How To Plan a Romantic Anniversary

If you are planning a romantic anniversary, there are many things that will come into play when deciding just what to do for your big night!

1. Budget: Before you begin planning exactly what you want to do for this romantic occasion, it is important to set a budget for what you can afford or can't afford. You don't want to start planning some extravagant romantic getaway only to realize that there is no way you can afford it. Setting a budget can be helpful in determining just what type of romantic evening you will experience.
2. Brainstorm: Start writing down ideas, the most romantic ideas you can think of. Think about what foods are romantic, places that are romantic, movies that are romantic, clothing that is romantic. Begin by writing down these categories and then listing exactly what specific movies are romantic, what specific food you consider romantic, what locations you consider romantic, what clothing you think is romantic. List everything that comes to mind, even if you think it is silly. Write it all down. What does your spouse love to do? Does your spouse have favorite romantic movies? Does your spouse especially love you to wear certain types of romantic clothing? Has your spouse mentioned places he would like to visit with you that are romantic? Write down everything!
3. Choose: After you have brainstormed and written down all of your ideas, it is time to choose which ones you can incorporate into your anniversary celebration. An easy way to do this is to look at your lists under each category and decide which ones you think your loved one would appreciate, and which ones are feasible for you to do when planning your anniversary. Then circle the ones that will work and cross out the ones that will not. A good suggestion would be to think about which ideas your husband would love for the big celebration. Keep him in mind when you are making your final choices. Once you have the ideas narrowed down, you can begin to actually set the wheels in motion for the big romantic anniversary with your loved one.
4. Do It: Once you have chosen exactly what you want to do, it is time to start the actual "doing" of it. Let's say you have decided to have the kids spend the night elsewhere, then plan a catered meal in with all of your spouse's favorite foods, watch a romantic movie that reminds you of when you were dating or fell in love and then end the night dancing to your wedding song. It is important to make sure all of this actually occurs. Call and find a family member or a trusted friend to watch the children. Make sure the date is set in stone and confirmed. Call local caterers and get price quotes, etc. Set the menu with the catering company and the date. Make sure the romantic movie is available and make sure you have the wedding song on CD ready to go.
5. Make It a Surprise: One of the most romantic things to do for anniversaries is to plan the night as a surprise. Tell your significant other to be home on that specific date at an exact time. Never let on as to exactly what you have planned. Surprises are great for romance! During this time, think about some things your spouse did for you when you were first dating and use those techniques to add to your element of surprise. Did your spouse email you often with declarations of love? If so, why not email him at his work, working in the element of surprise for your plans and share with him how much you love him? Did he often send you flowers "just because?" If so, why not send him flowers on the big day with a note that vaguely hints at the evening ahead. Do what you can to make your spouse excited without giving away your plans.
6. Celebrate: Once you have completed the above steps for the perfect romantic anniversary, the only thing left to do is wait until the night arrives and celebrate!

Anniversaries are a wonderful time to rekindle a romance, or to just remember what brought you together with your loved one in the first place. Planning a romantic anniversary is easy--you just have to know what steps to follow!