35 Cute One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas for 2025
Commemorating your first anniversary with a significant other is an exciting time, but coming up with one-year anniversary date ideas can be daunting. A good date idea for a first anniversary should capture the essence of your relationship thus far and celebrate the many happy years to come.
To help, we’ve put together a list of some of the most romantic and memorable things to do for a one-year anniversary. Whether you’re looking for a glamorous night on the town or a cozy evening at home, these one-year anniversary date ideas will inspire you to plan the perfect day for you and your partner.
- One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas for Foodies
- Cute One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
- Free One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
- Creative One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
- Family-Friendly One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
- Adventurous One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas for Foodies
1. Book a Cooking Class
As your one-year anniversary approaches, you may notice that you and your partner are enjoying more and more domestic activities together. If that’s the case, why not strengthen this bond by taking a cooking class?
These exciting culinary experiences are a great one-year anniversary date idea for you and your partner to learn new skills together and can be a great investment toward future romantic home-cooked meals.
No matter where you live, you can find cooking classes near you, such as cooking classes in Philadelphia or cooking classes in New Orleans. If you prefer to work from your own kitchen, you can also sign up for online cooking classes and connect with chefs from all over the world.
2. Enjoy a Private Chef Experience
For a dreamy and intimate one-year anniversary date idea, consider arranging a private chef experience. By hiring one of the private chefs near you, you and your significant other can enjoy a restaurant-quality meal tailored to your specific preferences, all from the comfort of your own home or any other suitable venue of your choosing.
Private chefs are relatively easy to find throughout the United States, whether you’re looking for private chefs in San Diego, private chefs in Austin or those in any other city, making this an excellent one-year anniversary date idea regardless of whether you’re traveling or staying local.
The deliciousness isn't limited to the U.S., though. There are private chefs in London, private chefs in Barcelona and even private chefs in Abu Dhabi. Expert culinary masters around the world are waiting to create an exquisite private dining experience to celebrate your first anniversary.
3. Go On a Food Tour
If you and your partner enjoy exploring cities and trying new foods, you will both love a food tour as a one-year anniversary date idea. Guided food tours take you on a tasty adventure through a city’s foodie culture.
You can learn more about your region’s culinary scene by looking for food tours near you, or you can incorporate one of these exciting journeys into a special anniversary vacation. You should be able to find plenty of food tour options for your one-year anniversary date idea in whatever tourist destination you're planning on visiting, such as food tours in Miami or food tours in Chicago.
4. Book a Virtual Beverage Tasting
For a low-key but sophisticated one-year anniversary date idea, try attending a virtual beverage tasting together. You’ll consider this a fun thing for couples to do if you appreciate the intricacies of good liquor. Plus, you and your partner will have the chance to experience some culture in a playful and intimate environment.
If you and your significant other frequent cocktail bars, you will love online mixology classes, through which you’ll learn tips and tricks from experienced mixologists at the top of their game. If wine is more your speed, attending a virtual wine tasting makes a great one-year anniversary date idea.
5. Serve Breakfast in Bed
Who says your one-year anniversary date idea has to happen in the evening? Start your special day right by surprising your partner with breakfast in bed.
Get up early to prepare a fancy breakfast with all of your loved one’s favorite foods and wake them up for a romantic morning date.
If you’re looking for stay-home date ideas, this timeless activity is always a memorable option. Your partner will be touched that you made them a meal, and you can spend the morning cuddling in bed. For the optimal one-year anniversary date idea, you may also want to hide your anniversary present under the pillow or on the breakfast tray.
6. Enjoy a Nostalgic Dessert
If you are celebrating your first wedding anniversary, mark the occasion by ordering two slices of the same cake you enjoyed on the momentous day. The taste of your wedding cake replica will bring back all the memories of your magical day, and you can reminisce while devouring that delicious buttercream frosting.
You could also choose to turn this first wedding anniversary idea into a celebration that includes friends — more specifically, the bridesmaids and groomsmen from your big day. Order more than just a couple of slices, get everyone to reunite and turn it into a day filled with nostalgia, endless laughter and delicious bites of cake.
7. Have a Picnic
As far as first anniversary ideas go, this is a timeless classic that never fails to leave a lasting impression. Your partner will be charmed by a romantic picnic for two, especially if you plan your picnic date ideas in a scenic location. From the most beautiful botanical gardens to local nature reserves, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find the perfect setting.
For the ideal one-year anniversary date idea, pack elegant picnic foods, such as those served on a charcuterie board or tiny tea sandwiches, as well as a bottle of Champagne or other sparkling wine.
If you want a one-year anniversary date idea that includes a few of your friends, picnics can also be great double date ideas. You and the other couple can collaborate on coming up with delicious picnic food ideas for a tasty outdoor feast.
Cute One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
8. Plan a Staycation
You don’t have to travel far to execute a first-anniversary date that celebrates an entire year of love. Instead, you and your partner can plan an adorable staycation.
Book a room at a local upscale hotel and take the weekend to explore all the attractions in your area that you normally don’t have time to visit. Classic staycation destinations that work well for 1st year anniversary ideas include popular resorts, famous historical sites and unique landmarks.
9. Visit a Museum
Spend the day sharing your love of art, science or history by visiting a museum with your partner. If you are struggling to come up with things to do for one-year anniversary dates, a trip to the best art museums may be the perfect solution.
Why is that? It’s usually cost-effective, gives you the opportunity to learn something new and may even inspire you to try other fun one-year anniversary date ideas like painting, sculpting or any other form of artistic expression.
You can go through the exhibits and discuss your thoughts, and then enjoy a nice meal at the museum restaurant. Finally, you can wrap up the date by buying each other cute first anniversary gifts in the museum gift shop.
10. Go to a Drive-In Movie
Going to a drive-in movie as a 1-year anniversary idea puts a classic twist on the typical cinema date. Drive-ins often show your favorite films that you normally don’t get to see on the big screen, ranging from black-and-white oldies to cult classics from the 1980s.
Plus, drive-ins give you all the privacy you need to snuggle up with your loved one while you enjoy the movie. If you don’t have an established drive-in theater in your area, you can search online for special film festivals or community movie events that may be happening close to your anniversary.
11. Organize a Spa Day
A spa day is the ideal one-year anniversary date idea for people looking for extra intimacy and romance. For a luxurious experience, make an appointment at a spa hotel for a couple’s massage and other treatments. If you prefer planning anniversary ideas at home, you can buy your partner’s favorite self-care products and treat them to an at-home spa day.
This one-year anniversary date idea is not only a great way to celebrate, but also to unwind and relax. It’s the ideal self-care activity for you and your significant other to enjoy each other’s company in a setting where you can forget about life’s daily stressors and focus solely on love’s beauty.
12. Attend a Sports Game
Couples who share a passion for sports will have a blast celebrating their one-year anniversary at a sporting event. This is a particularly good one-year anniversary date idea if the momentous date coincides with your favorite sports season.
For instance, if you're considering summer date ideas for your anniversary and enjoy baseball, you can go to a game and root for your local team. Make this 1-year anniversary date idea extra special by seeing if you can arrange ahead of time for the stadium to put a celebratory message on the jumbotron.
13. See a Live Show
Attending a live performance is a wonderful one-year anniversary date idea if you and your significant other enjoy the arts and are looking for a more elevated date night experience. You can choose from various types of live performances, such as a musical, concert or comedy show.
If seeing a live show interests you as a one-year anniversary date idea, you may want to start booking tickets in advance, as a popular show can sell out quickly. Celebrating your 1-year anniversary doesn’t have to end there, though, as this activity is especially popular when paired with a lunch or dinner before or after the show.
Free One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
14. Write New Vows
There are many options if you need an affordable one-year anniversary date idea. One sweet way to declare your love without spending money is to write new vows together. This is a powerful way to reflect on your relationship’s progress and reaffirm your commitment to each other.
If you and your partner aren’t married, a one-year anniversary can be a great opportunity to write commitment vows to share your hopes and intentions for the future. Remember, even though vows are synonymous with marriage, they can still be used for relationships where the knot hasn’t yet been tied.
15. Plan a Game Night
A game night is another fun and simple one-year anniversary date idea that you can do at home without spending a lot of money. All you need to execute this date perfectly are your favorite games that you already own, a bottle of wine and some yummy snacks. As you can tell, this is the perfect weeknight date idea if your anniversary happens to fall between Monday and Friday.
You can play traditional board games like Scrabble and Monopoly, or get creative with a complex tabletop game like Settlers of Catan. If you would like your one-year anniversary date idea to be a little more physical, you can even set up a cute game of Twister.
16. Volunteer Together
If you’re searching for a one-year anniversary date idea that includes an element of selflessness, use the opportunity to give time to a cause that’s important to both of you. Volunteering at a soup kitchen, a dog rescue organization or other animal shelter, or any other place where help is needed will allow you to share your love with your partner and others as well.
Besides the outpour of love, you and your partner will also benefit from this remarkable act of service. According to Western Connecticut State University, volunteering boosts your social and relationship skills. This is a one-year anniversary date idea that can become an annual tradition as you and your significant other build a deeper connection with both each other and your community.
17. Create Playlists for Each Other
Creating a playlist is usually free and is always a tender and meaningful gift to a loved one. If you need a low-budget one-year anniversary date idea, you and your significant other can create playlists as modern love letters to each other.
Once your playlists are both ready, listen to the music and talk about why you chose the songs. Without spending any money, you can use this one-year anniversary date idea to connect with your partner on a new level.
18. Make a Scrapbook
Scrapbooking is an affordable and thoughtful one-year anniversary date idea. To prepare for the date, gather up all of the important photographs and mementos from the past year of your relationship.
This one-year anniversary date idea presents the opportunity for you and your partner to work together or separately. Either create a scrapbook together commemorating the memories you have so far, or work separately to express how you feel about the relationship and share your creations at the end of the night.
Creative One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
19. Recreate Your First Date
For a sentimental one-year anniversary idea, take your partner on a recreation of your first date. You can revisit all of your cute first-date ideas, such as the location where you met or the restaurant where you had your first meal together. Recreating your first date is a fantastic way to reminisce over those magical early days with your loved one.
If the restaurant where you first shared a bite to eat together has since closed down, there are other ways to enjoy this one-year anniversary date idea. You can either make your first-date meals at home, go somewhere else to eat them or order them from another restaurant and enjoy them while taking a stroll outdoors.
20. Go On a Hometown Tour
As you enter the second year of your relationship and look for one-year anniversary ideas, now may be a good time to show your partner where you came from. If you’re ready to bump into school teachers who will no doubt share embarrassing stories about you, take your significant other to your hometown for a tour of where you grew up.
This nostalgic one-year anniversary date idea will give your better half a deeper understanding of where you come from and demonstrate that you are willing to be vulnerable and share more of yourself with them.
21. Take a Ferry Ride
Enhance a typical anniversary dinner date by including a ferry ride. Booking a seat on one of these boats that make for magical memories will give you beautiful views of a city skyline while you take a dreamy ride to your destination.
You can either book a dinner cruise where you eat while on the boat or simply take the ferry to have dinner in a neighborhood you normally don’t visit. Organize this one-year anniversary date idea with Direct Ferries for a seamless experience and an extensive choice of routes and destinations all over the world.
22. Go Thrifting
Got a partner who loves fashion and not sure what to do for your first wedding anniversary? Why not take them on a thrift store shopping spree? You and your significant other can dig through fabulous retro clothing at vintage stores and put together gorgeous and unique outfits for each other.
Once you have chosen your thrifted looks, you can expand on this one-year anniversary date idea by taking a stroll around town to show off your new outfits and perhaps going out for dinner and drinks.
23. Stargaze
For a more out-of-the-box one-year anniversary date idea, go stargazing. Take your partner somewhere at night with minimal light pollution and good star visibility, such as the places with the darkest skies in the U.S.
To see the stars up close and personal, you can take a telescope with you. Your partner will love cozying up with you as you soak in the natural beauty of the night sky.
Family-Friendly One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
24. Go Bowling
If you have a blended family or your family has grown in the past year, you may need one-year anniversary date ideas that are kid-friendly. Bowling alleys are an excellent choice for a date night location that both adults and children can appreciate.
At a bowling alley, you can play a game with your partner, eat some snacks or a filling meal, and keep the kids entertained as you celebrate not only your relationship but your beautiful new family.
If you’re searching for the most popular bowling alleys to enjoy this one-year anniversary date idea at, Bowlero is a fantastic choice. With locations all around the U.S. that feature menus of delicious eats, it’s a great place to test your skills and enjoy a hearty meal.
25. Plan a Movie Night
If you are a parent and your anniversary falls on a night when you can’t get a babysitter, don’t be dismayed: You can still come up with a cute one-year anniversary date idea. For instance, you can have a family-friendly movie night at home. Pick a movie, order a pizza and cuddle on the couch with your partner and kids.
Although this type of movie night isn’t quite the same as a grown-up date, you can still choose a family movie that is special to you. Then, after the little ones are in bed, you can switch to a more mature, romantic movie.
This is not only a good one-year anniversary date idea for the quality family time you’ll get to share, but also because it’ll teach your children how to maintain a happy, healthy relationship for their future romantic endeavors.
26. Visit an Amusement Park
Make your anniversary date last all day by going to an amusement park. If you are planning a date for your whole family that includes thrills, delicious eats and maybe an embarrassing photo or two, an amusement park is an ideal location. The kids will love going on rides and meeting cool characters, while you and your partner can take the time to be present with each other and your children.
Depending on the theme park you choose to organize your one-year anniversary date idea at, you may get special treatment if you let the staff know that you are celebrating a special occasion. In some cases, you get free desserts or coupons to brighten your day.
27. Go Apple Picking
If your one-year anniversary is in the autumn, consider this fall date idea that offers plenty of fun for the whole family. Apple picking combines a hike with delicious fruit treats; the kids are sure to be entertained by getting to choose their own apples right from the tree.
Once you are tired out, you can all recuperate at the farmhouse and enjoy cider and donuts. Don’t forget that this one-year anniversary date idea will guarantee you plenty of apples for making pies and other fall flavor treats in the weeks that follow.
28. Play a Round or Three of Mini Golf
Going mini golfing is an inexpensive and adorable one-year anniversary date idea. You and your partner can visit one of the best mini golf courses for an intimate date night or take the kids and make it a family outing. As parents, you and your significant other may appreciate the chance to take a cute walk through a whimsical setting while your children are well-occupied playing golf.
Turn this one-year anniversary date idea into a competition by seeing who can get the lowest score. Once you’ve established who the ultimate mini-golfer is, head out for a bite to eat at your family’s favorite restaurant.
Adventurous One-Year Anniversary Date Ideas
29. Go Camping
Couples who love the outdoors can commemorate their one-year anniversary by going camping. If you and your significant other are already fans of the outdoorsy life, you may have your eye on top places to camp that you haven’t yet had a chance to experience.
You’ll both appreciate getting the time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and spending some valuable time with each other in nature. If anything, this is one of those one-year anniversary date ideas that need to be done more regularly to make you appreciate the simpler things in life, such as sunrises, sunsets and the twinkling stars set against a clear sky.
30. Go Kayaking
For an aquatic one-year anniversary date idea, book a kayaking expedition. You and your partner can breathe in the fresh air and appreciate the gorgeous views of a lake or river as you paddle through a waterway.
Kayaking is a fun one-year anniversary date idea that often leads to hilarious memories of figuring out how to paddle, handling the unusual shape of a kayak and navigating a new environment with a loved one. America is home to breathtaking kayaking places that rank among the best in the world, so it might be a good idea to visit one each time you celebrate your anniversary.
31. Lace up for Ice Skating
Those who have anniversaries in the colder months may be looking for winter date ideas. Ice skating is a beloved wintertime one-year anniversary date idea for good reason. You and your partner can hold hands as you skate around the rink and defrost afterward at a warm and cozy restaurant with a cup of hot chocolate.
In addition, you can take advantage of the picturesque setting at top ice skating rinks and take lovely one-year anniversary photos. Your photographer can take documentary-style photos of the two of you skating, as well as some sweet posed portraits.
32. Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride
If your significant other has an adventurous spirit, you can impress them by planning a hot air balloon ride. A trip up into the troposphere is an enchanting one-year anniversary date idea for a partner who loves scenic views.
You can soar over beautiful vistas and take photos of the incredible landscapes, especially if you schedule your ride for golden hour, when the setting sun casts a magical light on the scenery.
When you plan a hot air balloon date, be sure to ask the company if they allow food and beverages on board. If you can, pack a mini picnic basket and a bottle of Champagne to make this romantic date idea even more special by toasting your one-year anniversary as you float among the clouds.
33. Fall In Love With Sky-Diving
Commitment is already a leap of faith, but thrill-seeking couples may want to take a literal leap by booking a sky-diving date — nothing demonstrates your mutual trust for each other more than jumping out of a plane together! Various skydiving companies offer training lessons and supervised jumps, so rest assured that you’ll be in the hands of experienced professionals. Try visiting the top places to skydive for the most incredible views.
As an alternative version of this one-year anniversary date idea, visit an indoor sky-diving establishment. There, you can hold hands and experience the sensation of flight without having to confront a fear of heights.
34. Learn To Dance
If you’re feeling slightly befuddled by the many ideas for a first wedding anniversary, why not take it back to something you had to do for your big day? That’s right — learning to dance!
The type of dance you’d like to learn is up to you, but the options are endless at a place like Dance With Me. The choice may also depend on whether or not you and your partner still remember your original first dance; if not, this could be a great opportunity to relearn it.
Of all the things to do for your 1st year anniversary, this is another one of those where getting groomsmen and bridesmaids involved could add an extra element of fun. Plus, you could get lucky with discounted rates for group packages.
35. Go On a Scavenger Hunt
You’ve found and explored each other’s love for a whole year, so why not further put those discovery skills to the test during a scavenger hunt? If you’re searching for ideas for your first anniversary that include a competitive edge, this exciting activity will keep you on your toes, help you accumulate a decent amount of daily steps and put your confidence in one another to the test.
You could also add a fun twist to this one-year anniversary date idea and square up against each other instead. What does the winner get? Well, that’s up to you and your partner — maybe a gift, a home-cooked dinner or a gourmet meal out on the town? Whatever you decide upon and whoever wins, it’s bound to be an anniversary celebration you’ll never forget.
A one-year anniversary date should be memorable for both parties based on their interests. Luckily, there are many things to do for one-year anniversary date ideas that will capture the love and joy that you and your partner share.
Whether you’re impressing your loved one with a deluxe private chef experience or spending a casual night at home, they will appreciate that you put in the effort to celebrate the occasion.
For even more fun one-year anniversary date ideas, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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