Anniversaries are one of the biggest milestones couples celebrate in their relationships together, and also the most significant. A chance to reminisce about days gone by and to celebrate just how far you’ve come together, an anniversary is a special occasion that should never go by unmarked – and spoiling the person you love with a thoughtful card, a luxurious gift or a lavish weekend away is a sure-fire way to show them just how much they mean to you.
Anniversary celebrations have their origins in the middle ages, when it is said that husbands would gift their wives with a silver wreath on their 25th anniversary, and a golden wreath on their 50th anniversary. At the time, couples would have been extremely fortunate to have survived for so many years, given that the mortality rate was not that of today’s – let alone make it all that way together, so milestones like these quickly became considered as a cause for great celebration.
Later, by the time Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897 for her 60th year on the throne, it became normal for married couples to mark their wedding anniversaries in much the same way – not just by the decade, but by acknowledging each year that passed – and today, each and every year of marriage is marked by a different symbol, from paper and wood all the way up to gold and platinum.
No matter how many years of marriage you’ll be marking next, taking the time to make it a special day for the one you love and ensuring you can celebrate together as a couple is bound to be appreciated. We asked the experts at online card and gift store Boomf to share their top tips for getting it right.
Where to buy anniversary cards
Let’s start with the obvious. If you’re panicking because you haven’t yet found the perfect card for your anniversary then it might be time to look beyond the usual bricks-and-mortar stores, where the options can be limited. Looking to an online store like Boomf opens you up to a much larger variety of anniversary cards to choose from, so you’re bound to find one you like – and more importantly, that they’ll like, too. From romantic cards to funny memes, there’s something for everyone – and you can even create your own personalised cards for an extra-thoughtful touch that’s guaranteed to show them how much you care.
The importance of finding the perfect card
As much as everyone loves to receive beautiful gifts and extravagant surprises from their partner, a carefully chosen card that you’ve taken the time to add your own meaningful words to is often the biggest thing they’ll remember about the day – so while it might be tempting not to bother and lead with an impressive gift instead, be sure to include this on your to-do list.
You may feel that you don’t quite have the right words to express your love to your partner, in which case, it’s something that can easily be solved. Many of the beautiful cards available at Boomf have done all of the hard work for you, and already feature some beautiful and romantic words that will say what you can’t.
How to choose the perfect anniversary gift
So, once you have chosen the perfect anniversary card from Boomf, it’s time to think about sourcing the perfect gift. This can be a tricky endeavour, particularly when you’re buying for the person who already has everything – so don’t be surprised if your partner loves their anniversary card even more than their gift!
Small tokens of affection like flowers and luxury chocolates will always go down well, but if you’re looking to pull out all the stops and truly blow them away, then splurging on a lavish car or a beautiful timepiece to give them on the day will ensure they remember the occasion for many years to come.
But while there’s no denying that expensive jewellery and designer garments rarely fail to please, sometimes, the biggest gift you could possibly give your spouse is simply your time. Whether that means whisking them away on a five-star sunshine holiday just for two, taking them out for a romantic date in that Michelin-starred restaurant they’ve had their eye on or just having a quiet night in with a bottle of champagne, taking time out of your busy schedule to focus on them, and only them, is often all they need.
