So I started researching for this article when my anniversary was fast approaching. And since I was looking for extra inspiration, I figured I’d make all this research count for something. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that makes a plan that falls through, and then finds themselves scrambling at the almost last minute. So I asked my husband for his ideas and told him it was research for a post. Here’s what he said:
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1. Make Love. ! Ha, that should be a given. But based on my own experience…ahem…many times this will get pushed off till the end of everything and if you have small children, a baby or any number of distractions, you may find that after all is said and done, some very important things are left undone.
2. Do something that you did on your Honeymoon. If you went camping on your Honeymoon, recreate a small part of that experience and revisit the romance you shared way back.
3. Go through your old wedding photos and scrapbooks together.
4. Call a babysitter to watch the children, rent a hotel room locally, order room service and take a mini vacay.
5. Go to a Day spa together and get pampered. Get massages, facials and/ manicures and pedicures.
6. Go to an amusement park together and feel adventurous and young again.
7. Go dancing together.
8. Dinner and a movie: This might sound lame and ordinary, but if it’s out of the norm for you, it might be what you need to reconnect and have fun.
9. Go on a shopping date together. This is actually what I ended up doing this year with my husband and it was really fun and out of the ordinary for us. I had a budget of under a hundred dollars and I took him to a local Ross store and he and I tried to find him some new shirts for work, since he had been complaining of his old shirts not fitting right or having the usual stains from lots of use day in, day out. It was unexpected for him to have me take him and buy him clothes, so he was pleasantly surprised at the experience. He found some nice shoes on sale too, but only a couple shirts. He ended up also buying me some clothes, which was really fun for me also, since I was in need of some maternity clothes.
10. Try a different restaurant than either of you have ever tried. My husband and I tried this out this year since our favorite place was closed on our anniversary. It was fun to try something new, even though it wasn’t the greatest place we’ve ever tried. You’ll never know if you don’t try it. You might just find a new favorite. And you’ll put a new wrinkle in your brain. That’s what my brother tells me happens when you try something new.
11. Go out into nature. I would do this every date with my husband, and even everyday if I could. I love kayaking, camping, hiking, fishing, swimming, biking, horse back riding, I could go on… If you are also married to a nature lover, or someone that used to be, you could try something fun outdoors that you don’t normally do. My husband is just not as interested in outdoor activities as I am, so I have to just make space to do that at other times to feed my soul. But literally every time he asks me “So, what do you want to do for our date?” I pause and wonder if I should say, “Let’s go kayaking.” Or if I should tell him what he’d really like to hear. “How about dinner and a movie?” I do love dinner and a movie, but I would love them so much more if they came after going kayaking, haha.
12. If you are artistically inclined, draw a portrait of them, or you and them as a couple. Even though this may sound like an involved process, I used to be able to do a portrait in a couple hours or at most, an afternoon. I just used mechanical pencils, or charcoal. You can purchase up to a 8 x 10, and maybe slightly larger at the Dollar Tree for $1. This would be great paired with an inspiring Bible verse, or a favorite poem that reminds you of them.
13. If you are musically inclined, write your spouse a song. You can also have a song commissioned on www.fiverr.com by a real musician. The other night my husband was putting the children to sleep and he found a song on his phone that I had made for him during our first year of marriage. He played it for the children to help them fall asleep to, and I was amazed he still had that old song. My older daughter mentioned it to me later. It apparently had made an impression on her. It made me think, wow, I should write songs for people more often. It really makes them feel special and loved.
14. Write them a heartfelt letter. I know cards are the status quo when it comes to Anniversaries and birthdays and pretty much every other holiday or special event. But why not reach way down into your heart and tell them all the reasons why you’re thankful for them. This works best when you take time to pray for them first and bring them before the Lord, and ask Him to bless every part of their lives you can think of. Just pour on the blessings, and write from that frame of mind.
15. Amazon or other Gift card. I know this might sound lame, but if it’s the last minute, and you haven’t got any ideas- let them choose something for themselves. I personally love gift cards. It’s like permission to spend money on yourself. If it is out of the norm for you to do this, it’s a fun way to change things up. Make sure you include a little note that gives them permission to use this money on anything that catches their fancy.
These 15 Anniversary ideas are just a start to help prime the pump of your imagination. I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments and maybe I could add it to this list. I hoped this helped someone in some way. Blessings~