Many of us go on dates with our spouses all year round so when it comes to our wedding anniversary it can be hard to think of something original to do. The good news is it doesn't need to be original, well, not exactly. It just needs to ignite the imagination, spark the memory and arouse the right emotional responses.



Psychologically humans rely on associations to make most of our judgments. If we see someone get ill having just performed an action (such as eating a pretty mushroom) we associate that action with their illness.

Our mood is also largely determined by the environment we are in and what we associate with that environment. Young children find immense comfort in the safety association of their home, for example and on a Monday morning, most of us associate work with tiredness and monotony, that's why we long to stay in bed!

Break Routine

If you always go to the same restaurant because it's 'your' restaurant and it's started to get a bit boring, going to it for your anniversary could be unexciting. Instead, go somewhere sexy, happy and romantic. Choose somewhere new. Or, if there's somewhere you went in the past where you had a great time, it might be good to revisit that place and enjoy the same associated feelings and pleasures.

Think about the times you've laughed together, spent the day in bed, enjoyed a delicious meal or gone on an adventure. Soon you'll have all of those feelings rushing back. Go back to the places where you shared those feelings and they'll intensify. Sometimes just talking about fun times can make someone happier than any anniversary gifts.

Affordable Luxury

If you want to have a romantic and special anniversary you don't need to be rich to do it. Spending time with your husband or wife and making them understand how special they are to you is the real point, after all.

There's no need to get your partner a huge pile of expensive anniversary gifts or make a lot of fuss. You can make your home in to a health spa by taking a bath together and giving each other sensual massages.

Equally, you don't have to go to a fancy restaurant to have a good meal - just cook one together, light a few candles and you're set. Choosing to use a few wedding presents, especially champagne glasses or your cake knife could help you to reminisce about the special day you tied the knot.

There are lots of other ways to have exciting and romantic dates without spending your savings, too. If you can drive to the beach why not have a long stroll, hand in hand along the sand or take photographs of the crashing waves together.

If it's a dry night, or a summer anniversary why not sit outside on a blanket and stargaze together, you could even pack a small picnic. There are lots of ways to make you both feel like the only two people in the world.

Gorgeous Gifts

Depending on how long ago you wed you may already have anniversary gifts in mind or a special theme paper being the traditional association for the first anniversary, for example. Whether you choose traditional anniversary gifts for each other or not, there are still modern options. A good example might be an experience day for two for a paper anniversary. The certificate is made of paper!

This sort of experience day gift certificate is great because it allows the receiver to choose one of several options including: an interior design course, summer concert VIP tickets, pamper day and cookery demonstration.

If you share a romantic song, that's 'your song' you might like anniversary gifts that pay homage to that. You can get any special record with meaning to you both presented in a plaque to put on the wall. The first song played at your wedding could be a good choice. When you're choosing anniversary gifts try to make them personal, something that both you and your partner can share and enjoy together.

If you spend quality time together on the day, the anniversary gifts you buy don't need to cost much. You could even consider making a few small anniversary gifts for your spouse, such as pressing and framing her favourite flowers from the garden or making somewhere for him to hang his tools in the shed.

Your effort is more important when it comes to anniversary gifts, than anything else because the effort you put in shows the other person how much you love them.