10
Jun

Go on. Be obnoxious on your anniversary.

When my friendly overlords at Expedia asked me to write about anniversaries and travel, I was ready. I bloody love an anniversary. And if it involves travel, even better.

But I’m not necessarily the norm. Well not after a few years of marriage, anyway. Of course, when you first start seeing someone Really Great you celebrate being together for a month. Six months gets heavy fanfare. A whole year warrants a weeklong celebration and fifty cute selfies.

But for some reason, maybe it’s familiarity, or the introduction of children, or just the general energy-sucking cycle of daily life, the celebrations go from 100 watts to about 20 watts by the time you are actually married, and have earned a legitimate, legal anniversary.

Case in point: I recently texted a mate to wish her and her husbo a happy anniversary. She text back saying: We both forgot.

I found this so dismaying that I immediately sent over a Celine Dion impersonator to serenade the two.

Marriage isn’t always cupcakes and Jesus juice, but it’s important to show each other your marriage is a priority, and that you still love them. An anniversary is a reminder as to why you love and married this person.

My husband and I will take any excuse to kick up a fuss, especially if it involves a weekend away, or a new restaurant or drinking strong, well-mixed alcohol in elegant glasses.

We don’t give a bee’s burp about the gifts you’re ‘meant’ to give each year, like paper, silver, or leather, or insect wings, but we do think you should give each other a ‘memory’ – commemorate each other, and what you have achieved in another year of marriage by doing something, whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, or something you used to do but never do anymore, or just doing nothing.

And yes, the longer you’ve been married, the more extravagant and obnoxious those things are allowed to be. (I plan on buying a diamond-encrusted pergola for our 20th.)

In case you’re struggling, here are some ways to give your anniversary a figurative tequila shot this year….

Read the list here.

But not here.

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Responses to this drivel: 5 Comments
Responses to this drivel ( 5 )
  • Laura Tough

    YES! Finally someone says it! My boyfriend and I, who really haven’t celebrated weddings or big anniversaries but we already much prefer a weekend away or visiting a new restaurant or planning a surprise picnic, something the two of us can share together (like having massages with little little Thai ladies beating the cr** out of our backs, pain shared together) rather and material gifts. Wayyyy more exciting I reckon! 

  • Putri

    My husband and I decided that when we got married that each anniversary we would go away together. So far they’ve only been small mini weekend getaways, exploring new cities & states. Saving big trips for bigger milestones, 5, 10 etc.

    It’s been great, as instead of getting another gift admits the ones we give/receive for birthdays and Christma; we get to build memories and an impressive selfie collection!

  • Renee

    Okay, firstly..Gold. Just gold! What a cracker you are. 
    Alright, I totally agree. I think it’s super important to honour the commitment that we originally put ALL that effort, cash, emotion and time into in the first place! #weddingday 
    I’ve been married to my guy for nearly 14 years! We are still young spring chickens, and definitely have our bumps and hard times, but that doesn’t stop us honoring the commitment we CHOSE to make all those years ago. Sometimes you’re all loved up and feel on top of the world..and then there’s those days where you really are just committed to that blasted certificate that you signed in front of all those people. Like it or not, deep down, your ‘spouse’ is your other half and knows you better than any one else. Anniversaries don’t have to be massive or expensive. It’s just the thought to Stop. Drop and Roll. Ok, maybe that’s the thing you do in a fire..but..you should stop, honour, and show love and kindness to each other for this cracker of a ride called marriage! 

  • Suz

    Teehee! You’ve given me a new word you totally cool chick- “husbo” ! Love it. Will be using that from now on. Happy anniversary lovebirds 

  • Jess

    Such a great post. My husband and I made the same kind of pact as Putri that, no matter our life circumstances, we would take a holiday each year at the time of our anniversary. We now have a six month old baby and will be taking her with us on this year’s trip. Our family and friends often comment about how odd it is that we do this every year and maintain that we will give up eventually but this post gives me reassurance we aren’t the only ones! Thanks Zoe

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