How to Plan for a 40th Anniversary
A 40-year marriage is cause for celebration. Four decades of sustaining any kind of relationship, much less the intimate bond of marriage, is an achievement. Honor the marital accomplishment by planning a day of acknowledgment and nostalgia. According AnniversaryIdeas.com, the 40th wedding anniversary is associated with the ruby gemstone and Nasturtium flowers. Use careful planning and the inspiration of your 40 years of marriage to create a memorable anniversary.
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Instructions
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Arrange a family brunch. A 40th wedding anniversary is an achievement to be shared with family and close friends. Organize a brunch on the day of your anniversary to share your marital achievement across generations. Make reservations at a restaurant or arrange a casual brunch at a relative's home. Hire a caterer and place a younger couple in charge of modest decorations. Arrange for mimosa or orange juice toasts from various generations in the family to commemorate the anniversary. According to MarthaStewartWeddings.com, brunch is usually more affordable than an evening reception.
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Pack a picnic basket. Fill a picnic basket full of foods you and your spouse love to eat. Plan ahead to acquire possibly hard-to-get or seasonal items. If the weather is pleasant on the day of your anniversary, plan for a picnic outing. If the weather is not pleasant or if you want to do something unique, plan for a living room or bedroom floor picnic by candlelight.
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Create a scrapbook. Gather photos and mementos, such as ticket stubs and fabric swaths, from over the course of your 40-year marriage. Arrange the items in chronological order in a scrapbook. The Library of Congress recommends using photo corners instead of glues or adhesive sprays to preserve old and delicate items. Write captions next to photographs and mementos that require context. Use a ruby-colored scrapbook to reinforce the ruby theme for the 40th wedding anniversary.
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Offer 40 gifts. Give your spouse 40 gifts to commemorate each year of your marriage. The 40 gifts could be extravagant such as a ring with 40 rubies. The 40 gifts could be more reasonably priced, but just as thoughtful, such as 40 lottery tickets, 40 crossword puzzles or any other items that your spouse would appreciate.
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Book a reservation at a favorite restaurant. Make a dinner reservation for a favorite restaurant or a restaurant that holds special significance, such as the site of your first date.
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Tips & Warnings
Pack utensils, plates, napkins and cups in the picnic basket. Place the 40 gifts in a ruby-colored gift box. Give your spouse an anniversary card in a ruby-colored envelope.
