12 Unique Ideas to Make Your Next Anniversary Truly Special
Keeping your relationship strong, honest, and healthy can sometimes be a lot of work. But celebrating your love shouldn't be — at least, in theory.
Once upon a time, celebrating an anniversary meant my girlfriend and I inviting an irresponsible amount of people over to my dad's house while he was out of town (it might be time for me to fess up about what happened to his glass-top patio table). Unfortunately, I'm an adult now, and things just don't work that way anymore.
I don't want large groups of people at my house (the furniture they would be destroying now is mine). I want to spend my anniversary with the most important person in my life: my partner. But the question remains: What to do? If you find yourself asking the same question, read on, because I've compiled a list of my 12 favorite ideas for an extra-special, truly-memorable anniversary that (probably) won't break any tables.
Recreate Your First Date

Whether it was an evening of divine romance or an awkward encounter that blossomed into real love, your first date is the origin story of your relationship. What better way to celebrate how far you've come than to revisit where you started?
Don't forget the details! Eat the same food, put on the same movie (even — and I'd say especially — if it was bad), and see if you can recreate (or at least approximate) your outfits. If your first date went a bit awry, this is a chance to fix it. If it was already perfect, revisit that feeling!
Renew Your Vows

Speaking of revisiting relationship milestones, your anniversary could be the ideal time to renew your vows. What's more memorable than an entire second wedding?
Don't worry; you don't have to recreate every detail of your original wedding day (just in case that thought gives you the same panic attack that it gives me). This can be its own thing, an all-new, more intimate experience to celebrate the ways your love has grown since that first big day.
Take a Second Honeymoon

Honeymoons aren't just for newlyweds. Bring back the honeymoon phase of your relationship by taking another trip together, maybe somewhere you've always talked about but never found the time to go.
If you were like me and a little too cash-strapped post-wedding for an extravagant trip, this is the perfect time to make up for it. Hold hands in a Venetian gondola, share a smooch at the Grand Canyon, and make it a trip neither of you will ever forget!
Have a Staycation

If an exotic second honeymoon isn't in the cards, try thinking a bit more locally. Book a stay at a local hotel or bed and breakfast, pretend you're tourists and experience the parts of your town you wouldn't normally visit.
If even a night away sounds like a bit much for your pocketbook, create the same experience at home. Choose an exotic locale and decorate your house like a resort. Prepare food, play another country's music, and have the full travel experience without ever setting foot outside the door.
Throw a Party for Two

Speaking of staying at home (my personal favorite activity), you can make that anniversary extra special by throwing a big, extravagant house party with only two guests: you and your significant other.
Hit up the party store (or Amazon if you're REALLY committed to not leaving home) and fill your house with decorations, party favors, snack trays, and excessively loud music. Spend the evening dancing, talking, and laughing, and once the mood is right, suggest a game of Spin the Bottle.
Go Camping

Reconnect with one another and mother nature at the same time with a camping trip for two. Roast marshmallows, sing songs, and — most importantly — unplug from your devices and spend the evening in the company of each other and the stars.
If you don't have any appealing camping destinations in your area, consider your own backyard. You can recreate the experience of a night in nature without venturing too far from the nearest flushable toilet.
Share a New Experience

Nothing creates great memories quite as well as a good first. I'm sure you remember your first date, your first kiss, and the first time you met one another's families, but what about the first time you went skydiving or bungee jumping together?
If extreme sports aren't your bag, don't worry. Skip your favorite restaurant this year and try something brand new, or put your heads together and see if you can solve an escape room together.
Create, Build, or Plant Something

Commemorate your anniversary by creating something lasting that, when you look at it, will always remind you of the day you made it together. A work of art or a piece of furniture that spends years in your home will shine all the brighter when it's a product of your love.
You can even take this activity outdoors — plant a new flower garden, or plant a tree on your property. As you tend to it in the ensuing years, it will always bring you back to the day you planted it together.
Take in Some Live Entertainment

Instead of going to a movie or staying in to watch TV, have a unique experience together with some live music, comedy, or theater. Live shows are never quite the same twice, so you'll always have a unique experience, and you'll always remember you were there together.
While it's great if you can see an entertainer you both love, that isn't always possible on a specific date, so don't forget to check for local bands, comedy clubs, and drag shows. You both might discover a new favorite!
Take a Class

Whether you've been together for five years or five decades, it's never too late to learn something new together. Whether it's cooking, ballroom dancing, or basket weaving, the important thing is that you're doing it as a couple.
Community centers, local libraries, and community colleges are great places to look when planning this sort of date. Don't be afraid to try something that seems a little weird. Maybe you'll both discover a new love of fencing!
Do Volunteer Work

Your relationship has done so much good for your lives; wouldn't it be great if you could share some of that positive energy with your community? Good news: You can!
Make your anniversary a little more unusual — and extra memorable — by spending it with the person you love, doing something good for the community you both love. Check out what Habitat for Humanity is doing in your area, or serve dinner at the local soup kitchen. Make a cherished memory while putting good vibes out into the world.
Pull Out Your Artsy Side

Even if you and your partner aren't the artsy type, reliving your favorite moments together by putting photos of them in a scrapbook is an experience that even the fanciest anniversary dinner out can't match.
I recommend laying a single, ground rule: Decide on how far back — and how frequently thereafter — you'll go with your scrapbooking. For example, if you're celebrating your five-year anniversary, you could dedicate a page to highlighting your favorite moments in every six-month period. But if you're celebrating your 50th anniversary, you'll probably want to increase that to every five years.