Anniversaries
Married couples have been celebrating wedding anniversaries for centuries. Just because it’s a time-honored tradition doesn’t mean you can’t plan an anniversary celebration full of fresh ideas. If you need help commemorating this special event, the sites recommended in this Web guide can provide suggestions for celebrating an anniversary, throwing an anniversary party and buying a perfect gift for your beloved.
Expand All Guide SectionsCelebrating an Anniversary
Should you reenact the night you became engaged or plan a quiet getaway to a mountain cabin? Use the sites below to find an idea for celebrating your anniversary that will be most meaningful to you.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you type “celebrating an anniversary” into your favorite search engine, you’ll likely get scores of results about companies or universities celebrating their years in operation. Use “celebrating a wedding anniversary” for slightly better results.
- Do you have a hard time remembering anniversaries or other special dates? Sign up for e-mail or cell phone reminders of important events at BigDates.com.
- Some couples celebrate their anniversary by renewing their wedding vows. Look for ideas about conducting a vow renewal ceremony on WeddingChannel.com.
Dulcinea's Picks
Martha Stewart
presents gift ideas and suggestions for celebrating anniversaries in keeping with the theme of matching particular materials to each year. Anyone in need of inspiration for their steel anniversary?
Lovingyou.com
presents anniversary celebration and gift ideas in an easy-to-read article. Some ideas are specifically geared toward men or women, while others offer a couple some help in planning their anniversary together.
MSN Lifestyle
provides “23 Ways to Celebrate Your Marriage,” an article filled with ideas appropriate for celebrating an anniversary, along with ways to show you love each other on the days in between anniversaries.
Who knew?
The White House
Web site is the place to go if you or a couple you know is celebrating their 50th anniversary (or greater) and would enjoy an anniversary greeting from the president of the United States.
Throwing an Anniversary Party
Browse the sites recommended in this section for advice on throwing an anniversary party, and for help finding the right anniversary party invitations to announce your event.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you need advice on throwing a party on a budget and ways to make sure you stay in control of the pre-party spending, see this article from Oprah.com.
- Read the findingDulcinea Hosting a Party Web Guide for more ideas on how to throw a memorable party and the findingDulcinea Recipes Web Guide for cooking ideas if you plan to cater the party yourself.
Dulcinea's Picks
For tips on throwing an anniversary party …
AnniversaryLocation.com
is a one-stop-shop for advice about planning an anniversary celebration party. Read the FAQ section to learn who hosts an anniversary party and how to word the invitation. The “Anniversary Event Ideas” page contains ideas about entertainment during the party. There are also tips about toasts at an anniversary party.
Happy-Anniversary.com
has an extensive section on throwing an anniversary party. Look for tips on planning the menu and beverages, the pros and cons of a surprise party and great planning checklists for formal and informal anniversary parties.
For anniversary invitations and party supplies …
Announcements & Invitations, Inc.
offers invitations for a variety of events, including anniversary celebrations. The real advantage of this site is that the wording you choose can go on any invitation; you’re not limited to just the anniversary invitations.
Evite
is one of the best-known online invitation sites. The site also tracks your guests’ RSVP responses. Don’t miss the “Entertaining” section for help putting together your party; there’s a budget estimator, drink calculator, party checklist and a selection of menus and recipes (click on a party theme at the left to find the food ideas).
The Beverly Clark Collection
sells photo albums, memory books, guest books and other supplies for anniversary celebrations.
Buying an Anniversary Gift
Giving a meaningful gift to celebrate your marriage can greatly add to the memories of your years together. Browse the sites in this section for help with choosing the right memento for your spouse.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Many Web sites that suggest gift ideas are inundated with advertisements; though sometimes annoying, these can be a good way to find the names and URLs of gift retailers.
- If you’d like to know the significance behind giving paper as a gift for the first wedding anniversary, or the symbolism behind other anniversary themes, read “The Meaning of Wedding Anniversaries”.
- See the findingDulcinea Gift Giving Web Guide for even more ideas on where to purchase gifts online.
Dulcinea's Picks
Gifts.com
takes some of the work out of shopping for anniversary gifts with its helpful categories. Shop just for the man or woman in your life, look for gifts the couple can enjoy together, or even search by personality (for example, “The Domestic Diva” or the “The Active Retiree”).
FindGift.com
offers multiple anniversary gift ideas for couples, as well as gift ideas specifically for men or women, and gifts for milestone anniversaries (1st, 5th, 25th and beyond). Also look for special keepsakes and poems here.
WeddingChannel.com
lists many anniversary years and their themes (for example, paper, cotton and gold), along with traditional and more modern gift ideas to correspond with the themes. Also see a related article on gemstone gifts appropriate for a particular anniversary.
© 2009 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
