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Anniversary gifts for him

Updated

Many men say they do not want anything for an anniversary. A good gift still lands when it is tied to your story or to something he already loves.

These ideas work for a husband or a boyfriend, and for a first anniversary or a fortieth. Each one says who it suits.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A star map of your wedding nightA man who wants nothingFrom $49 per print
Tickets to a game or a concertA man who prefers doing things$75–$150
An engraved watchA man who wears a watchOver $150
A tasting experienceA curious food or drink fan$25–$75
An upgrade for a hobby he already hasA man with a weekly hobby$75–$150
A weekend awayA man who rarely stopsOver $150
A leather gift for a third anniversaryA third anniversary$75–$150
A photo book of your years togetherA quietly sentimental man$25–$75
A handwritten letterAny husband or boyfriendFree
A map print of a place he lovesA man proud of his hometown$25–$75
A cooking or grilling classA man who likes to cook$75–$150

  1. A star map of your wedding night

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above your wedding venue, or the place you met, at the exact minute. You add a title and message, and can turn on the constellation lines and a coordinate grid, which many men like for a cleaner, technical look.

    Make your star mapRead more: An anniversary star map

  2. Tickets to a game or a concert

    Book seats for his team, his favorite band or a comedian he quotes. Go together, or give him two tickets and let him choose who to bring. It suits a man who would rather do something than own something.

  3. An engraved watch

    Engrave the back of a watch with your anniversary date or a short private line. Choose a watch style he already wears: a sports watch for an active man, a simple dress watch for work. The engraving is what makes it an anniversary gift.

  4. A tasting experience

    Book a tasting of something he enjoys: whiskey, coffee, beer, wine or barbecue. Many distilleries, breweries and roasters run tours. It suits a man who likes to learn how things are made.

  5. An upgrade for a hobby he already has

    Buy a better version of a tool he uses every week: a fishing reel, a chef's knife, a pair of hiking boots. Ask a friend who shares the hobby what he would want. It shows you pay attention to what he does.

  6. A weekend away

    Plan two nights somewhere with something he loves nearby: a trail, a golf course, a race or a lake. Do the planning yourself and give him the itinerary. It suits a man who works hard and rarely stops.

  7. A leather gift for a third anniversary

    Leather is the traditional third anniversary gift in the US list. A wallet, a belt, a bag or a watch strap with an embossed date fits. Choose good leather that ages well.

  8. A photo book of your years together

    Print your best photos together as a book, with short captions in your own words. Include the trips, the bad haircuts and the dog. It suits a man who will not say he is sentimental but keeps every card.

  9. A handwritten letter

    Write what you admire about him, a memory from this year, and something you look forward to. Keep it honest and specific. Many men keep letters for years even if they never mention them.

  10. A map print of a place he loves

    A printed map of his hometown, his college town or the lake where he fishes. Mark the exact spot. It suits a man who talks about where he grew up.

  11. A cooking or grilling class

    Book a class in something he likes to cook: barbecue, bread, pasta or sushi. Take it together, or give it to him with a friend. He brings the skill home.

Look at what he already does

The safest anniversary gift for him makes a thing he already loves a little better: a better tool, a better seat at the game, a weekend near his favorite trail.

The sentimental gift is the one he would never buy himself. A star map of your wedding night or a photo book falls in that group. Many couples give one of each: something he uses and something that remembers.

If you are unsure, ask his best friend or his brother. They often know the one thing he has wanted for years and never bought.

Match the gift to the year

The US traditional list gives paper for the first year, cotton for the second and leather for the third. The British list gives cotton or paper for the first year. You do not need to follow either, but it can help when you are stuck.

For a long marriage, look back: a star map of the wedding night, a photo book across the decades, or a trip to the place you honeymooned.

Keep the message short

For a print or an engraving, fewer words often land better with him. A date, a place and one line is enough. Save the longer thoughts for a letter in the card.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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