Mascara and Mushroom Pappardelle: How Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen Did Anniversary Right

In a world obsessed with grand gestures and Instagram-worthy moments, Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen just showed the rest of us what a real anniversary looks like—and it’s nowhere near a five-star resort.

The couple marked their first year of marriage on May 31st with exactly the kind of celebration that matters: a homemade dinner at their dining room table, their baby daughter bouncing nearby, and absolutely zero pretense. Steinfeld, 29, shared the details via her Substack on Wednesday, June 3, revealing that she’d gotten“dressed up”in mascara and jeans while Allen, 30, probably did something equally low-key. Their menu? Wedding soup (tortilla), an incredible homemade mushroom pappardelle, and a gooey butter cake—their favorite dessert to order when they’re out. They rewatched their wedding video, flipped through their first pictures together, and reminisced about the dates and memories that built this life.

What makes this story hit different is how intentional it all was. Rather than chasing some perfect Pinterest moment, they leaned into the traditions and symbolism of anniversary gift-giving by year. This year was paper, symbolizing new beginnings—so they exchanged handwritten anniversary cards and small paper gifts. Steinfeld got Allen a set of playing cards featuring their wedding photo. He surprised her with framed photos to decorate their house, a gift she celebrated because it finally solved a year-long procrastination problem.

The actress also articulated why anniversaries matter beyond the calendar obligation: they’re checkpoints. Moments to sit down with your partner, assess how the year actually went, and reflect on what’s worth celebrating.“On May 31st 2025, Josh and I were reading our vows in front of our closest friends and family,”she wrote.“On May 31st 2026, we were sitting on the couch watching our wedding video with our daughter.”That shift—from the best day of their lives to the life they’re actively living together—is the real story. No filters needed.

By the time that evening wound down and Steinfeld caught her reflection in the mirror, she had happy tears streaming down her glossy eyes. Not because the celebration was extravagant. Because everything had changed in a year, and they’d taken the time to actually see it together.