Anniversaries are a key part of marriages; they are a time to celebrate a bond created and a pledge made, however many years have come between. Unfortunately, too many people see the anniversary date as a time where they have to do something special instead of a time for private celebration and reflection on the vows that were made. Here are some ideas to help keep your anniversary the important date it is, and to give you some memories that will help to strengthen your marriage.

Renewing Vows

A lot of people think that renewing your wedding vows to each other is something to be done on a really important anniversary date like the twentieth or the fiftieth. You might be surprised, though, at what a difference a year can make in what you promised on your wedding day. Repeating your vows to each other on every anniversary will make them seem that much more relevant in the coming year.

Now, you might think that yearly repetition will render the vows meaningless, but I am willing to bet that you will be very surprised. The truth is that beyond a promise not to cheat, and something about sickness, most of us don’t remember everything we said during our vows. Repeating them every anniversary will probably remind you of parts of the vow that you had forgotten. Moreover, your vows will take on a new meaning after you and your spouse have actually lived your lives together, whether it is for one year, five, ten, or more. The more we experience in life, the more we realize just what our promises meant. Your vows will never get old; instead, I guarantee that they will take on new meaning.

Get away!

The middle years of a marriage- from about the fourth to the twentieth- can be the most difficult. This is largely due to the changing circumstances of lives’ careers are built, houses are bought, and children often come into the picture. It is very important in increasingly busy lives that a couple takes time to be alone together, and an anniversary is a crucial time for this to happen. A lot of couples will take their kids out with them to celebrate the occasion, but you need to make sure that a good portion of the day is set aside for just you and your partner, to reflect on your marriage and the things you have learned about yourselves and each other.

Pull out all the stops

Your anniversary is the big celebration of your marriage, and it isn’t an occasion to stint. Go ahead and go to your favorite restaurant, even if it is expensive. Order a pricey bottle of wine, and get the best thing on the menu. Get a dessert to share, and have some more wine when you get home. This is the celebration of your marriage, and a festive mood is important; don’t worry about the troubles that occur, just focus on the blessings that you have.

Too many times our anniversaries are looked at as responsibilities in themselves, instead of the festive occasions that they truly are. Take the time to talk with your spouse about what you have learned about each other over the past year, and let your anniversary be a time of strengthening your bond with each other.