Wedding anniversaries are momentous occasions – or at least they should be. Whether you’ve been married for 2 or 22 years, it’s an opportunity to mark the day and show your continued love and appreciation for your other half.
An upcoming wedding anniversary is also a good time to check in with your relationship. And if quality time with your spouse seems to be in short supply, perhaps getting lost in the daily drudge, now is your chance to do something about it.
An anniversary party may be just what you need to put the fun back into your marriage. With a bit of planning and organisation, and plenty of friends and family to join in the celebrations, you can make the magic happen, again. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some wedding anniversary party inspo to help get you thinking along the right lines.
A Second Wedding Day
If your wedding day was the best day of your life, why not try and rekindle the same vibe by doing it all over again? Take the time to think about what you remember most about your wedding day – what were the happiest memories? Was it the cake, the church, the dress, the speeches, the band, or something else entirely? When did you most feel the love?
Keep your best memories of the big day front of mind and don’t forget to check in with your spouse too – their recollections may differ from yours. Plan the day together and try to get your friends and family together, just like the first time. They’ll be thrilled to take part, to rekindle fond memories and to go through the experience with you once more.
Top Tip
Don’t stress over replicating every single detail – focus on the bigger picture to create a loving vibe. Yes, you want to do it all over again but no, that doesn’t mean it has to be the exact same as the first time around.
A Memory Showcase Party
If you’ve been happily married for many years, maybe now is a great time to reflect on and appreciate your amazing journey together. A memory showcase can help you rekindle the best of times and fondest of memories while sharing them with your nearest and dearest, including those who weren’t even born then.
Memories can take many forms – photos and videos, mementoes, souvenirs and much more. Take the time to go through all your sentimental items and bring them together, perhaps curating them into a display, video or slide show. Could you make a speech, introducing ‘evidence’ from the past to guide them from one topic to the next? Take the audience on a journey – your journey – with warmth and humour.
Top Tip
Why not hire a professional videographer to capture your presentation? With a record of the event, you can watch your favourite memories again and again, with your other half.
A Family Reunion Party
Not all families live in close proximity and see each other frequently. Some are spread all over the country or even further, only managing to get together for momentous family events, typically weddings, christenings and funerals. But family is important, and if you are celebrating your wedding anniversary with conviction, you’ll no doubt want them to be there. It’s just not the same without them.
A wedding anniversary party can be a great excuse for a family reunion. Not only will it make your occasion extra special, it’s bound to bring everyone closer together. No need to splash out on an expensive venue if your home and garden are big enough to accommodate everyone. You’ll need plenty of food drink, some activities to keep any children occupied and a wedding-themed decorations for your house.
Top Tip
Don’t forget to make time for your guests and make sure you prioritise catching up with relatives you haven’t seen in ages. Take lots of family photos or videos for posterity, to make even more memories.
Party Entertainment
To really get the anniversary party started, you need music and/or other entertainment. Whether you go for cool jazz over cocktails, a string quartet during a sit-down meal, or a pro DJ to get everyone on the dance floor after dinner, make sure everyone is having a great time.
Chances are that you won’t be able to book the same artist or band that played on your original wedding day – no matter. Perhaps you can find a different pianist but one that knows how to play all your favourite tunes? You can update your DJ set with contemporary dance music, or find a retro DJ to play all the old tunes. As mentioned before, it’s the vibe that counts.
Top Tip
If music doesn’t inspire you, think about doing something a bit different to entertain your guests. From old-school close-up magic or card tricks to risqué cabaret acts, the only limitation is your imagination.
Renewal of Vows
Finally, if a big party isn’t your thing, or maybe budget is an issue, you could choose to simply renew your vows. It’s the perfect way to get shy or introverted spouses to go through the experience without having to deal with social anxiety. An intimate wedding vow ceremony takes less time and money to organise, is less daunting and just as special for all concerned. Do it in your garden, on the beach, a local park – anywhere you feel is a meaningful venue.
It’s simple to set up – at its most basic all you need is the three people. Stand in front of the speaker and recite your vows, kiss at the end and walk down the aisle. Done! You don’t even need to dress up if you don’t want to. And as you’re not actually legally getting married (since you already are!), you don’t even need a registrar, celebrant or priest.
Top Tip
For the best of both worlds, you could combine a private vow renewal with a big party. Sneak off for a cosy ceremony on your own, then join the rest of your friends and family to celebrate your continuing love and loyalty.
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