Showing posts with label Wedding Anniversary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedding Anniversary. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Wedding Anniversary Gifts By Mail

Have you ever wondered how the tradition of giving wedding anniversary gifts began? It is said that the earliest wedding anniversary gifts were silver garlands given by Germanic husbands to their wives on the 25th anniversary. History also shows that some European countries celebrated half of that time, 12.5 years of marriage, with gifts of copper. Around 1875, wood seems to have come into vogue as a 5th wedding anniversary gift.

Wedding anniversary gifts by mail were undoubtedly rare in those days. The postal service itself was unreliable. Couples who wanted to celebrate their marriage by giving one another gifts often had to choose between making gifts or purchasing at the general store.

Times have changed dramatically, and we now can not only purchase wedding anniversary gifts by mail, we can order them electronically on the Internet.

My bump of curiosity stirred a desire today to see what was available. Here are the first seven anniversary gifts I found.

7 Ideas for Wedding Anniversary Gifts by Mail

1. PAPER: I began with the 1st wedding anniversary gift, wondering what ideas would fit the traditional "paper" gift idea. It was easy to find paper for a husband to give. A framed family tree with her name added! He might have to research, and get information from his parents. A bride of 1 year would appreciate his thoughtfulness, and the renewed knowledge that she had been added to his family tree would be a wonderful wedding anniversary gift. He can order a family tree online at most of the genealogy websites. She could give him paper tickets to a sports event that he would love – and go with him, even if she doesn't share his love for sports. Ticket wedding anniversary gifts are easily found at Ticketmaster.

2. COTTON: For the 2nd wedding anniversary gift, cotton shirts or cotton sheets would be good choices. Order quality cotton shirts from Lands End and have them monogrammed. You can order quality sheets from there, too. Either gift would be appropriate for one to give the other – or sit down together and make out your order. All are gifts by mail.

3. GLASS: One choice for the 3rd wedding anniversary gift was glass, and I found unique, beautiful glass butterfly pendants at Solstice Glass! He could order these by mail and she would never know he had gone shopping. Each glass butterfly pendant is hand-blown and contains a beautiful, realistic butterfly perched atop a lovely flower. Solstice Glass has other shapes, too, of course – a good variety of hand-crafted glass. A wife can shop at Solstice glass, too, and make her husband 's third wedding anniversary gift a hand-blown, one-of-a-kind glass marble. He can carry it with him daily as a reminder of her love.

4. FRUIT, FLOWERS, and SILK: The traditional wedding anniversary gift for the 4th anniversary is listed as fruit and flowers. I knew immediately that I could order delicious fruit and beautiful flowers at a place like Gift Tree. Then I noticed that one of the modern choices for this anniversary is silk. You could combine the two, and order a beautiful, quality silk fruit tree or silk flowers. They would last longer than real fruit or flowers. You can find silk pomegranate trees at USI Floral. Since pomegranates are often called the fruit of love, and these trees are filled with the beautiful red fruit, he might order this wedding anniversary gift by mail. She might order him a silk Hawaiian shirt with flowers or fruit in the design. Hawaii Tropicals is one of many places online that will ship this wedding anniversary gift by mail.

5. WOOD: Wood Cutting Boards is a good website to visit for 5th wedding anniversary gifts by mail. Either chef would appreciate the choice of cutting boards they offer. Their hardwood mugs are also beautiful for either husband or wife. If there is any doubt about the strength of the marriage, a new wooden rolling pin is not recommended.

6. IRON: Although sugar is also a traditional 6th wedding anniversary gift, you might want to think in terms of durable gifts rather than consumables. The two of you could choose a wrought iron love seat for your garden from Furniture Central. If you enjoy golf, give each other new iron sets. At Golf Smith, you can order this wedding anniversary gift to be sent by mail.

7. WOOL: Even if your wedding anniversary gift celebrates a summer wedding, you know that either one of you would enjoy a gift of wool from the New Zealand Nature Company. Wool pillows and comforters are cozy in the winter, but cool in the summer. Wool slippers and boots are just as wonderful. They insulate you as they insulate the sheep. Order these wedding anniversary gifts by mail, and you will have the joy of celebrating with gifts from a different hemisphere.

You can, of course, go to your local mall and buy a gift. But when you order wedding anniversary gifts by mail, you can shop the entire world for the perfect gift. You can keep your shopping a secret, and surprise the one you love.

Please Note

The author is not employed by any of the merchants mentioned above. She receives no commission from them, and will not profit financially if the reader orders from one or more of them.

About the Author

© 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about wedding anniversary gifts at http://www.distinctivegiftsandcards.com. Anna posts additional information on that site regularly, each article featuring some aspect of giving gifts and cards. If you would like ideas for wedding anniversary gifts engraved for a 60th wedding anniversary, visit Anna now.

Article Source: Content for Reprint

Wedding Ring Store
Engagement Ring Outlet

Thursday, January 17, 2008

10th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY INVITATIONS

10th wedding anniversary invitations tell your friends and family that you would like them to join you in celebrating the first significant milestone of your marriage. A 10 year wedding anniversary is monumental as it marks the first decade of your life-long commitment to one another. This is an opportunity for people to see the two of you all “grown up”.
The 10th wedding anniversary invitations at Discount Wedding Invitations serve as the first indication to your friends and family that you are celebrating in pure style! There is an element of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) appeal since you have full say in the design of the card. You are in contact every step of the way with the design team to ensure that the invitations have the look and feel that is important to you. There are no limitations to the number of adjustments needed along the way. These cards are professionally designed and printed. The 10th wedding anniversary invitations are printed in full color, with many different card styles to choose from, on 7” x 5” single sided heavy weight card stock supplied together with white envelopes. The size makes it easy for guests to throw the card into their bag or purse and they won’t have to worry about damaging the invitation because of the heavy weight cardstock.
The team at Discount Wedding Invitations stay in constant communication from the beginning of the project through final delivery of your 10th wedding anniversary invitations. You are only required to pay a deductible of $50, subtracted from the final amount, to initiate the design and printing of your card. A proof copy of your invitation is created and emailed to you within 2-3 business days and full payment is required after you approve the final proof.

You begin by visiting Discount Wedding Invitations, click the link directing you to 10th wedding anniversary invitations and begin designing your card. You create your heading and the text that you’d like the invitation to display. Describe your vision of the invitation in detail to ensure that the designers know exactly what you want. You choose the card style, the font typeface and the layout. You can even email a photo that you’d like to use on the invitation or an image to use for the background. The team at Discount Wedding Invitations work to make your vision a reality! Once you approve their proof and pay your remaining balance, plus shipping costs, your invitation is shipped to you within 5 business days.


About the Author:

Elaine Olden is a respected author offering advice and reviews of Handmade and Custom wedding invitations.

For more information click on the links below -

http://www.invitations-you-design.com/10-year-wedding-anniversary-invitations.html
http://www.invitations-you-design.com/Formal-wedding-invitations.html

http://www.invitations-you-design.com/25th-wedding-anniversary-invitations.html

Friday, November 30, 2007

Gift Concerns: What to Give on a Wedding Anniversary

Almost without exemption, we connote traditions with everything we believed that have been starting since who-knows-when. Well, giving anniversary gifts is not among the blessed exemptions. How many times couples have been taking oaths of marriage, nobody knows. But what we do know is that these couples commemorate their wedding day each year and on special intervals. And as such, the commemoration calls for a celebration. For people to take part with the wedding celebrations (and since man is naturally generous), it has become a tradition to give offer couples with anniversary gifts.

Traditional gifts given to married couples may already have lost their meanings for contemporary gift givers. But this does not imply that gift-giving has already lost its sense. The first determinant that you can base your decisions on when giving an anniversary gift is the years that the couple have been married.

In the early times, anything that is made out of paper was given as favors for couple celebrating their first year. On their second year, most would present a gift crafted with cotton. On third, leather, fourth- fruits and flowers and so on. The early years may seem boring but as the years pave, anniversary gift materials are starting to find great worth. However, as we have noted earlier, time pushed the changes. So these things were replaced with more modern accessories.

No one’s certain as to how traditional gifts came into their existence. No one is also sure as to why “silver” is linked with 25 years anniversary and “gold” for 50 years. Many though assert that these have rooted from Medieval Ages when married women were given silver and gold wreath respectively for their 25th and 50th years of marriage commitment.

In all, there are 14 names for anniversaries. These can be helpful in the selection of your anniversary gift:

1 year- Cotton print wedding anniversary
2 years- Paper
3 years- Wood
10 years- Rose
15 years- Glass
20 years- China
25 years- Silver
30 years- Pearl
35 years- Platinum
40 years- Ruby
50 years- Gold
60 years- Diamond
70 years- Platinum, and
75 years- Crown 75 years

There are no hard fast rules here yet you can always be given hints on the very names of the anniversaries as to what gifts should be given to couples.

Another determinant to be used for the selection of anniversary gift is its recipient. You must be aware of his or her preferences and the things that make interesting gifts. Check also on the color. Sometimes, when one gets too involved with a specific color, all other colors already loose their meaning. If for example you have trouble finding a gift then color can be best used as basis for the selection.

Bread toasters as gifts have never been absent during wedding celebrations. It would be best appreciated when stuffs like these are left out during the anniversaries. Yes, traditions for wedding gift anniversary may help you. But then, many now prefer not to cling on certain traditions. A silver anniversary doesn’t always necessarily mean that silver stuffs must be given.

Central to your choices is creativity. If you can use this faculty in searching for an anniversary gift, and your creativity matches the preferences of the recipients, then this already warrants the gratefulness of the celebrants.


About the Author: Bob Janeway is owner of http://anniversary.knowsmart.com/. Get help finding the perfect wedding anniversary gifts
and gifts anniversary.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Gift Ideas for a 50th Wedding Anniversary

by: Louise Goodman

The big 50. The fiftieth wedding anniversary is an important, yet seldom reached milestone in any couple's relationship. Unlike other anniversaries, this one is such a 'biggie' that other people can feel free to celebrate it too (with the happy couple's consent, of course). Traditionally, this is the 'golden wedding', and if you are into flowers, the violet is the main theme. Typically, the kids will want to take the celebrating parents out for a nice meal, but gifts too can be given. Remember that it is not the value of the gift that is important, it is the thought that went into it!

So what to give? Depending on budget, how about one of the following:-

* A photo of the couple in a gilt (gold) frame.

* Get a painting done from a photo of the couple - these are not as expensive as you might think. you can even do a version yourself by scanning a photo into your PC and then using the 'Art' filters in your paint package to turn it into a work of art.

* If you have more than one photo, you could create a scrapbook of them for your folks, bound up in silk ribbon.

* Nice wines or gift baskets containing the things they love (especially if they are on a diet - today is not a day for being strict with yourself!)

* If money is no object, how about a weekend break? You can get some nice 'getaway' cruises of city breaks quite cheaply nowadays. Just make sure they can still travel!

* Do they have major hobbies? Bird spotting? How about some new lightweight binoculars? Golf? How about some new clubs or a set of top of the range balls?

* If they are fans of a charity, see if you can make a donation in their name. It is possible to sponsor rare animals these days, and the WWF will happily send you details if you ask.

* AVOID trying to help them directly in a financial sense, the chances are that no matter how much they would like money, they would prefer to keep their dignity more.

* AVOID 'gift certificates'. This implies that you know they have interests, but can't be bothered to do anything about them.

* AVOID trying to 'muscle in' on their big day. You might think it will show love to try and organize everything, cook the food personally etc, but believe you me, at this age, they need their space, and will appreciate straight gifts or restaurant treats far a more. Never outstay your welcome - they don't have as much stamina as they used to!

About The Author

Louise Goodman is a new addition to the writing team at www.sorrydarling.com the web's finest source for free gifts and free gift ideas.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Wedding Anniversary Scrapbooking Ideas

by: Ifiok Ekon

Are you looking for wedding anniversary scrapbooking ideas to help you create a unique gift for a special couple for their anniversary? This article has many simple ideas that you can use to create a wonderful and lasting wedding anniversary gift.

One of the most important wedding anniversary scrapbooking ideas you can use for an anniversary scrapbook is to have the couple’s wedding picture on either the first or last page of the scrapbook.

A copy of the wedding invitation makes a really great introduction to the scrapbook. A scrapbook makes a creative anniversary gift for any anniversary year, but it is particularly effective for milestones such as the first anniversary, silver, diamond or golden anniversaries. For the 25th, 50th or 60th wedding anniversaries, you can start the scrapbook with the wedding photo.

Other scrapbooking ideas you can use are:

Photos of the couple during each year of their marriage

Photos of the couple’s family at various stages of growth

Photos of memorable occasions, such as weddings of the children

Photos of the couple with their grandchildren

Photos of trips and vacations

Wedding scrapbooking ideas, for the first year of marriage could include:

Photos of the planning done for the wedding

Copy of the wedding service

Place cards

Bridal registry

List of gifts received

Ribbons to represent colors used in the wedding

Wedding favors that was used

Notes about planning mishaps

You can also include the following in the Wedding anniversary scrapbook:

Pressed flowers

Napkins

Christmas pictures of the couple together

Letters and notes that the couple has written funny scenes from their lives together

Invitation to the anniversary party

Photos of the party

The colors you choose for embellishing the scrapbook should represent the year of the anniversary. For example, 25th anniversary is silver, 50th is gold and 60th is diamond. The colors used in other wedding anniversary scrapbooking ideas could be the colors the couple chose to have at their wedding or their own favorite colors.

About The Author

Ifiok Ekon is the author of "Wedding Anniversary Scrapbooking Ideas." Visit his site allscrapbookingideas.com to get to get all the exciting ideas,suggestions,tips and techniques for your Baby,wedding,Military Personnel and Lots More-You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

Monday, September 17, 2007

7 Ways To Celebrate Your Wedding Anniversary

by: Janice Wee

Your wedding anniversary is a major event. Prepare for your wedding anniversary celebration in advance so that everything goes smoothly.

1. Start off right. Get up before she does to prepare a quick breakfast. Serve her breakfast in bed. You might want to plan out the menu and buy the necessary things you need to cook a great breakfast the day before your anniversary. Take a shower after that and return to her side. On the other hand, if you are the sort who makes a major mess of the kitchen whenever you cook anything or even when you make a cup of tea, then skip the breakfast in bed part. She might have a fit when she sees the kitchen after that.

2. Present her with a bouquet of roses. Order the roses a day or more in advance and have them delivered right to the doorstep. She might chide you for wasting money, but she would be secretly very pleased with that romantic gesture.

3. If your kids are still young, book a babysitter in advance. You don't want your night to be ruined by crying babies at your table in the restaurant when you are trying to have a romantic candle lit dinner for two. Do go for a candle light dinner. Just the 2 of you in a favourite restaurant.

4. Relax together and take a break from your regular routine. If you both can, take a day's leave from work. Make your arrangements in the office in advance. If you can't try to go home early for a change, so you can spend more time together.

5. Don't forget the anniversary gifts. There is a different gift for each year or marriage. You might want to go with the traditional or modern gift this anniversary. Check that out at http://www.anniversary-rings.net/wedding-anniversary-gifts.htm

6. Each year, give your loved one a wedding anniversary ring to signify that year of marriage you have just shared together. You can find that perfect anniversary ring at http://www.anniversary-rings.net

7. On your 10th wedding anniversary, have a party. Invite those who are dear to both of you to attend. In the presence of everyone, renew your wedding vows and exchange a pair of wedding anniversary rings, to commemorate the event. Here is more information about the 10th wedding anniversary. http://www.anniversary-rings.net/10th-wedding-anniversary.htm

About The Author

Janice Wee is the webmaster of http://www.anniversary-rings.net where you can find the ideal wedding anniversary ring for your anniversary.


Saturday, September 15, 2007

7 Ways To Celebrate Your Wedding Anniversary

by: Janice Wee

Your wedding anniversary is a major event. Prepare for your wedding anniversary celebration in advance so that everything goes smoothly.

1. Start off right. Get up before she does to prepare a quick breakfast. Serve her breakfast in bed. You might want to plan out the menu and buy the necessary things you need to cook a great breakfast the day before your anniversary. Take a shower after that and return to her side. On the other hand, if you are the sort who makes a major mess of the kitchen whenever you cook anything or even when you make a cup of tea, then skip the breakfast in bed part. She might have a fit when she sees the kitchen after that.

2. Present her with a bouquet of roses. Order the roses a day or more in advance and have them delivered right to the doorstep. She might chide you for wasting money, but she would be secretly very pleased with that romantic gesture.

3. If your kids are still young, book a babysitter in advance. You don't want your night to be ruined by crying babies at your table in the restaurant when you are trying to have a romantic candle lit dinner for two. Do go for a candle light dinner. Just the 2 of you in a favourite restaurant.

4. Relax together and take a break from your regular routine. If you both can, take a day's leave from work. Make your arrangements in the office in advance. If you can't try to go home early for a change, so you can spend more time together.

5. Don't forget the anniversary gifts. There is a different gift for each year or marriage. You might want to go with the traditional or modern gift this anniversary. Check that out at http://www.anniversary-rings.net/wedding-anniversary-gifts.htm

6. Each year, give your loved one a wedding anniversary ring to signify that year of marriage you have just shared together. You can find that perfect anniversary ring at http://www.anniversary-rings.net

7. On your 10th wedding anniversary, have a party. Invite those who are dear to both of you to attend. In the presence of everyone, renew your wedding vows and exchange a pair of wedding anniversary rings, to commemorate the event. Here is more information about the 10th wedding anniversary. http://www.anniversary-rings.net/10th-wedding-anniversary.htm

About The Author

Janice Wee is the webmaster of http://www.anniversary-rings.net where you can find the ideal wedding anniversary ring for your anniversary.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Choose Full-Service Banquet Facilities for Weddings, Anniversaries, or Reunions

by: Aldene Fredenburg

Maybe your daughter has come to you starry-eyed and announced her engagement, talking about all kinds of plans for a big, splashy wedding. Or your parents are looking forward to their golden wedding anniversary, and as the “glue” that binds the family together, you’re being looked upon by your brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles as the natural choice to pull off a big anniversary party. Maybe you’re responsible for a long-awaited family reunion, or a reunion of your husband’s army buddies, or the annual firefighters’ association banquet….

Reasons for throwing a major social event are infinite. The trouble is, pulling together a wedding reception, anniversary party, or reunion can be a complicated affair. Renting and decorating a banquet hall, finding entertainment, hiring a caterer, choosing the menu, creating and sending invitations – all take time as well as money; and with the busy schedules we all lead today, it can be a major commitment of energy as well as time and money.

Make it easy on yourself!

Contracting with a full-service banquet facility which offers event planning expertise can simplify the process immensely, while creating an attractive and festive environment sure to impress the participants. A competent event planner can also guide you through the process of coordinating your event. She can help you develop a budget for your affair, and then present alternatives, including ideas for décor, menus, and entertainment options. While an event planner can’t take all the responsibility for your special event off your shoulders, she can certainly save you a lot of wasted time and effort and help you avoid the pitfalls of event planning.

When you’re contracting with a banquet facility, make sure you take into account the events that need to take place there. A wedding generally has a band, orchestra, or DJ with music and dancing; a reunion or wedding anniversary may need some kind of AV equipment and a projection screen for showing family photos or home movies.

Many brides-to-be want a formal wedding in a church, with a reception to follow in a second location; but others are happy to hold both wedding and reception in the same place, and many facilities provide a wedding chapel or other wedding hall in addition to the reception area. In this instance, the facility event planner can coordinate the entire process, from wedding to reception.

Arranging for accommodations for out-of-town guests can be an added responsibility. If you’ve chosen a facility which is part of a hotel, making overnight on-site accommodations for your out-of-town visitors can be a major convenience, both for them and for you; and there’s a possibility that you’ll be able to arrange for group discounts.

Keep your most important priorities in sight.

Remember, hiring a full-service banquet facility and event planner isn’t supposed to complicate your life, it’s supposed to make it easier. The most important thing is that all of the event’s participants – including you – enjoy yourselves. Let the event planner worry; that’s what she’s hired to do!

******

About The Author

Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire. She has written numerous articles for the Internet and for local and regional publications. She can be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.

articles@tipsandtopics.com

Monday, August 6, 2007

Ideas For A Second Wedding Anniversary Gift

by: Morgan Hamilton


The strict followers of tradition tell you that a second wedding anniversary gift item should be of cotton. Cotton doesn’t translate into a plain cotton sheet or a pillow. Too little creativity makes your second wedding anniversary gift a little colorless. Think out of the box and you will hit on an innovative idea that can change your gift giving into an exciting experience.

The man or woman for whom you want to honor with second wedding anniversary gift will be a close friend of you. And you will have fairly good idea about their personal likes and dislikes. Just as you can see, they have gathered all the essentials for their home. Chances are higher that the bed sheet that you would give them will only join a huge pile. Bring your thought process to outside the existing norms. Hey, to live is to change constantly.

A personalized notepad or some enveloped with cotton paper would make a nice second wedding anniversary gift idea. You can bring in any number of innovations with your cotton notepad. No, don’t stop your thinking of cotton gift here. You honor our cotton tradition here and shows a good gesture that you have some thoughts reserved for your friend.

What if you look to modern traditions of second wedding anniversary? You can think of china as a second anniversary gift. If you have a chance check to make sure your friend doesn’t have a big collection of china. Even then the appeal of china is unmistakable and almost everyone likes to occasionally add a set of two of china to their collection.

Everything Chinese also can make good second wedding anniversary gift item. It can be a gift certificate to enjoy always demanded Chinese cuisine at a local Chinese restaurant or a gift basket treasure hunt with Chinese items like Feng Shui crystals or fortune cookies.

The options don’t end here; in fact this is your starting point of finding a unique second wedding anniversary gift. Just make a search at eBay.com or Froogle.com to find out the rich variety of cotton and Chinese jewelry and craft items available.

It is the relationship between you and your friend and your simple gesture of thoughtfulness will be remembered for a long time.

About The Author

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning wedding. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting http://www.weddingsparks.com/weddings/weddings/ideas-for-a-second-wedding-anniversary-gift.html


Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Wedding & Anniversary Grooming Tips for Men

by: Deidra Garcia

Whether you’re the main attraction (groom) or a trusty sidekick (groomsmen), wedding days call for men to look their best. And even if your wedding is a thing of the past, you’ve always got anniversaries to deal with. Here are some men’s grooming tips to handle both the wedding and everything that comes after (or any formal event you are invited to).

Grooming Tips for Men

* Looking good takes some work and time, so begin a basic skin care routine of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing early to get the greatest results. Once a day (or twice if you have oily skin), wash with a liquid cleanser to remove debris and clear pores. Follow with a high-performance moisturizing product to keep skin smooth, hydrated and looking great. Two to three times a week, exfoliate with a face scrub to remove dead skin cells and improve skin’s surface.

* If you’ve never spent time on a skin care routine before, consider purchasing a kit that contains all of the products you will need to get started. It takes the guesswork out of figuring out what products to use for what (and can make excellent groomsmen gifts, too!).

* Treat individual problems, such as under-eye circles, fine lines and acne, with products specifically formulated for them.

* For superior shaving without irritations like ingrown hairs, use products that are gentle and don’t contain irritants such as fragrance, menthol or alcohol. Avoid foamy products, as these do not lubricate skin adequately. Change your blade after 4-5 uses to keep from going over the same place more than once due to a dull blade. If possible, shave in the shower as the steamy air will open pores and allow hairs to be shaved closely.

* For super-smooth shaving the day of the big event, skip shaving the day before and then shave in two steps: First, shave with the grain with very light pressure. Second, reapply a thin coat of shaving cream and shave against the grain for smooth results.

* Regularly wash your hair with a gentle shampoo that will remove dirt without stripping away natural moisturizers. Make sure to get a haircut or trim a few days before the wedding or anniversary, but don’t opt for a new style the day before since this could turn out to be a disaster.

* Nails & Hands: With all the hand-shaking and hand-holding going on, it’s a good idea to make sure nails are clean and trim, and hands are moisturized and free of grime. Why not splurge for a manicure? More and more men, from businessmen to movies stars, are getting them these days, and trust us: Sparkly polish will not be involved.

* Wedding and event planning begins months, and sometimes years, ahead of time, so take advantage of the wait by getting fit with a nutritious diet and a regular exercise routine.

* Don’t stink up the place: Make sure to wear deodorant. Keep breath mints handy for those slow dances.

* Some wedding experts recommend men skip cologne at weddings, citing the fact that there will already be a lot of perfume in the air, as well as scent from the flowers. If you choose to wear cologne, keep the scent light and the application to a minimum.

* For anniversaries, gifts don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. Plan a getaway weekend somewhere, even if it’s only two towns away. Book a spa appointment for the two of you and spend a day relaxing. Or instead of an expensive dinner, try revisiting a place you ate at when you first started going out, or a place you two have always wanted to try. The point is to celebrate your marriage any way you see fit.