Unique Ideas to Celebrate an Anniversary

Celebrating a milestone between you and someone special does not have to be an elaborate affair for it to be memorable. Even though fancy dates on television are marked with hot air balloon excursions and yacht rides, Nancy Twigg states in her book, “Celebrate Simply,” that special moments can be created by watching the sunrise together and using innate talents like embroidery to make special gifts. Some of the most unique anniversary ideas are the simplest to implement.

Time Capsule

Most couples love stumbling upon an old item that brings back fond memories from the past. Spend quality time together on your anniversary by creating a time capsule to open the following year. On your anniversary, gather memorabilia from the year together. Print photos of the two of you together. Make a short video of the two of you: talk about your year and place it on a USB stick. Write love letters to the other person and seal yours in an envelope without the other reading it. Make and fill out questionnaires for the other, like, “What did you think after our first date?” and “Where do you anticipate we'll be this exact time next year?” Place all items in a durable, metal container like an old large popcorn tin. Bury it in the backyard or store it somewhere in the house.

Romance in the Kitchen

Romance does not have to happen when dinner is served. Instead, making dinner together can be a sensual, bonding experience. Find recipes for your favorite appetizer, main course and dessert. Because cooking should be fun and not stressful, the recipe should be fairly simple to make. Go to a fancy grocery store and purchase high-end ingredients: for example, make bruschetta using fresh basil instead of dried herbs. Grate a block of Italian-imported parmesan instead of sprinkling pre-packaged cheese. Light candles in the living room and keep the lighting romantic. Compile a playlist of your favorite songs and play music throughout the afternoon. Throughout the meal preparation, drink wine and feed each other samples of the food.

Use your best dishes and stemware for the meal. Or, put the meal in a picnic basket and eat outside in a garden or on a mountain overlooking the city at sunset. As a reward for spending a day in the kitchen, skip making dessert and instead go out to the fanciest restaurant in town and order just dessert and coffee.

Staycation

Having a romantic vacation does not require an expensive flight to a foreign country or even going to a neighboring state. Spend just one night at a secluded, local resort. Enjoy all of the amenities, like the hot tub, tennis courts and driving range. Or, get a massage at the spa. Skip spending extra money on alcohol and dessert by bringing your own and enjoying it in your room together. In addition to enjoying the resort, become tourists of your own city: go to a local museum, farmer's market or sporting event.

References

• “Celebrate Simply”; Nancy Twigg; 2006