Marriage is a curious thing. Anyone who’s been married (or is married) knows that no matter how much you love your partner, there’s always that element of conflict. You’re two distinct personalities, after all, and no matter how deep your bond, you’re going to disagree – and compete.
That competition is healthy, and can be a lot of fun. For example, every anniversary or birthday is an opportunity to top your partner with the gift you select to mark the occasion. This kind of healthy competition not only makes every gift occasion a lot more fun, it also means the level of gifts rises every year, to the benefit of both spouses. Here are some ideas you can use to win the Gifting War staged around your wedding anniversary gifts.
A Secret Photo
Usually when we take photos to mark a moment, occasion, or just because our spouse looks so beautiful you can’t resist, we make a big production out of it. We tweak the pose, we announce we’re taking a photo, we take our time.
Instead, when you see an opportunity for an emotionally powerful moment, don’t tell your spouse you’re about to snap a photo. If you can, sneak that photo: Wander a little way away and wait for a distracted moment, and then capture a beautiful moment in secret. Then keep that secret until the anniversary comes around, and have it turned into a gorgeous wedding anniversary gift print in canvas, metal, or glass – canvas can serve for the first anniversary, aluminium for the tenth, and glass for the third, in case you’re interested. Your spouse will be amazed, because they will have thought that moment lost to memory.
The Most Intimate Day
The word ‘intimate’ often gets confused with, er, the bedroom – but in reality it just means you know your spouse better than anyone else in the whole world. If you’re blessed to basically have all the material goods you’ll ever need, buying expensive presents for your anniversary might be nice, but it’ll also just get put in a drawer and forgotten, won’t it?
Instead, explore that intimacy – you and your spouse know each other better than anyone else in the whole world, so plan a day around that intimacy. Make or order his or her favourite breakfast, down to their preferred tea or coffee. Give them their favourite chocolates of all time. Play their favourite song. Take them to their private spot they go to. You could even invite their best friend – the point is, plan a day based on the secret knowledge you – and only you – have. Imagine you were asked to plan the perfect day for your spouse, and take the challenge seriously.
Wedding anniversaries are important, but they can become a bit stale and predictable if you’re not careful. Instead of just spending a lot of money and hoping the expense wows your partner, think deeper and draw on the shared intimacy you have to make something truly special.
And if you need a little help with photos or the specific materials for an anniversary, click here and we’ll assist you in making a secret photo or other photo gift into something that lives up to the special status of the day.
