It can feel like a lot of pressure to pick out the perfect one-year anniversary gift, but we’re here to help! Step one is to reflect on the kind of first year you had together–maybe it was adventurous, or sweet, or even tough–and choose something to honor that achievement. Not everyone thinks of their one-year anniversary as an accomplishment, necessarily, but being a couple means being a team, and teams celebrate their wins!
Whatever style of gift you go for, be it romantic, sentimental, cool, or classic, it should be infused with a spirit of joy and celebration. Check out our picks below, find the one that resonates, and enjoy the heck out of giving it.
Secret Admirer
Morse Code “Love” Necklace
Send a secret message to your lover with the Morse Code “Love” Necklace. Handcrafted by San Francisco jewelry designer Julia Szendrei, the alternating London blue topaz and gold bronze beads spell out “love” in morse code along an adjustable (16” to 18”) 14K gold-filled chain. The raw materials are ethically-sourced, and each necklace is as unique as it is special. While this piece stands alone as a beautiful accessory, we can’t imagine a cooler, more subtle way to mark your first anniversary.
Around $48 at Huckberry.com
Break Convention
MVMT “Sunset” Boulevard Watch
For a first anniversary gift, a watch from MVMT speaks volumes. The company was founded in 2013 on the idea of delivering high quality luxury watches at drastically fair prices. Their mission: to inspire you to live life on your own terms. We love the entire Boulevard collection (named after iconic streets in LA), but the “Sunset” has our hearts. It’s substantial, with a 38mm face, but not too big. It’s feminine, with a gorgeous metal band, but not too dainty. And it’s reliable, with a two-year guarantee!
Around $125 at Amazon.com
Roses Are Romantic
Romantique Flower Arrangement
Red and pink roses are elevated with the Romantique from Bouqs. This bouquet manages to be both warm and elegant, sure to make any one-year anniversary celebration feel special. What’s better, Bouqs uses a network of local Artisan Florists to design and handcraft their bouquets and deliver them on demand. This means that the designs vary slightly, as each order is custom made, but be assured, your Bouqs florist will make this gift the epitome of “romantique.”
Around $74 at Bouqs.com
“Set” the Stage
Kate Spade “Set in Stone” Hinged Bangle
The name of this bangle says it all! If your love is “Set in Stone” and your betrothed is a little bit edgy, this Kate Spade bangle will make an amazing first anniversary gift. The design is simple enough to go with just about any outfit imaginable, but the inset glass stones (on 12K gold-plated metal) give it a cool girl vibe that you won’t find with just any old bracelet. Plus, bangles are stackable, so you can always add to her collection.
Around $48 at KateSpade.com
Bright Reminder
Sephora + Pantone Universe Modern Watercolors Lip Gloss Set
If anything is true, it’s that one can never have enough lip glosses. Once acquired they tend to disperse and then pop up at will in purses, pockets and pouches, and they are always a welcome sight. Take that sentiment a step further by gifting these beautiful hues for your first anniversary. The Sephora + Pantone Universe Modern Watercolors Lip Gloss Set looks bold and bright but actually goes on very sheer, so anyone can wear them. Plus, each time one appears in your partner’s life, she’ll think of you and smile.
Around $30 from Amazon.com
Move (Tiny) Mountains
Huckberry Whiskey Peaks Tumbler Set
Toast your first year of overcoming obstacles together with glasses from Huckberry’s amazing Whiskey Peaks series. This handsome set of two hand-blown whiskey glasses is made from premium lead-free glass and features a raised topographic impression of some of the greatest, most majestic peaks in the world. We’d go with the Half-Dome Set, personally, but Mt. Everest, Mt. Washington, Mt. Fuji, and Mt. Rainier are just as stunning. Whiskey Peaks will inspire you to keep enjoying this journey together.
Around $25 from Huckberry.com
Positively Sweet Studs
Peridot and Diamond Stud Earrings
Peridot is the 1st and 16th anniversary gemstone. It is also the birthstone for the month of August. They are one of the only gemstones that are formed in just one color, a happy light green, and were called the “gem of the sun” in Egyptian tradition. In keeping with that, peridots are known for helping their wearers cultivate a light and positive attitude towards life. Since they are so distinctive, we think they should be gifted as simple stud earrings. The Sterling Silver 6mm Peridot & .015 CTW Diamond Stud Earrings from Larson Jewelers are a lovely choice.
Around $120 from LarsonJewelers.com
Pack for Adventure
Nya Leather Weekend Bag
Nothing says romance like weekend away. Especially if it’s a surprise mini-break to celebrate your first anniversary, and if part of the gift is this supple Nya Leather Weekend Bag from Day & Mood. Bonus points for you if you actually pack the bag FOR your partner and hand it over to her just before you whisk her away. Trip or not, however, this bag is a classic piece that’s sure to last. It features a leather outer with cotton lining, a detachable, adjustable shoulder strap, and an interior zipper compartment plus three pockets. The bag itself measures 11.5″ H x 19″ W x 7.5″ D with a 10” handle drop and an adjustable 11” to 22” shoulder strap. Buy it, then get planning!
Around $130 from NordstromRack.com
Paper with Purpose
Botanical Art Prints Set
Since paper is the traditional one-year anniversary gift, why not adorn your home with hand-printed art that your partner will love? This Set of Three “Redoute Yellow Flowers” fine art reproduction prints depict 19th century paintings by botany artist Pierre Redoute. (He was the royal court artist to Marie Antoinette and Josephine Bonaparte, FYI.) We love this happy yellow set that includes dillenia (La Dillenne), daffodils (Narcisses Doubles), and sunflowers (Galardia), but Cloud Nine Prints offers a whole series of botanical prints. We suggest finding the set that includes flowers used in your wedding, or whichever type your sweetheart gushes over. They come on ultra premium matte paper (51 lb) with archival ink, tucked safely between cardboard.
Around $28 from Amazon.com
Cup O’ Joy
Bodum Chambord Copper Top Coffee Maker
We love the idea of gifting your sweetie something that will bring you closer together. What better than enjoying a cup of coffee together each morning, before the hectic day pulls you in opposite directions? Try the Bodum Chambord Copper Top Coffee Maker, a French press with an iconic, design and vibrant color. You can brew up to eight cups of coffee in four minutes using the included three-part stainless steel mesh filter, which allows for a premium extraction of your coffee’s subtle flavors, no paper filters needed.
Around $50 from Jet.com
Beautiful Unity
Interlocking Circle Necklace
If you want to make your one-year anniversary gift a reflection of contentment, ease, and balance, look to the Sterling Silver White Interlocking Circle Necklace from Larson Jewelers. Much like the symbolism of a wedding band, interlocking circles can represent wholeness, unity, infinity, and even protection. This elegant necklace can be worn with everything from jeans and a T-shirt to a cocktail dress.
Around $99 at LarsonJewelers.com
