My husband and I are celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary today and although we had big plans to go on an extravagant vacation, the year 2020 had extremely different plans for us. We’re having to celebrate our anniversary in a much more simple way at home, but we still wanted it to be meaningful. As I considered our options, I thought it would be great to share with all of you, since sometimes going out and celebrating in a big way is just not feasible. Here are some fun and easy ways to celebrate an important milestone or anniversary with a loved one at home.
Cook Dinner Together
Whether you’re an expert chef or your specialty is boxed mac n cheese, there is something wonderful about making food together with your significant other. It creates a great opportunity to work together to make something that you’ll both be able to enjoy. You can make a fancy new meal that you’ve never tried before or an old family staple that you both love. The time you spend together as you cook also gives you a great opportunity to talk to each other about your past, present, and future together. No matter what meal you make, you’re guaranteed to create wonderful memories as you cook something delicious as a couple.
Order Dinner in
If cooking is not your thing, one option is always to order food in. I know this may sound pretty generic since this option is available every day, but maybe try ordering food from a fancy restaurant instead of the local mom and pop restaurant you frequent on the regular. Another tip to make it seem more magical is to take the food out of the to-go containers it comes in and put it on some of your fancy dishes to spice things up. You could also try telling the restaurant when you order the food that you’re celebrating your anniversary, and maybe they’ll throw in a special appetizer or dessert on the house. I mean, free food is ALWAYS a win!
Eat Dinner by Candlelight
A great way to make the mood feel special, is to turn off the lights and enjoy your time by candlelight. Eating dinner is always a great activity to do this way. Set the table with some nice dishes, put some flowers or other decorations on the table, turn on some soft, elegant music, and light those candles. It’ll create a beautiful and soothing atmosphere where you can both relax and enjoy your meal together.
Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries
What is it about chocolate covered strawberries that feels so romantic? This simple, yet delicious dessert has been on the menu for many of our wedding anniversaries. You can keep it extremely simple and order some from a local bakery, or you can make them yourselves. They are actually quite easy to make and really don’t take that long. You can prep them ahead of time, or it would be really great to make them together. If you really want to spice things up, you could even feed the strawberries to each other. No matter how you enjoy them, you’re guaranteed to have a yummy, romantic dessert to end your night with.
Have A Celebratory Drink
My husband and I don’t drink alcohol, but we always like to have sparkling cider when we celebrate something big. It’s a special drink that we don’t have often which makes the occasion feel that much more significant. It could be anything from an old bottle of wine that you’ve been saving for years, or perhaps your favorite cocktail that you want to try making at home. No matter what drink you decide, be sure to have some fancy, or fun drink ware to serve it in. Even though we don’t drink alcohol, I always serve our sparkling cider in champagne glasses because who doesn’t love an excuse to be a little fancy? Oh, and definitely don’t forget to toast to each other! That’s perhaps the best part about having a special drink together.
Write A Letter to One Another
There’s something about a handwritten letter that is so personal and meaningful. I’m not very good at expressing my thoughts and feelings when I speak, but having the time write them out allows me to think about what I really want to say without any pressure. This is an activity you could do separately before, then give to one another on the day of your anniversary, or you could take the time to write your letters together. Either way, reading each other’s words will allow you to know how much your significant other really feels about you, not to mention it is something you could keep for forever.
Get Out the Photo Albums
In todays technology driven world, are photo albums even a thing anymore? Whether you have photos printed in an album, stashed in a shoe box, or stored on your computer or phone, look through all your old photos of your life over the years together. Looking back on all the good (and bad) times you’ve had is evidence of how much you truly have been through together, how you’ve grown as a couple, and leaves you with such wonderful, nostalgic feelings.
Play A Game, or Make A Craft
Often times when we think about a date night at home, the first thing that comes to mind is dinner and a movie, which, don’t get me wrong, is relaxing and sometimes very needed. However, watching a movie with someone doesn’t really allow you to connect on an intellectual and emotional level. Try ditching the movie and instead play a card or board game together. If games aren’t really your thing, try making something together. It could be a decoration for your house, a piece of art or craft that you want to try, or something to give to someone else. These options allow you to spend quality time together where you can talk and enjoy each other’s company.
Create A Day Spa At Home
Getting a couples massage is one the most relaxing things you can do as a couple, and who’s to say you can’t give each other massages at home? It may not be the best massage you’ve ever had, but it could certainly be the most romantic. If you really want to make the massage at home feel more like a professional massage, make sure you’re prepared with massage oil or lotion, some towels to lay on, some dimmed lighting, and soothing music. You can even do some research before hand and look up proper massage techniques and moves so you know how to really relax your partner’s muscles and body.
I know celebrating an anniversary at home doesn’t normally seem like a great option, but doing one, some, or even all of these things will truly make your occasion together feel more significant and special than your ordinary night at home. As I thought through these options, I actually got excited about the quiet, quality time I would be able to spend with my husband on our 10 year anniversary doing some of these things.
Mary Mulroney
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