17 Enthralling First Anniversary Ideas Guaranteed to Amaze Your Partner
Would you believe that the world’s longest relationship lasted for almost 87 years?
Making it to the one-year milestone is a huge accomplishment for many reasons. If you and your partner have worked through the common issues that relationships face and your chemistry is still strong, then you’ve set the foundation for a beautiful future together.
You and your partner deserve to have a fantastic anniversary. If you need help coming up with first anniversary ideas, we’re here to help you celebrate your love with unique, funny, and romantic activities for every taste. Keep reading our guide to gather 17 unforgettable things you should consider doing.
1. Celebrate With the Paper Tradition
Some people aren’t aware that each year that a couple is together is represented by various objects. Wood represents 5 years, aluminum represents 10 years, China represents 20 years, gold represents 50 years, and so on. While you may be looking forward to celebrating much larger milestones with your partner, you can still have a wonderful time coming up with clever ways to honor the paper tradition for first anniversaries.
One romantic gesture that can go a long way toward wooing your partner is creating a heartfelt anniversary card for them. You should choose a design that will make them smile and also spend some time writing a beautiful anniversary message. For extra romance points, you can place the card in a surprising spot for them to find.
Another idea could be writing promises to each other and tucking them inside of a paper lantern. Once you light it, you can release it into the sky together and watch your love light up the night. Be sure to bring a blanket and some champagne so you can toast to many more years to come.
2. Host an Intimate Party With Your Closest Friends
It’s always wonderful to have a reason to gather your loved ones together for an amazing party. When it comes to commemorating your first anniversary, the options are endless. Instead of getting swept up by trends that you’re not crazy about, you should both take some time to consider your own interests so you can plan the perfect party to represent your relationship.
For example, if you’re both low-key, then you could host a dinner party. That way, you can share a delicious meal and toast to love with your best friends. If you and your friends love to meet up for activities like bowling or escape rooms, then you can plan a sillier party at one of those venues. No matter what you choose, your friends will be thrilled to make your anniversary a day to remember.
3. Have an Adrenaline Rush Together
Lots of people don’t know that you can hack your brain to fall deeper in love with someone by sharing an adrenaline rush with them. Not only does this hormone boost attraction, but doing a wild activity together can also boost trust in the relationship. If you can tackle something like a giant rollercoaster, skydiving, or whitewater rafting, then you can face anything the world throws your way.
This idea is best for couples who are open to adventure since pushing a timid partner could ruin your special day. It can be helpful to talk about things you’ve always wanted to do but were too scared to try. Being together will finally give you the courage to conquer this new challenge.
4. Plan a Cozy Date Night Inside
Some people think that a year is plenty of time to get to know a partner, but you’d be surprised by how many interesting facts you can continue to learn about them. You could use your anniversary as an opportunity to cuddle up on the couch and ask each other questions that are designed to help couples get to know each other better. These questions allow both partners to think about topics that they normally wouldn’t in their day-to-day life.
Another thing you can do during your sweet night in is try some fun games. Some activities that you should consider doing are puzzles, board games, murder mystery games, video games, card games, and crafts. Since life tends to be hectic, having a calm evening to yourselves can be just what you both need to feel amazing.
You can’t forget about food, too! You can order a giant feast from your favorite takeout spot or level up in the kitchen by cooking a unique meal from scratch as a team. Don’t forget to light some candles and set up a beautiful dining table.
5. Let Chance Plan Your Festivities
If you’re searching for the most creative anniversary ideas, then you and your partner will be blown away by how exciting it can be to let chance control every decision you make. The rules are simple: every aspect of your anniversary will be decided by things like closing your eyes and pointing or flipping a coin.
When you’re figuring out what to do, you can pull up a list of local activities from websites like TripAdvisor. Have your partner close their eyes and tell you when to stop scrolling down the page. Whatever activity you land on is what you’ll do. As you’re getting dressed up, you can pick a few appropriate and flattering outfits and let your partner choose with their eyes closed as well.
Not sure where to eat? You should flip a coin if you can’t choose between your favorite Italian or Chinese restaurant. For something even more whimsical, you can gather your collection of takeout menus and toss them into the air. Whichever menu your partner snatches first is where you’ll dine.
6. Revisit Your Favorite Memories From the Past Year
A popular anniversary idea is to recreate your first date with your partner. While you’re guaranteed to have a blast doing this, why limit yourself to one day when there are 365 other ones to choose from. You should have some pillow talk with your partner and reflect on your favorite memories throughout your relationship.
Reminiscing together can shed some light on what both of you value most as individuals and how you can create more magical memories in the future. Once you’ve come up with a list of your favorite moments, you can plan a day where you try to recreate as many of them as possible. Make sure you take a bunch of photos so you can compare and contrast.
7. Take a Class Designed for Couples
Learning new things is a simple way to keep your relationship fresh as time continues to tick on. You’ll have a wonderful experience attending any local classes that interest you, but you can make things more special by finding a class that’s designed for couples.
Instead of taking a regular yoga class together, you should find an instructor who can teach you poses where you move as one. Instead of taking a hip-hop or tap-dancing class, you should try styles like ballroom dancing that require two people to move in sync. You could even attend a class that teaches you how to massage your partner so you can help each other unwind after a long day.
8. Give Your Home a Romantic Makeover
Why not use your anniversary as an opportunity to add more love into your living space? Even if you’ve worked hard to create a beautiful home together, you can always find more ways to improve your home in a way that showcases your love.
One thing you can do is sit down together and review your photos throughout your relationship. Make a folder that includes your favorites and order some prints. After you’ve found the perfect frames, you can figure out where you’d like to display them in your home. You could also buy a shadow box or some shelves to display the most sentimental items from your relationship like travel souvenirs and movie tickets.
You can also rethink your living space to make your time together more enjoyable. If you love waking up and sharing a cup of coffee with your partner, then you could create a bar cart full of gourmet blends that you can sample together.
9. Get the Royal Treatment at a Fancy Hotel
Going on a vacation is a surefire way to make your anniversary perfect, but many people don’t have the time or money to travel for an extended period. If this is the case for you, then you can keep things simple by booking one night in a hotel that’s within a comfortable driving distance. Since you’re saving money by avoiding expensive flights and long-term accommodations, you should treat yourselves to one night of luxury.
Find a hotel that has fancy amenities like a champagne bar, a hot tub, in-room couples’ massages, decadent room service, and more. The goal is to leave all of your worries at the door and pamper yourselves like royalty. You’ll be able to get the best sleep in a big, plushy bed and wake up to picture-worthy views of the city or beach from your balcony.
Be sure to mention to the staff that you’re booking your stay to celebrate your anniversary. They may decorate your room with flowers or give you some freebies like chocolates to make your stay even more special.
10. Try to Surprise Each Other
Do you feel like the honeymoon phase has worn off after a year of being with your partner? While butterflies and constant excitement can be a magnificent feeling, creating a cozy routine with someone you love and trust is a whole other type of magic. There’s a common misconception that you can’t relive those honeymoon days once you’ve known your partner long enough.
To prove that wrong, you could celebrate your first anniversary by challenging each other to come up with the most unexpected gifts and activities to enjoy together. As long as you both have a sense of humor about the game, you can get as weird as you like.
Some random ideas could include buying matching onesies to wear together, having a water balloon fight, going to an improv class, getting a psychic reading, singing at a karaoke bar, and finding the strangest museum in your area.
11. Visit a Club With a Decade Theme
It’s wild to think about everything that had to go right in order to meet your partner. Every single decision you’ve both made led you to meeting, falling in love, and working hard to keep the relationship healthy and happy. With this in mind, it could be fun to imagine yourselves meeting in another decade.
Thanks to nightclubs that have decade themes, you can turn this vision into a reality. Choose an era in the past that you’re both passionate about and start shopping for clothes that will transport you back in time. Whether you’re an enchanting flapper from the Roaring 20s or a disco king from the 70s, you’ll love exploring history in such an entertaining way.
You can even invite your friends to dance the night away with you. You and your partner should get ready at someone else’s house and show up to the club separately. When you and your partner’s eyes lock, you can pretend you’re meeting for the first time again.
12. Create a Bucket List and Do One Thing
It’s important for couples to retain their individuality and work toward accomplishing their goals. Compatible life partners will be there to cheer you on or join in to help you pursue your dreams. If you want to get sentimental during your anniversary, then you can think about each person’s interests and how you both enrich the relationship by creating a bucket list together.
When your goals overlap, then you’ll feel even more empowered to cross something off of your list. If one partner is hesitant about an activity, then they can lean on the other to have the courage to try something new and learn about the other’s interests. With each activity you do, you can create breathtaking memories and know your partner on a deeper level.
Creating a bucket list may be a monumental task, but you should still have plenty of time to check your first item off. From riding a hot air balloon to planning an outdoor movie night and going on a camping trip, there’s a plethora of anniversary-worthy bucket list ideas.
13. Share Your Favorite Childhood Activities
It’s beautiful to fantasize about growing older with your partner. Even though you have your whole lives ahead of you, it’s hard not to be greedy and imagine a world where you could’ve met as kids. You may not have a time machine, but you can still get in touch with your inner child and give your partner a glimpse of what you were like when you were little and vice versa.
Try your best to remember what your favorite games, movies, foods, and songs were back in the day and get ready to recreate your perfect day as a child with your partner. If you need some help, then you should ask your parents for ideas since they were there to join in on the fun.
You should also dig up some old photos so the two of you can laugh at how cute and silly you were as kids. Having the opportunity to meet each other’s younger selves will only make you further appreciate the wonderful person they are today.
14. Board a Dinner Cruise
Are you worried that going to a traditional restaurant isn’t enough for your anniversary? Do some research to see if there are any dinner cruise companies in your area. This is an eclectic option that you or your partner may have never experienced before.
Both of you should dress up in your nicest outfits and book a stylish ride there and back so you don’t have to worry about drinking and driving. This will allow you to enjoy your meal and drinks to the fullest extent possible. What could be more romantic than toasting to your anniversary as you sail off into the sunset?
The meal with a view will be glorious on its own, but you’ll be delighted to know that lots of dinner cruises offer other types of entertainment. From dancing to party games and beyond, you’ll always remember how much fun you had. If you don’t want to share your romantic evening with strangers, then gather up some friends so you can book a private cruise together.
15. Start a Garden
If you’re fortunate enough to have your own backyard or access to some outdoor space you can alter, then you may swoon over the symbolism of starting a garden with your partner. Plants start with a seed and they require patience and hard work to grow into something large and stunning. Your relationship is the same and it has already started blossoming.
The process of gardening is very therapeutic and it gives you the chance to unplug and talk to each other. You’ll have to develop teamwork skills to get each task done so your garden can thrive. With enough time, the two of you will be able to admire your colorful flowers or harvest some fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Nothing beats a meal made from things you’ve actually grown together.
Do you live in an urban setting? You don’t have to miss out on the fun. There are all kinds of plants that thrive in pots on a windowsill. You’ll have to keep an eye on the growth so you can repot when the roots are starting to get crowded.
16. Spend a Night Under the Stars
Couples have been lying under the stars for thousands of years. It’s humbling to know that every other person throughout history has looked at the same moon and stars as you. Stargazing may not sound like much, but you can have some of the deepest conversations and loveliest kisses during these quiet hours in the night.
To level up your stargazing, you can pack the coziest blankets and pillows along with a few snacks and drinks. You may even want to plan an entire camping trip so you can get away from the city lights and see the stars in their full glory. Don’t forget to tuck a book on constellations in your bag to see who can identify the most.
If you’re both passionate about the great outdoors, then you should also consider buying an affordable and portable telescope. This investment will allow you to have many romantic evenings in the future. Plus, you’ll look at the stars like never before.
17. Recreate Scenes of Your Favorite Fictional Couples
Another silly idea that you can use for your first anniversary is trying to copy iconic photos or scenes of your favorite fictional couples. Take some time to rack your brain and figure out which couples have made your hearts throb and create a game plan to mimic them.
One of the first couples that comes to people’s minds is Jack and Rose from Titanic. You’ll have to shop for an elegant dress and suit, style your hair, and stand in the famous pose where Jack is holding Rose as she’s flying in the wind.
Do you and your partner love sci-fi movies more? You can become an unstoppable duo like Neo and Trinity from The Matrix by dressing up in all black, putting on your coolest sunglasses, and slicking your hair back. No matter which couple you choose to emulate, you’ll laugh a bunch and have incredible results to share on social media.
You Can Make This Milestone Unforgettable With These First Anniversary Ideas
It’s heartwarming to think that this first anniversary could lead to many more in this lifetime with your partner. If you use any of these first anniversary ideas, you’ll be able to plan festivities that will take their breath away.
From providing tips for hosting the perfect event to sending thoughtful cards and invitations, Greetings Island is here to help you make life’s sweetest moments even better. Would you like to have a gorgeous, customizable card for every occasion? Take a look at our card selection so you can express love and gratitude in style.
Photo Credits: Amy Humphries, Jordan Arnold, Matt Hardy, Chad Madden, jisoo kim, Reynier Carl on Unsplash
