The first wedding anniversary—often symbolized by paper—is a beautiful milestone that marks the transition from newlyweds to a more deeply bonded couple. It’s a time to reflect on the joys of the first year, celebrate your growth, and dream together about the future. Whether you’re keeping things intimate or throwing a full-blown bash, your one-year anniversary is a perfect chance to celebrate in a way that feels personal, playful, and heartfelt.
From paper-themed décor to travel-inspired escapes and romantic nods to your wedding day, the following 21 party ideas offer something for every couple’s style. Whether you prefer cozy nights in, elegant dinners with friends, or silly games that showcase your love story, these ideas are designed to make your first anniversary truly unforgettable!
1. Paper & Polaroids Party
Celebrate the traditional “paper” theme by covering your party space with printed photos from your first year of marriage. Hang Polaroids on string lights, create a scrapbook station for guests to contribute to, and use paper flowers or origami as décor. You can even set up a “message-in-a-envelope” table where guests write notes to the couple to be opened on future anniversaries. Include a photo booth with props and instant printouts to add even more personalized fun to your memory wall.
2. Romantic Dinner for Two… with a Twist
Host a private, elevated dinner at home or in your backyard—but theme it around the top moments of your first year. Create a “menu of memories,” where each course represents a milestone: first vacation, first fight, first big purchase. Include a short video montage or slideshow between courses. Bonus: Use candlelight and handwritten menu cards (a nod to the paper tradition) to make the atmosphere feel extra special and deeply meaningful.
3. “We Still Do” Vow Renewal Bash
A small vow renewal might sound early, but it’s incredibly romantic for a one-year anniversary. Invite close friends and family, recreate a mini version of your wedding ceremony, and exchange updated vows with a focus on what you’ve learned in your first year. Decorate with photos and quotes from your wedding day and serve cake and champagne to keep the celebration light and festive. It’s a sweet way to celebrate your growth as a couple and include others in your journey.
4. Love Letter Lounge
This cozy and nostalgic idea lets you and your guests celebrate the power of love letters. Create a lounge space filled with romantic stationery, typewriters, ink pens, and vintage stamps. Invite guests to write letters to their partners or to you as a couple. As the hosts, exchange your own handwritten love letters in front of everyone. This party is intimate, heartfelt, and entirely on-theme for a first anniversary—and everyone leaves with a meaningful memento.
5. First-Year Film Festival
Gather your closest friends and family for a cozy movie night celebrating your first year of marriage. Before the party, compile short clips, wedding footage, and photos into a fun “highlight reel” to screen before the main movie. Choose a romantic comedy or your wedding-day film as the headliner. Serve popcorn in custom bags, themed cocktails, and “paper ticket” invitations. It’s casual, cozy, and a great way to relive the memories with those who helped you create them.
6. Adventure Anniversary: A “Firsts” Scavenger Hunt
Celebrate by revisiting all your firsts together—from where you had your first date to your wedding venue, or even where you said “I love you.” Turn it into a scavenger hunt and invite your friends to join teams or follow along. Each stop can include clues, photos, or memories, and the final location could be a romantic dinner or group party. It’s a creative way to turn nostalgia into an experience, full of emotion and playful energy.
7. Board Game & Love Challenge Night
Host a game night with a twist: include custom trivia about your relationship, couple-based challenges, and “Newlywed Game” style questions. Mix in classic board games and romantic games like “Truth or Kiss,” or “Spin the Memory Bottle.” Include prizes for the winners and love-themed snacks like heart-shaped pizza or cookies. This party is perfect for inviting other couples or keeping it just the two of you with lots of laughter and a bit of competition.
8. “Paper Passport” Travel Party
Dreaming of where you’ll go together in your second year? Throw a travel-themed party with international cuisine stations, travel map décor, and DIY paper “passports” for guests that get stamped at each activity. Include a guestbook globe, travel photo booth, and a big reveal of your next trip (or honeymoon part two!). It’s exciting, themed around movement and growth, and offers something interactive for your guests to experience.
9. Wedding Time Capsule Party
Invite guests who attended your wedding to contribute photos, mementos, and letters to a wedding time capsule. During the party, seal everything into a box to be opened on a future anniversary (like your 10th!). Set the mood with music from your wedding, wedding-themed treats (like mini versions of your original cake), and a mini speech sharing favorite memories. This sentimental and creative idea offers a beautiful way to bridge the past and the future.
10. Intimate Backyard Picnic Soirée
For a laid-back and romantic celebration, host a backyard picnic with cozy blankets, candles, charcuterie boards, and acoustic music. Invite a few close friends or keep it just the two of you under the stars. Use handwritten menus and personalized napkins to bring in the paper theme. Bonus idea: set up a small projector to play a slideshow of your wedding photos or your favorite romantic movie while you cuddle up and reflect on your year.
11. “Anniversary Arcade” Game Night
Rent retro arcade machines or set up classic video game consoles for a themed night of lighthearted competition and throwback fun. Name the event “Level 1: One Year Down!” and hand out faux game tickets that can be traded for small prizes. You can include couple trivia games, a Mario Kart tournament, or even relationship-themed Jeopardy. Serve nostalgic snacks like nachos, slushies, and candy. It’s perfect for fun-loving couples who want to celebrate with laughter and a bit of friendly chaos.
12. “We’re a Work of Art” Paint Party
Celebrate your first year by throwing a couples’ paint party—either in-studio or at home with canvases, easels, and a DIY bar of painting supplies. Include relationship-themed prompts like “Paint Your Favorite Memory” or “What Love Looks Like.” You could even try body painting or a collaborative canvas that you both work on during the evening. Guests can take home their own artwork or add to a group mural you keep as a keepsake.
13. “The Story of Us” Reading & Poetry Night
Host a cozy literary-themed evening that ties into the traditional “paper” gift. Read love poems, share excerpts from your wedding vows, or invite guests to bring their favorite passages about love. Provide journals or handmade booklets for guests to write notes, reflections, or letters. Include warm lighting, soft music, and cozy seating like bean bags and pillows. It’s a meaningful way to turn words into a memorable celebration.
14. “All White Again” Party
Recreate your wedding day look and host an all-white party where guests dress in white too. Decorate with simple white florals, candles, and touches of gold. Serve champagne, white wine, and light hors d’oeuvres, and play your wedding playlist. Recut your cake or bake a mini version and reenact your first dance. This event is elegant, nostalgic, and lets you relive your day in a fresh, intimate setting with those who were there—and even those who couldn’t be.
15. Memory Lane Dinner Party
Host a progressive dinner party with each course representing a chapter of your love story. The appetizer could be a nod to your first date, the entrée tied to your wedding menu, and dessert inspired by a honeymoon treat. Between courses, share little anecdotes, photos, or even voice notes from that time. You can invite a small group of friends or just share the moments between the two of you—it’s an intimate and symbolic way to savor your journey.
16. “First-Year Favorites” Showcase
Curate a party that’s essentially a “Top Hits” celebration of your first year: favorite meals, songs, shows, places, and moments. Set up little stations or displays around your home or yard—like a TV corner with clips from your favorite shows, or a food table with mini versions of your favorite date-night meals. Include a custom playlist and print out fun “fact cards” for guests to walk through. It’s like walking through your personal highlight reel in party form.
17. Campfire & Story Circle
Plan a simple but heartfelt evening around a firepit or indoor faux fireplace. Invite guests to share their favorite memory of the couple or tell a fun story from your first year. Make s’mores, hot cocoa, and offer cozy blankets. You and your partner can close out the evening by sharing what you’ve learned about each other. It’s a grounding, intimate way to reflect and connect, especially with friends and family who feel like home.
18. “A Year in Photos” Gallery Party
Print your favorite photos from the past year and hang them like an art exhibit in your home or rented space. Organize them by month or theme, and include little captions or journal entries to give guests context. Offer disposable cameras or Polaroids to guests so they can snap new memories during the party. Include a photo guestbook for people to write messages or share what they remember most from your wedding day.
19. “Love Around the World” Potluck
Celebrate your shared love of travel (or plans to travel) by hosting a global-themed potluck. Ask each guest or couple to bring a dish from a different country and decorate the table with travel souvenirs, postcards, or a world map runner. You and your partner can highlight the places you’ve been and the ones you dream of visiting together. Include a signature cocktail station with international-inspired drinks, and let the party double as inspiration for your next adventure.
20. DIY Spa Night for Two
Unwind and reflect together with a luxurious spa night at home. Use paper gift certificates for “services” like massages, foot rubs, and bubble baths. Include a playlist of relaxing music, personalized robes, candles, and a menu of spa snacks like fruit skewers and cucumber water. End the evening by reading love letters to each other or flipping through your wedding album. This celebration is private, indulgent, and a beautiful way to reconnect and slow down.
21. “One and Only” Themed Costume Party
Throw a lighthearted costume party where every guest dresses as their “one and only” love—be it a celebrity crush, fictional character, favorite food, or even their pet! You and your spouse can dress as each other or as a pair like PB&J or your wedding cake toppers. It’s a silly, creative theme that still fits the spirit of celebrating “one” year of marriage. Add in themed cocktails, a costume contest, and a backdrop for photos to capture the fun.