Put a Twist on the Classics
Take inspiration from traditional anniversary-gift themes, and give them a personal spin.
Back in the day of Hallmark stores you’d find a gift guide on the counter filled with theme suggestions. Today you can find it online at ideas.hallmark.com.
From pottery to diamonds, as the years march on, the greater the gift stakes get. Though not many people adhere to the old rules, they can provide a springboard for creative ideas. For example, traditionally a first anniversary gift is paper. Consider printing out an itinerary or invitation to a custom date or buy tickets to a concert, sporting event or museum.
Growing Together
Plant a tree in your yard or have a tree planted in your favorite park to commemorate a milestone. Take things a step further and, whether it’s a selfie or professional portrait, commit to a yearly photo by your tree. As time passes, you’ll have a keepsake flip book of your couple-hood.
Make time for your relationship. Plan an annual couple’s trip—ski slope or beach. And keep track. Marking up a map is a great way to track where you’ve been, and anniversaries are an excellent time to reflect on your journeys and plan anew. Create a map using pictures of your adventures around the state, country and globe. It can also be as simple as thumbtacks on an old map. Uncommon Goods (uncommongoods.com) offers a framed keepsake anniversary map mounted on foam board and is customized with a couples’ names and anniversary date. Pushpins are provided to mark the locations of your travel adventures. $155
Destination: Here or There
Of course an anniversary trip is romantic, but you don’t have to leave your home to plan a destination-themed celebration. Let locations like where you met, got married or honeymooned guide you. If you went to the same university, a gift could be collegiate memorabilia (game-day flag to hang out front or school-themed glassware). Another could be food gifts from the town or city where you first lived together. Goldbelly.com is filled with local favorites that can be shipped overnight. Order a Reuben lunch from a place like Zingermans in Ann Arbor (zingermans.com), and you’ll be back walking the Michigan campus hand in hand. If you honeymooned in Hawaii, plan a luau at home. Or stir up some rum swizzles, if you took your first vacation together to Bermuda. Your past is a launchpad to great anniversary ideas.
Full Hearts, Full Stomachs
Food is the way to my heart, and personalized serving items are a sweet touch. Engraving a charcuterie board with your married monogram is even better when paired with your snack favorites. Pair tangible items with favorite foods for the win.
Raise a Glass
Glassware can be fun or fancy. If you’re a boating or beach couple, order quality reusable plastic glasses with your monogram. Glassware is also fun to engrave, whether you choose beer steins or champagne flutes. You need to go no farther than Michaelangelo of Greenwich on the Avenue (mikegifts.com) or Williams Sonama (williams-sonoma.com) to find quality items to engrave. Fill the glasses with a favorite candy, or wrap a favorite bottle of wine or spirits to go along with them.
A One-Of-A-Kind Date Night
Rent the entire theater. Have a favorite movie? Theaters at the AMC Majestic 6 in Stamford are available to rent in varying sizes and can play current movies, or you can arrange for a classic. Renting an entire theater just for the two of you, or including family and friends, is a fun way to celebrate. (amctheatres.com)
Pretty as a Picture
Your home, whether it’s your first, vacation or current, is a special place. Consider having a painting commissioned or Christmas ornaments adorned with your home. Look at etsy.com for personalized watercolors of homes starting at about $30. Custom ornaments range from $15 and up. More detailed options are closer to $90.
Play the Game
Buy a stack of games and wrap them up for a game night. A quality poker set in a leather box or a special backgammon or chess board can be used now and treasured forever. It’s a sweet way of saying I’d roll the dice with you any day.
Hang It Up
If you think your love was written in the stars, you might be right. Online retailer Lime and Lou (limeandlou.com) offers custom wall art and canvases that can be created just for you. “The Night We Met” features the specific star map of the sky based on the location and date you want to celebrate. “Our Paths Crossed” custom canvas map pinpoints the place where you first met, your first date or where you got married.
For couples whose love of music provided the soundtrack to romance, check out the“Our Favorite Song” or “Our Mixtape” customizable canvases. They feature your names, anniversary and favorite song titles or lyrics to a significant song.
Photographs: Gifts – Ivan Karpov – stock.adobe.com; charcuterie Board – KCULP – stock.adobe.com; Wine Glasses – InsideCreativeHouse – stock.adobe.com