Easy Ways to Celebrate Your Anniversary

Ever since we came oh-so-close to not making it to our 3rd wedding anniversary, celebrating each June 5th have become very important to my husband and me.

There is something to celebrate every time you pass that milestone. Another year of marriage in a world that is doing all it can to tear it down. Another year of fighting to keep selfishness down and unity up. It is a victory – victory for you, for your family and for God’s Kingdom. Whether the 365 days between this anniversary and the last one have been good or bad, you are here.

There are many who let their wedding anniversaries come and go. Some are prone to forget. Others barely get noticed. It doesn’t have to be frilly, fussy, expensive or involved….but just don’t let it be ignored. As parents, we wouldn’t imagine ignoring a child’s birthday, and many will spend small fortunes on them between gifts and parties. May I ask…isn’t the birthdays of our marriages, the establishment of our families, not just as important?

Here are some easy ways to celebrate your anniversary….

Enjoy a meal together. Feasting has long been a way to celebrate! Take part in this old tradition with an anniversary feast. It can be a fancy dinner out or a curbside take-out in. Maybe it is even breakfast or lunch. Splurge on that extra nice cut of meat or seafood at your local store and cook up a nice meal at home.
Words can be gifts. On our third anniversary, I gave my husband a leather journal. It has replaced greeting cards for us ever since. Each birthday, anniversary or other holiday, we will write a letter to one another in this journal, leaving it out for the other to find. If not a journal, then a card or letter or even little selfie video will do, but certainly there is reflections of love, gratitude and hope for the future together that can make for a wonderful gift.
Get away. This has been the biggest gift we’ve given to ourselves on our anniversary, particularly as we have been in the young family years. Each anniversary we take a trip. We just had our 10th last week and enjoyed 4 days and 3 nights away to Portland, ME, our longest distance and time from our young family. In the past, we’ve done one overnight or two and stayed within easy driving distance from our home to make it affordable and reasonable. We’ve even taken along nursing babies. The time away to celebrate and reconnect has been a saving grace in some very tough seasons for us.
Do something you’ve always wanted to do together. I’ve always wanted to ride a sailboat, so on our recent trip to Maine, it was an easy “let’s do it” when my husband found a schooner cruise through the harbor. It was a beautiful day and a fun adventure that created a great memory for us both. Other ideas might be to take a painting class or go line dancing or go see the musician you both like. For the outdoorsy couples, maybe it is a certain hike or bike trail. Whatever it is, cross that bucket list item off together (and if you don’t have a bucket list together, make one!).
Renew Your Vows. We said those vows 10 years ago, not really understanding what they would require of us. Ten years later, we know the selflessness, sacrifice and service that marriage requires and saying those vows once again, recommitting ourselves to this endeavor through life together, was very significant. It was a simple gathering in our backyard with parents, mentors and friends who have supported us through the good and bad. We thanked God for what He’s done in these last ten years and prayed His blessing over what lies ahead.