Author Topic: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!  (Read 8461 times)

brandino29

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5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« on: May 19, 2014, 11:32:33 AM »
We have our 5 year wedding anniversary coming up on Friday and I've yet to plan anything or get a gift of any sort and now I'm scrambling and need some ideas.  Originally I had planned on a surprise trip to Montreal but that didn't come to pass.  We are, however, heading up to the mountains and spending the long weekend in a cabin with 3 other couples and kids so it will be a nice weekend but not a romantic getaway. 

I've considered jewelry but my wife doesn't wear much, usually just her engagement/wedding rings and a simple necklace.  I've considered having a nice photo of us and our daughter framed but 99% of our photos were all taken on cell phone cameras.  I don't want to spend money just for spending's sake but would like to give her something that she would appreciate and enjoy.

It looks like we'll both be taking the day off to head out of town so I thought about doing a little lunch date before we leave, but that feels to be too little, especially for a significant anniversary milestone. 

Thanks in advance for any and all ideas!

Paulie

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2014, 11:38:04 AM »
Maybe you could make a small photoalbum. With some highlights of your 5 years as a married couple. Not sure if you have enough time for it, but than the photos don't have to be of very high quality and you could write some personal notes in the book.

begood

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2014, 11:45:26 AM »
The traditional fifth anniversary gift is something made from WOOD. You lucked out! Could have been GOLD. :)

Here are a few ideas, just from a cursory Google search:

http://ideas.thenest.com/anniversary-ideas/fifth-anniversary-ideas/articles/fifth-anniversary-traditional-gift-ideas.aspx?MsdVisit=1

My favorite, even though the tree might not appreciate it? Carving your initials in a heart on a tree. If you're going to a cabin in the mountains, maybe find a time to get away and then surprise your sweetie by taking her to see the carved initials? Then have one of your friends take your picture with the carving as a memento?
Edited to add: This is a terrible idea. I don't know what I was thinking.

A wooden photo frame with a favorite photo of the two of you is another option (a wedding pic, maybe? Or give her the frame and tell her it's for the picture you'll take by the tree). You could write something on the back -- when we had our fifth, Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing had just come out, and I got a wooden clock for my husband and wrote on the back, "I do love nothing in the world so well as you" - a line from the play/movie.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2014, 05:26:59 AM by janiebegood »

socaso

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2014, 12:38:50 PM »
I think a framed photo of the family would be nice. Maybe you arrange with your friends to have a nice one taken at the mountain getaway. Let her know in advance so she can plan to bring something nice to wear and then do a little photo session at a scenic location and buy a nice frame to put it in. BTW I've seen some lovely and unique wooden photo frames on Etsy. You could buy the frame and then print a photo of the frame you purchased and put it in a card for her since you probably won't have the frame in time for the anniversary.

Iron Mike Sharpe

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2014, 12:43:58 PM »
Hey, baby.  It's our 5 year anniversary.  I've got some wood for ya.

mboulder

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2014, 02:49:56 PM »
My favorite, even though the tree might not appreciate it? Carving your initials in a heart on a tree. If you're going to a cabin in the mountains, maybe find a time to get away and then surprise your sweetie by taking her to see the carved initials? Then have one of your friends take your picture with the carving as a memento?

Please, don't do this, unless the tree is on private land and you have the landowner's permission (and even then reconsider). Not only is this illegal on public land (national parks, national forest, etc), where it is considered graffiti and vandalism, but it weakens the tree and can make it more susceptible to fungal and other infections. That and it looks tacky to people who hike by years later! There are some other great suggestions in that link that a far better and more romantic.

Greg

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2014, 02:56:51 PM »
Maybe I'm getting jaded but 5 years is not so big a deal as to worry much over it.  Save your big plans for 10, 25 etc.  A fancy bar for cocktails, another place for a nice dinner, some extra fancy wine, a different place for dessert... spend a bit more than you might otherwise and make it a memorable evening, and don't worry too much about gifts.  Consider a cab or limo rather than driving, might make it feel extra fancy. 

plantingourpennies

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2014, 03:06:22 PM »
Our 5 year is right around the corner and the current game plan is to have our rings engraved with our wedding date so the Mrs stops forgetting it.  The 5 year anniversary seems as good a time as any to get that done. 

begood

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2014, 03:12:41 PM »
My favorite, even though the tree might not appreciate it? Carving your initials in a heart on a tree. If you're going to a cabin in the mountains, maybe find a time to get away and then surprise your sweetie by taking her to see the carved initials? Then have one of your friends take your picture with the carving as a memento?

Please, don't do this, unless the tree is on private land and you have the landowner's permission (and even then reconsider). Not only is this illegal on public land (national parks, national forest, etc), where it is considered graffiti and vandalism, but it weakens the tree and can make it more susceptible to fungal and other infections. That and it looks tacky to people who hike by years later! There are some other great suggestions in that link that a far better and more romantic.

micdalli is absolutely correct! I got carried away by the "free" option on that list, not taking the long view into consideration.

Heck, where I live, we're not even allowed to climb the trees, let alone carve anything into them. Thanks for slapping some sense into me, micdalli. :)

zinnie

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2014, 03:58:22 PM »
We are at our five-year and my husband made me a [wooden] coffee table for our patio. It looks awesome and the construction was super simple.

Anything she has been wanting that you could make for her? If you make a wood gift you get the traditional plus the effort with the homemade gift.


brandino29

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2014, 08:17:54 AM »
Hey, baby.  It's our 5 year anniversary.  I've got some wood for ya.

Ha!  I was waiting for that one to come up. 

No worries Janiebgood et al, the tree carving wasn't one I would've considered for those very reasons, plus we'll be in a national park. 

I understand the jaded sentiment, in fact I've already got a bit of "special day" apathy -- between Christmas, birthdays, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and anniversaries it gets pretty tiresome to think of something original and sweet each time.  I did want to acknowledge this one more than the last few (year 1 I did a surprise trip to NYC which was very memorable, years 2-4 were just relaxed dinners out at nice restaurants) since it is more of a milestone than 2, 3 and 4.  Next one I'll plan something big is definitely not until 10. 

Thanks for the ideas everyone.  I like the nice wooden photo frame idea, now I just need to find a suitable photo.

starbuck

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2014, 08:12:14 AM »
When my husband and I first started dating, we agreed to learn something new together as our anniversary gift. I'm not really into jewelry (don't even wear my engagement ring anymore, just my wedding band) and we have more than enough stuff in our lives. I didn't want to fall into the rut for going out for a 'nice' dinner once a year, it seemed too routine and not really personal. So, we take a class, or try something new for our anniversary. We've done a lot of different things over the years, like a couple's massage class, wine tastings, cooking classes, walking tours in Boston. We are both big outdoor enthusiasts, so the last few years have focused on that. Things like map and compass navigation, rock climbing, sea kayaking, wilderness survival, etc.

And if they're aren't formal classes available, I'm sure you could put together a DIY learning project. YouTube tutorials, books from the library, etc. You could design a meal plan for a Thai dinner and pick out the ingredients and find authentic recipes online and cook together. You could do a beer or wine tasting at home, or invite another couple over and make it an event, complete with notecards for tasting notes. A picnic and a study of the celestial sky, learning the constellations together? The sky's the limit! (har har)

I think continuing to learn and grow together in an intentional way is a very good investment in one's relationships.

Mississippi Mudstache

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2014, 08:53:25 AM »
Congratulations on the milestone! My wife and I will celebrate 4 years tomorrow. She will cook me lasagna with garlic bread (my favorite meal) and I will buy her some potted herbs, because she has been wanting an herb garden. We will probably do something a little more special for 5 years, but we generally keep these things low-key. She has a birthday, Mother's Day, and an anniversary all in May every year.

frugalamber

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #13 on: May 21, 2014, 11:14:28 AM »
Having been through the pain of planning, surprising on birthdays, anniversery and other special days; my husband asked me to tell him what i want, when i want it rather than wait for the event; as i returned the jewelary he bought for my birthday early in our marriage. So for our 10th anniversery coming up next Feb, he wanted a ipad -which we bought recently. For my gift - i can't think of anything i want. Have way more stuff including jewelary to add any more to it; plus i don't wear them often enough.

Somehow giving a gift or receiving one, is no more a priority. Btw, our 5th anniversery was a month after our baby was born, so she was home with my mom and we went for a nice dinner. Throught out the dinner, we kept talking about her as that was the first time we both were away from her.

CarDude

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2014, 11:31:20 AM »
Congratulations! I'd suggest dinner and simply spending some time talking to her about how much she's enriched your life over the last 5 years. :D

brandino29

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Re: 5 year anniversary on Friday -- help!
« Reply #15 on: May 22, 2014, 12:30:16 PM »
Just a quick update in case anyone was interested...

I decided I was going to get a nice wooden picture frame and put a photo our family in it...of course, I procrastinated even further, so today I ran out of the office kicking myself for not doing this weeks ago.  After 3 local shops, I went to a local framing and art supply store.  Turns out they only do custom frames, no time for that!  But I did find a bunch of hand-carved wooden bowls and boxes from a couple of local artists.  Just a few weeks ago we had talked about how we need to put a fruit bowl on our dining room table.  Bingo!

A few of them were very, very nice, and also a good bit more expensive at $200 than I wanted to spend.  But I found this one in the attached photo for $50.  I feel a little silly giving my wife a fruit bowl for our 5 year wedding anniversary but it struck me that it will be something sort of neat -- a simple, little reminder of our years together, just hanging out, doing its job holding fruit.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!