Buying the perfect anniversary gifts can often be a tricky task. Anniversaries are the best time to relive the memories of your loving relationship, thus creating an added pressure when it comes to choosing a meaningful gift. The last thing you want is for your significant other to feel underwhelmed, and generic gifts with little to no thought or meaning behind them may be less than well received by your partner.
Thankfully, we’re here to provide you with 6 hacks that will simplify the gift-hunting process.The next time you need to pick an anniversary present, consider these helpful pointers on how to choose a thoughtful gift for your significant other.
1. Celebrate The Milestone
A simple hack for choosing the most thoughtful gift for your next anniversary is to base it off the number of years you’ve been together. Also known as relationship milestones, each anniversary has specific gifts, flowers, colours, and gemstones associated with it. Rumour has it that this list was created in the 1920s by American writer Emily Post and then later improved on by the American National Retail Jeweller Association (don’t quote us on this). Regardless of where this list originated, it has stood the test of time and you definitely can’t go wrong with it!
2. Base It On Your Partner’s Interests
A simple way to add a thoughtful upgrade to any anniversary gift is to base it on your partner’s interests. For example, if your partner loves cooking or baking, you could always purchase them a spot in a local baking or cooking masterclass. To make the event that much more special, we suggest joining in the fun to create a memorable experience that you can look back on as a couple for years to come. The options here are and endless and entirely unique to your partner, with some popular options including:
- Painting, pottery or crochet classes for the creative soul;
- A terrarium building class or bonsai workshop for the avid gardener; or
- A breadmaking or macaron making masterclass for the advanced baker.
3. Personalised Gifts
Nothing is more thoughtful than the time and effort it takes to organise a personalised gift for your special someone. Anyone can simply head to a department store to pick up a present, but it takes a particular type of individual to make an effort to get a bespoke item for the one they love. A customised gift can offer sentimental value unlike anything else, and is guaranteed to leave your partner teary eyed (in a good way of course!).
4. Figure Out Their Love Language
You’ve probably heard the term ‘love language’ being thrown around in recent times, but for those who have yet to figure out what it actually means, we’re here to give you a quick summary. The five love languages are the different ways in which human beings express and receive love. These languages include words of affirmation, receiving gifts, quality time, physical touch and acts of service. Chances are you’ve already figured out what your partner’s love language is, so why not use this knowledge to choose the perfect gift! Here are some examples of gifts based on the different love languages:
- Words Of Affirmation: Engraved jewellery, a heartfelt letter or a journal.
- Receiving Gifts: This one is a wildcard!
- Quality Time: A couples retreat, spa date or weekend trip away.
- Physical Touch: A weighted blanket, comfy pyjamas or a massage date.
- Acts Of Service: A home cooked meal, staycation or cleaning service.
5. Keep It Cost Effective
As tempting as it may be to go all out on an anniversary gift, we highly recommend keeping cost in mind. The last thing you want is to have to take out a loan or have your purchase affect your daily living, so be cautious and choose your present with care. A luxury watch may impress your partner momentarily, but we guarantee the mood will quickly shift if they find out you’ve blown the household’s monthly budget for it. To put it simply, purchase within your financial means.
6. Ask Them What They Want
When all else fails, simply ask your partner what they want. Sure, that removes the whole element of surprise from the gift giving process, but at least you’ll know exactly what to get them. There is nothing worse than an underwhelming gift on your anniversary, which is why being direct can sometimes be the best option.
If you really don’t want to give up the surprise factor, you can always ask your partner to create and share with you an anniversary present wishlist. That way, you’ll have a variety of gifts to choose from and they won’t know exactly what they’ll be getting on the day itself. Problem solved!
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Choosing a thoughtful anniversary gift doesn’t always require you to become a world champion in mental gymnastics. In fact, with these 6 tips, you’ll never go wrong in choosing a thoughtful, and meaningful gift for your loved one for many anniversaries to come!
What are some of your favourite tips for picking the perfect anniversary present? Be sure to leave a comment to let us know!