Wedding Anniversary Ideas

The best wedding anniversary gifts are gifts from the heart.

Gentlemen, you may think of your wedding anniversary as a day to focus all your attention on your wife; but instead, remember it is the anniversary of “I do’s” by the two of you. It is the official anniversary of the day when your two hearts became one and each of your pledged in the presence of family, friends and God that you would be for one another from that day forward. 

Traditional anniversary gift ideas for women are often jewelry and an evening of "dinner out" and a little dancing. 

A couple's anniversary is also an opportunity for reflection. It can be very satisfying to consider the investment you’ve made in one another, appreciate your  accomplishments and reminisce - sort of the wedding anniversary version of the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life.

With that said, as you begin making plans and gathering anniversary gift ideas for her consider creating a special time during the day for heart to heart conversation, reflection and possibilities for the future.  Consider time together as an anniversary gift for both of you.

My husband and I have a mantra... "tandem forever".  It represents the commitment we've shared from the start.  Plus it fits us well as we trek about on our bike built for two!  Oh the fun we've shared riding in North Carolina and Hawaii on this Trek 2000 tandem bike! 

Morning coffee and a reminder that the secret to a long marriage is to put a little romance in everyday helps too!  

This year my husband totally surprised me with an anniversary trip to a Southern City on my bucket list - Savannah, Georgia. The city was all that I had hoped it would be, visually stunning, rich in history, architecture, cultural foods,  and many well-told stories of ghosts, pirates and colorful characters in Savannah society decades earlier.

What meant the most to me about my husband's planned anniversary gift weekend trip was my heighten awareness of my husband’s love for me and his desire to show me that he really knows me. It was an anniversary gift from his heart, a gift more lasting than the long walks under the Spanish moss-draped branches of the majestic live oak trees canopying city squares in Historic Savannah. 

As for the actual anniversary weekend.  It was fabulous!   We stayed at East Bay Inn, where reports of frequent appearances of Charlie, the resident ghost, made us really wonder if he was in our company as we discovered neither of us kept turning the desk lamp on.

Savanah's homemade local pralines and our strolls along the riverfront hand in hand were both divine.  The best Southern food was at Paula Deen's  The Lady and Sons Restaurant.  It was so much like my mother's cooking from years past that I rejoiced and ate until my heart was content.  The sweet tea was the best ever!!!!

When in Savannah, let it be known that I highly recommend The Olde Pink House for a memorable dining experience.  It is important that you request seating downstairs in the Tavern by the piano. The special treat of the evening was David Duckworth on the piano - known for his Johnny Mercer tunes which take you back in time. I hope you get our waiter, Condy. He was a delight.  In case you are interested in my impression of what the evening was like, my Trip Advisor comment says it all.  They have since sent me a luggage tag and invited me to make more comments. :) 

Take note fellows.... the absolutely best anniversary gift I’ve ever been given was the declaration from my husband on our wedding day. He proclaimed that regardless of any bumps in road he would never walk away from our marriage. He was emphatic. His statement has been a good foundation for our relationship and our thirty five years of marriage.  What's more, we choose to be with one another each day. We make a point of being FOR one another.  We thank God for our love and we nurture our love like it was a newborn, each day.

So as you ponder all the anniversary gift ideas for your wife, remember to make your anniversary gift a gift from your heart.  When in doubt you can't go wrong with beautiful and classic heart jewelry.

I wish you and your bride many more years of joy!

Happy Anniversary!