Regardless of how long you’ve been married, celebrating your wedding day is
always going to be a big deal. The challenge, because you love your spouse so
much, is coming up with anniversary ideas that find a way to be special for both
of you. Though you have every reason to believe a bad experience won’t harm your
relationship, the opportunities to pull away from everything else and really
focus on each other are fewer and farther between in this hectic modern world.
Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, but do keep in mind that taking the
time to plan a romantic evening together will demonstrate how much you care –
whether it ends up being your best night out or not.
Wondering what to
do? Here are ten suggestions to get your creative juices flowing:
Plan a romantic picnic Remember the days when you hardly had any money and were
stuck finding inexpensive ways to spend time together?
Find a quiet spot
under a big tree in your local park, spread out a blanket and pop open a bottle
of champagne. Prepare as simple or complex a meal as you like, then recline in
each other’s arms and whisper playfully like you did when your love was
new.
Take over the kitchen and make a
three-course meal The old cliché says the way to a man’s heart is through his
stomach, but everyone loves a good home-cooked meal made by a loved one. Lock
your spouse out of the kitchen while you prepare his or her favorite dinner,
pretending you are one of those temperamental high-class chefs. Set up an
appetizer, an entrée, and a sumptuous dessert – unless you are planning on being
the sweet treat at the end, that is.
Recreate your first date A
favorite for those that have been together for many years, walking the same path
of that initial meeting is a great way to reminisce about how much has changed.
You can laugh about the other’s nervousness and the battle over the check or
stroll down the city street where you awkwardly held hands for the first
time.
Steal away for a weekend With the pace of life
ever-increasing, you both will love leaving the city in the rear view mirror and
reconnecting.
Depending on your budget, you can drive to a cozy
bed-and-breakfast outside of town or fly across country. Whatever it is, the two
of you must have hours together without distraction. If you can’t leave town, at
least turn off the phone and avoid the TV (unless you want to snuggle up for a
movie) in the comfort of your own home.
Here’s looking at you two
The longer you’ve been together, the more likely you are to have gathered quite
a substantial collection of photos. Sit down together and go through each box as
you put them into books or scan them into your computer. You’ll laugh at the
old hairstyles and remember the time you spent, all while compiling your
memories for future generations.
Tell each other an old story It
might sound trivial, but sometimes we forget what it was like to not know each
other as a relationship wears on. Go through your loved one’s old neighborhood –
the home they grew up in, where they went to high school – and let them talk
about their childhood, then do the same for yourself. You might find out there
are a whole new set of wrinkles to your spouse, giving you an opportunity to
grow closer together.
Do the classics You may think it’s a bit
overdone, but the old gestures can be simple and effective. Let’s say, for
example, you bring a box of chocolates and bouquet of flowers to your spouse at
the office. Some could call it unimaginative and cheesy, but there’s something
about letting everyone else know how much you love that other person. That said,
be sure to pick an object he or she will like – it’s great for others to be
jealous of your kindness, but not if your other half is
embarrassed.
Redo the bedroom Who hasn’t had the Hollywood
fantasy of rose petals strewn about a candlelit room?
There is a reason
such a romantic display is frequently featured on celluloid: it emphasizes the
two people in the room and excludes everyone else. Put some new sheets and
covers on the bed – you could even make it look like a suite in a faraway hotel
– and let sparks fly.
Schedule a photo shoot Chances are good
that, with the exception of your wedding day and the announcement of your
engagement, you haven’t been out on the town with a professional photographer in
tow. Get all dolled up and take an afternoon to pretend you are models for the
latest jewelry catalog. If you want, head to the spot you got married or where
the proposal happened. You’ll get to add to your collection of great pictures
and have fun doing it!
Act like newlyweds again Enlist the help
of some friends to set up another romantic exit – decorated car and all! You
might choose to have a party with a bunch of loved ones or simply have a limo
pick you up after dinner, but make sure you leave in a car with “Just Married”
on the rear windshield and some aluminum cans tied to the bumper. And, if you
can, head to the same hotel you spent that first night as husband and wife.
