearby ice arena
- Nontraditional games like Quidditch made famous in the Harry Potter novels
Contact the venue ahead of time and ask if they can mark your anniversary with a sign or announcement over the loudspeaker; most smaller parks will be happy to comply. Better yet, see if you can get a meet and greet with some of the players if it's a national team.
Take Lessons Together
Whether it's ballroom dancing or cooking together, taking a course will ensure more time together doing something you both enjoy. Include a sweet card that says something like, "Although this is our first year, here's to hoping there are many more years of learning together with you." Make it extra special by throwing in a unique date activity after or before each lesson.
Anniversary Special
Before you take your guy out to lunch or dinner, check with local restaurants to see if you can convince one to serve up your guy's favorite meal as their special that day. If you explain your story, many small businesses will jump at the chance to make a community connection and garner a little marketing too. Make sure they agree to call the special by your guy's name, so he knows you did it just for him when you arrive and order.
Surprise Trip
Been a while since you've traveled somewhere with your man? Plan out a fun trip as small as big as you want to make new memories.
- Revisit the site of your first date.
- Go somewhere you've always talked about going together.
- Take a romantic excursion, like a moonlit cruise or trip to the wine country.
Make it a day, weekend or longer jaunt depending on your time and budget, and of course, making sure he's able to get time off work.
Tattoo Session
If your guy loves getting inked or has been talking about a tattoo he's always wanted, book him a session. Since he'll have the tattoo for the rest of his life, he'll always think of you when he sees it. If you both are into tattoos, you can schedule a session together.
With a gift like this, it's important you make it crystal clear you don't expect him to get a tattoo of your name or anything to do with your relationship.
Private Vineyard or Brewery Tour
Do both of you enjoy drinking? Call a local winery, brewery, or distillery and set up a private tour and tasting. The trick is to find a local spot. Smaller, family-owned establishments might be more willing to cater to special requests.
Creative One-Year Anniversary Gifts for Your Boyfriend
Your relationship is unique, so think outside the box and give your beau a creative anniversary gift unlike any other.
Custom Cologne
Take your boyfriend's unique body chemistry and turn it into a one-of-a-kind cologne just for him. At Hawthorne, you can either get your guy a gift card so he can take the quiz and make his own fragrance or you can answer a few questions about him and make one yourself to give as a gift. For about $100, you can get a bottle customized for your guy's fragrance at home and one for his fragrance at work.
If you guy doesn't like strong fragrances, a unisex perfume with a cetalox base, like Dossier's Musky Musk, with work with the scent of his own skin and just enhance it.
Custom Art
Customize your first year with a portrait of the two of you. For example, LevysFriends on Etsy will paint or illustrate a portrait. If you don't really want a portrait, you could do a custom print of places you've been, a location that is especially meaningful during your first year, or something depicting a favorite activity.
Photo Collage
Enjoy some love nostalgia by sharing a collection of pictures from your year together. Keep it simple by using a collage photo frame from a craft or discount store, or go online to create a fun themed collage. To take it to the next level, make a year-in-review page incorporating pictures and scrapbook items like ticket stubs from your first movie together.
A Signed Copy or First Edition of His Favorite Book
If he has a favorite book that you know of, see if you can get your hands on a first edition copy. Or, try to get a signed copy of his favorite author's newest publication. He'll be impressed with your efforts and it will be one of his most prized possessions (besides you).
Matching Underwear
An intimate gift like matching underwear shows comfort and commitment, whether you've been intimate yet or not - and, it's just cute! You won't have to break the bank to make a big statement with this gift. You can choose a matching his and hers set for a pretty affordable price.
Love Coupon Calendar
Make your guy a calendar inspired by the design of an Advent calendar. Help him celebrate the entire month of your first anniversary by giving him something to look forward to each day. Make up individual love coupons that offer things like trying a new restaurant of his choice, a long foot massage, or a home-cooked meal. Make one coupon for each day of the month. Every day your guy can pick the coupon he wants to "redeem."
Name a Star After Your Boyfriend
Stars are symbols of romance, and you can name one after your boo for a super sweet gesture. Try Star-Naming from the International Space Registry. You can pay $90 to name two visible orbiting stars that always stay together - how cute is that? We'd mostly recommend this one if the two of you are pretty serious about each other, because this is one of the most romantic gifts you could get him!
Monthly Subscription Box
Shower your guy with gifts for the whole year when you buy him a 12-month subscription to a cool monthly box club. Choose an item he loves more than anything else, such as a food or beverage, accessories, or hobby items and you'll likely find a monthly delivery of it. Beer of the Month Club subscriptions run about $30 to $40 plus per month and deliver at least 12 beers to your guy each month.
Bespoke Post takes your man's interests into account to come up with monthly gifts that they ship automatically. Whether he's outdoorsy, likes to cook, or needs new pieces for his wardrobe, Bespoke Post will choose awesome gifts to send monthly. It's $70 per month - not exactly cheap - but they'll send quality products only from small businesses, so you can also feel good about that.
Classic Boyfriend Gifts Perfect for That First Year Anniversary
Some gifts are classics because they always go over well, no matter what type of man you're dating. These gifts capture his interests and serve as the backdrop for creating new memories together.
A Nice Watch
Even though we always have our phones to check the time, a watch is a great classic gift for him - it's practical and fashionable. You can choose what kind of watch based on his lifestyle. Go for a minimalist analogue watch if he's not super into tech stuff (because he still needs to know what time it is!). Or if he works out a lot, he might love an Apple Watch. There are plenty of options and you'll know best what kind will fit his vibe.
Custom Sports Jersey
Whether your guy is into basketball, baseball, football, or nearly any other sport, you can get him a custom jersey from the team's website of a fan shop like FansEdge. Pick the team he likes best and have his last name embroidered onto the jersey instead of one of the team's players. This classic gift shows you pay attention to the details of what he likes and, since it can be a little pricey, it shows just how much he's worth to you.
Matching Couples Bracelets
Stylish and meaningful, couples' bracelets are a new classic in the world of jewelry. Choose a style that both of you will like or even customize it so it's an extra-special gift for your one-year anniversary.
Cozy First-Year Throw Blanket Or Pillow
A cozy throw to snuggle up under or a great pillow for his couch are great classic gifts, but you can make it ultra-special for your first dating anniversary by showcasing all your favorite things about your time together. Customize a first-year together throw pillow or blanket for an unforgettable gift for your guy.
Coming Up With Ideas for a First-Anniversary Boyfriend Gift
It's challenging to find a great gift that won't break the bank or end up stashed away in a closet. Keep these three things in mind when choosing a first-anniversary gift for him:
- Go for things you already know he loves (and avoid things he hates, obviously).
- Look for a way to tie his favorites to your relationship.
- Put your own personal twist or touch on the gift to show it's from your heart.
Other Ways to Celebrate Your One-Year Dating Anniversary
Finding the perfect gift is a great way to show him you care, but you can also show your heart by planning something super special to mark the day of your first dating anniversary. Try one of these ideas or get creative with the things he likes to do.
- Re-create your first day or make a reservation at the place where you first had dinner together.
- Plan a progressive date, starting at the place you first met.
- Surprise him with a romantic picnic at a pretty, private spot.
- Revisit the past with a nostalgic date like roller skating or go-kart racing.
- Make him dinner at home, but make each dish and drink something that relates to your memories from the past year.
- Go for a hot-air balloon ride.
- Hide or have a friend hide his gift in advance on a hiking trail and surprise him with it on a romantic hike.
- Go to a concert or just make it a special night at a locale featuring local musicians.
- Have your own private paint-and-sip and draw or paint photos of the place you first met together.
- If he's the outdoors type, plan a challenging a trip to an area with a challenging hike or white-water rafting.
- Bake him his favorite dessert or treat and write him a simple love letter to express how you feel about the past year together.
Give Your Boyfriend an Anniversary Gift He'll Cherish Forever
As you choose what to get your boyfriend for your one-year anniversary, just think about what he likes and needs. He'll appreciate your thoughtfulness no matter what, and at the end of the day, it's all about your love for each other. One year down, plenty more to go!
