15 Wedding Anniversary Tips for Money-Smart Couples
Posted: Friday, August 25, 2006
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
What is the point of a wedding anniversary? It is to celebrate marriage in general and to celebrate your marriage in particular. To rekindle the flame of your love for each other. To reaffirm your commitment to your marriage. To return to your "first love". You know, the quality of love you shared when you first met. During your days of courtship. On your wedding day. On your honeymoon, if it wasn't a disaster. You may not exactly get back to those warm fuzzy days of passion, since time and circumstance have conspired to take some air out of your romantic tire. But at least Husband and Wife can head in that direction again, in search of "love at first sight". It is possible for a couple to overspend in order to make up for their down-hill marriage, with the husband thinking he can bribe his wife into a sizzling romance or to appease her for blunders too numerous to list. Don't try it. It won't last. You really can't buy love. And the love you can buy is love that won't last. You know that an expensive wedding does not guarantee a happy or lasting marriage. The same is true of an expensive wedding anniversary. So here are some simple tips to save you money and probably save your marriage too.
Tip 1. Make it anniversary week. Why celebrate just one day, when you can have a week-long celebration. Remember, you thought of your wedding for months prior to wedding day. So get yourself into celebration mood seven days to the date of your anniversary. On each day, smile more, show a pleasant attitude more. Serve each other more. Reflect on how you met.
Tip 2. Say at least once a day for seven days, "I can't believe it's been ten years already! Man, how time flies when you're with the one you love!" When you say something like that, you prove that you remember not only the date you got married but exactly how long you've been married.
Tip 3. Husband, when Wife talks to you during anniversary week, make steady eye contact with her. As the Bassa people of Liberia say, "Love is in the eye." You've heard the phrase, "the apple of my eye".
Tip 4. Wife, remind Husband that you're looking forward to your surprise gift or treat. Drop some hints, but be realistic. Say this several times during anniversary week, so Husband knows you're really expecting something special, even if it's the same thing you got last year. Warning: don't sound like a beggar or a nag.
Tip 5. Husband, touch and/or hug Wife daily throughout the week. The more often the better. There's just something about touching that says, "You're still attractive to me", or "I'm still attracted to you."
Tip 6. Make arrangements to take the day off your regular work. Then do things together on anniversary day.
Tip 7. Husband, on anniversary eve, have a vase of flowers and balloon (with Happy Anniversary on it) delivered to Wife. Or hand-deliver the flowers and balloon.
Tip 8. If you're spiritual, hold hands and pray together on anniversary morning, after wishing each other "Happy Anniversary". Focus the prayer on how privileged you are to have each other. Thank God for your children, if you have children. Ask God's blessing on the future of your marriage.
Tip 9. Husband or Wife, remind your child(ren) to say, "Happy Anniversary" to each of you on anniversary day. Tip 10. Bathe together, unless there is a good reason not to. Bathing together is the next best thing to sexual intimacy. In sharing your bath, the both of you take a brief experiential trip to the Garden of Eden, where you are "naked and not ashamed".
Tip 11. Go out for dinner, somewhere you haven't been recently. Harriet and I usually go to Red Lobster on our anniversary. If you choose to eat at home, make it very special without being expensive.
Tip 12. Spend the night at a motel or hotel. If you have a baby or minor child, arrange for a babysitter.
Tip 13. Reflect on your wedding day. Each of you answer this question: "What do I remember about our wedding?" Look at your wedding pictures. Watch the wedding video, if you have one. Refresh each other's memory out loud as you view the photo and/or video. Then chew on this fun question: "How did we meet again?"
Tip 14. Make the romance on anniversary day an exceptional one. Not your same old same old. Be creative without going wacky. (Husband, if Wife's monthly visitor is in, don't abandon romance altogether. You can be romantic without sex.)
Tip 15. Wife, at the end of anniversary day, tell Husband how much you enjoyed everything. It is emotionally important to say "I really enjoyed the treat" instead of "I liked it". Husband, tell Wife how much you appreciate her being in your life. All this may cost you very little money, but it will do a whole lot to intensify your intimacy again. Remember, your wedding anniversary is your journey back to your first love. Explore the scenery.
Tip 2. Say at least once a day for seven days, "I can't believe it's been ten years already! Man, how time flies when you're with the one you love!" When you say something like that, you prove that you remember not only the date you got married but exactly how long you've been married.
Tip 3. Husband, when Wife talks to you during anniversary week, make steady eye contact with her. As the Bassa people of Liberia say, "Love is in the eye." You've heard the phrase, "the apple of my eye".
Tip 4. Wife, remind Husband that you're looking forward to your surprise gift or treat. Drop some hints, but be realistic. Say this several times during anniversary week, so Husband knows you're really expecting something special, even if it's the same thing you got last year. Warning: don't sound like a beggar or a nag.
Tip 5. Husband, touch and/or hug Wife daily throughout the week. The more often the better. There's just something about touching that says, "You're still attractive to me", or "I'm still attracted to you."
Tip 6. Make arrangements to take the day off your regular work. Then do things together on anniversary day.
Tip 7. Husband, on anniversary eve, have a vase of flowers and balloon (with Happy Anniversary on it) delivered to Wife. Or hand-deliver the flowers and balloon.
Tip 8. If you're spiritual, hold hands and pray together on anniversary morning, after wishing each other "Happy Anniversary". Focus the prayer on how privileged you are to have each other. Thank God for your children, if you have children. Ask God's blessing on the future of your marriage.
Tip 9. Husband or Wife, remind your child(ren) to say, "Happy Anniversary" to each of you on anniversary day. Tip 10. Bathe together, unless there is a good reason not to. Bathing together is the next best thing to sexual intimacy. In sharing your bath, the both of you take a brief experiential trip to the Garden of Eden, where you are "naked and not ashamed".
Tip 11. Go out for dinner, somewhere you haven't been recently. Harriet and I usually go to Red Lobster on our anniversary. If you choose to eat at home, make it very special without being expensive.
Tip 12. Spend the night at a motel or hotel. If you have a baby or minor child, arrange for a babysitter.
Tip 13. Reflect on your wedding day. Each of you answer this question: "What do I remember about our wedding?" Look at your wedding pictures. Watch the wedding video, if you have one. Refresh each other's memory out loud as you view the photo and/or video. Then chew on this fun question: "How did we meet again?"
Tip 14. Make the romance on anniversary day an exceptional one. Not your same old same old. Be creative without going wacky. (Husband, if Wife's monthly visitor is in, don't abandon romance altogether. You can be romantic without sex.)
Tip 15. Wife, at the end of anniversary day, tell Husband how much you enjoyed everything. It is emotionally important to say "I really enjoyed the treat" instead of "I liked it". Husband, tell Wife how much you appreciate her being in your life. All this may cost you very little money, but it will do a whole lot to intensify your intimacy again. Remember, your wedding anniversary is your journey back to your first love. Explore the scenery.
This Article has been viewed 3,541 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)I thought it was very good, it reminded me of when my wife and I went through Bro. G 's pre-marriage counseling. keep up the good work. Chris and Lynn SamuellPlease log in to respond to this comment.Yes, I still remember the time, and it's great to know you guys are still enjoying the married life. Keep the extended honeymoon going. ~ MG MatallyPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Great tips! Recommended for all married couples.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Excellent advice!Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks for your comment. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.