Whats a good one year anniversary gift for my boyfriend

Brides / Amelia Manley

Celebrating anniversaries can often come with a lot of pressure, especially when it comes to picking out a gift. What exactly is the right way to show your guy just how much you love him and how much you appreciate your time together without being overly cheesy? Perfecting the balance between thoughtful and functional can be tricky, so we rounded up some of the best anniversary gifts for your boyfriend to help you out.

Treat him to something luxurious and useful, like a leather weekend bag or sporty watch. Or take a more personalized route and gift him a framed map of where you met or a ticket stub diary that memorializes all the events you spent together. You can always combine a little bit of both, too, like opting for a golf ball set he’ll get a ton of practice out of, customized with his initials for a special touch.

Read on for the best anniversary gifts for your boyfriend.

Mark & Graham Personalized Golf Ball Gift Set

Your guy will thank you for these when he’s out swinging on the green. Personalized golf balls will help him identify which ones are his after teeing off, and a matching personalized wooden case will help him store them away safely. It also comes with a dozen tees and pencils each so he can make the most of his day out on the course.

KingsleyLeather Minimalist Leather Card Holder

This leather cardholder proves that sometimes, simplicity is best. With a credit card pocket on each side and slot in the middle, it can hold four to six cards and some cash. Handmade and hand-stitched, the cardholder feels like butter and gets an A-plus for its durability. Choose the color of thread you want it stitched with and personalize it with your guy’s initials for a sweet touch.

A Year of Dates A Box of Date Night Cards

Date night will never get stale again with a box of fun ideas. It contains a sealed envelope for every week of the year with a different date idea in each, except one empty envelope for a week off. There are also five blank cards for you to write your own ideas. Buy the surprise edition for random fun, or the categorized edition which color codes date ideas for a bit more control.

Printworks Chess Set

Every chess player needs a nice chess set on hand. This one is just right, as it’s not too over the top to take up a lot of room, but nicer than a flimsy cardboard set. It contains a plexiglass board with 40 wooden game pieces in a green and neutral palette for a chic twist.

Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit

Bring the brewery home with this IPA Beer Making Kit. It contains everything you need for some fun at-home brewing, from a fermenting jug and ingredient mix to step-by-step instructions that will guide your boyfriend through every step of making a good beer. The best part is that the equipment can be reused at a later date to make more beer.

Hamilton Khaki Field Silicone Strap Watch

Both sporty and sleek, this automatic watch is ready for a good time. Swiss-made, it features a textured silicone strap for comfort, buckle closure, and sapphire crystal face. It also has 80 hours of power reserve and a second hand-tipped in red for an edgy punch.

Crosley Gig Record Player

The music buff will love a 1960s-inspired record player with Bluetooth technology to play his tunes on. Featuring a faux wood finish, it has a two-speed turntable and two external stereo speakers. If you buy him this now, you can follow up future holiday presents with a favorite record he doesn’t have to grow his music collection.

Uncommon Goods Ticket Stub Diary

Memorialize all the fun experiences you two shared in an adorable diary made for ticket stubs. Simply slide concert tickets, game tickets, and more into plastic sleeves and jot down any thoughts or notes from the event next to them on the lined pages. Get creative! Pull out admission stubs from museums or even airplane tickets from your first trip together.

Sunnylife Lucite Poker Set

This colorful poker set will shake up game night with lucite chips and die in a fun palette of turquoise, yellow, and orange. It comes in a matching lucite case that snaps close and is easy to carry around. Plus: It’s a subtle way to make sure he’ll be thinking of you while he’s with the guys!

Twelve South AirSnap Pro

Snazz up that white AirPod Pro charging case with a fashionable leather cover, available in slate blue, black, and cognac. AirPods will stay safe and sound with a snap closure and S-Clip that fastens the case to a backpack or wrist strap. The design doesn’t hinder the AirPod’s design, keeping the status light visible and the AirPods chargeable.

Sneaker Freaker: The Ultimate Sneaker Book By Simon Wood

For the sneakerhead, this coffee table book is a must. Simon “Woody” Wood explores a century of sneakers, from classics like Nike Air Force 1 to the more obscure like Vision Street Wear. It doesn’t miss any famous collaborations, ad campaigns, or limited editions. There’s as much sneaker knowledge in this book as there are vibrant visuals of kicks.

Forever Wedding Crafts Personalized Puzzle

Have a favorite pic of the two of you? Instead of framing it, get it made into a puzzle instead! Just make sure it’s a horizontal photo because this puzzle comes in a rectangular format. You even have the option to customize it further by adding the date of your anniversary and text of your own.

Hugo Boss T-Pascal Cuff Links

Chic and edgy, these Hugo Boss cufflinks will look sharp against any shirt. Iridescent mother-of-pearl adorns a silvertone plate in a square design. We love their versatility—they’re fancy enough to dress up a more casual look but subtle enough to tone down a more spiffy ensemble.

Uncommon Goods Personalized Wood Cut City Map

Whether it’s the city where you met, the city you plan to settle down in, or the city of your first trip together, capture it in this laser-cut wooden map. Made of cork and birch, it includes heart pins for you to mark the specific locations and addresses that mean the most to both of you.

Himistry Naturals Restoring Shave System

Give your guy the gift he didn’t know he needed. This shaving set comes with skincare to make his morning shaves that much more enjoyable. Inside, he’ll find a rosemary and tea shave gel, alpha-hydroxy clearing pads, and a hyaluronic and vitamin c serum to leave skin looking radiant.

Uncommon Goods Baseball Stadium Blueprints

A detailed blueprint will bring your boyfriend’s favorite baseball stadium to life, complete with design specs and a brief history of major events at the stadium. Framed and printed on archival paper with an antique finish, the blueprint has a polished, vintage look that he’ll want to hang.

Hyper Tough Cordless Drill and Home Tool Set Project Kit

A new tool kit is just what the handyman in your life needs. This one has all the basics and then some, complete with an everyday drill and 10 drill bits, adjustable wrench, hammer, and LED work light. It all comes in a storage bag so the 70-plus tool pieces won’t get lost, making everything easy to tuck away.

Nike Air Max 2090 EOI Sneaker

It’s hard to choose from the many cool kicks out there, but we love the Nike Air Max 2090 for its ‘90s nostalgia vibes. A primary color scheme balances with white and black for a bit of playfulness, as different leathers and a pillowy Max Air bubble, juxtapose for different textures. The buoyant cushion helps distribute weight and absorb impact.

Clayton & Crume Rocks Glass

These whiskey tumblers will surely be a statement piece for the bar cart, both boasting handsome waterproof leather wraps that can be personalized with a monogram. Featuring brass rivets for a stronghold, they easily come off for washing. Each glass holds 12 ounces of liquor.

Made Leather Co. Aviator “Weekender Bag”

Your boyfriend will be ready to pack come your next romantic weekend getaway with this luxurious leather bag, complete with a stylish buckle and double handles. Available in cognac and noir, it features an adjustable strap, zippered storage on each end, and a cloth interior. It’s handmade to meet most airplane carry-on requirements

Infinity Orb Magnetic Levitating Speaker

This levitating speaker is even cooler than upon first look. The Infinity Orb levitates in the air half an inch above a base that illuminates with different colored LED lights. The speakers play music for up to eight hours at 70% volume and connect with Bluetooth-enabled devices within 32 feet.

Final Verdict

For something sweet and thoughtful, the Forever Wedding Crafts Personalized Puzzle or
Uncommon Goods Personalized Wood Cut City Map is sure to make his heart swoon. But if you know he'd appreciate a more practical gift, the Khaki Field Silicone Strap Watch or Aviator Weekender Bag will win his heart.

What are some creative anniversary gift ideas?

Instead of shopping for the perfect anniversary gift, you can always create one. Cook him his favorite dinner, plan a sweet picnic in the park, or take him beer tasting. Get super creative and create a fun scavenger hunt throughout your town or city that will take him down memory lane with a clue at places that have meant the most to both of you.

Do I need to follow an anniversary gift theme if we aren't married?

Not at all! Traditional anniversary gift themes are typically for married couples, so we suggest saving the themes for your marriage. That said if your boyfriend is your life partner and you don’t plan to make things legally official, feel free to shop according to the theme. But regardless of whether you’re married or not married, you never have to follow anniversary gift themes if tradition isn’t your style.

Why trust Brides?

Brides contributor Hillary Hoffower has over six years of experience writing for the wedding industry, covering everything from bridal fashion trends to wedding decor. She believes men are very hard to shop for and hopes this gift guide was helpful for those who feel the same.

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