9 Special Anniversary Party Ideas

Whether it’s five years or 50, all wedding anniversaries deserve to be celebrated. Fancy candlelit dinners with flowers and succulent desserts aren’t the only ways to commemorate another year around the sun with the love of your life. Get creative with your anniversary celebrations and craft an event or experience that suits your unique pair of personalities. Honor the longevity of your love with one of these special anniversary party ideas.

1. Pull off a second proposal

If one partner proposed to the other the first time around, switch it up this time. Proposals seem to be getting more and more elaborate over the years, so if you went for a simple ask the first time, next time take it up a notch (if that’s your style) and design a creative, surprising proposal. The Instagram account @howtheyasked provides endless inspiration. If you’re stumped on what to do, think about how you might incorporate your favorite date spots, memories, foods, or inside jokes.

2. Pick a meaningful venue

Was your first date in a museum, an art gallery, or a coffee shop? Pay homage to that special day by celebrating your anniversary in a similar place. On Peerspace, you can pick a symbolic venue of just about any kind and rent it out by the hour. This is a simple yet memorable anniversary idea.

3. Pay tribute to your wedding day

Bring back your favorite elements from your wedding for your anniversary (maybe you can’t stop thinking about that marble cake or the really high-end champagne you got just for the occasion). If you’re feeling nostalgic for your big day, pick a few wedding details that are easy to re-create and incorporate them into your anniversary celebration.

4. Do a creative photoshoot

With the advent of social media, engagement and wedding photos have become big productions involving themes, props, stunning locations, and even costumes. So there’s no trendier way to commemorate your love than by having a professional photoshoot. It could be a recreation of a scene from your favorite movie, a recreation of one of your favorite old photos, or just a simple photoshoot set in your favorite place. 

5. Renew your vows

There is no better time to renew your commitment than on your anniversary! Find an officiant on WeddingWire and say, “I do!” all over again. Vow renewals are basically low-key versions of weddings, so if you are inviting others to join you for your anniversary, ask them to dress as if they were attending a wedding.

6. Symbolically adopt plants or wildlife

This is a beautiful way for nature and animal lovers to celebrate their love. The World Wildlife Fund lets you donate to “adopt” just about any animal. Give back in a meaningful way with one of many altruistic anniversary ideas.

7. Create a scrapbook or slideshow

Preserve the memories from your years together by creating a scrapbook or slideshow. Keep the slideshow playing on a digital photo frame to enjoy long after the anniversary celebration is over.

8. Follow the traditional anniversary themes

Did you know that every wedding anniversary has a theme? If you are really stuck on what to do, using a theme as a blueprint can be helpful. Hallmark lists dozens of themes for the lifetime of your marriage. For example, your first anniversary should involve paper, so perhaps you and your beau could release paper lanterns containing your hopes or goals for the future of your marriage. A 16th anniversary incorporates coffee or tea, so host a brunch or tea party with all of your friends and family.

Later down the line during your 27th anniversary, music will take center stage. One idea is to hire a band to play at your anniversary party, or go to a concert and grab dinner together. Charity is the focus of the 59th anniversary, so invite guests to volunteer for a special cause with you at your party. The anniversary ideas are infinite when you have themes as your guide.

9. Share your marriage advice

If you’ve been married any number of years, chances are you’ve got some wisdom to share. Get crafty and arrange your advice into a coffee-table book, or if you’re tech-savvy and creative, turn your advice into a video that you can share with all of your friends and family (and especially the engaged couples or newlyweds in your life).

Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day out of the year when you can celebrate love, and the party doesn’t have to stop after the wedding. Every anniversary is an opportunity to rejoice over the love that you share with your partner. These special anniversary party ideas can help you celebrate your long-lasting marriage, no matter your budget or style.

Find unique anniversary party ideas on Peerspace