Your honeymoon is approaching and you aren’t sure what to get your hubby… Expressing your love in the form of a gift can be tricky. The best (and fortunately most affordable) way to show your partner how much you care about him/her is by taking the time to think of and create a homemade anniversary gift. While some people like to stick with more traditional gifts for the first wedding anniversary, these anniversary gifts are perfect for every year after. Take the time to show your love with these creative DIY anniversary gifts.
Photo Credit: Annie Tao Photography
Admiration Reminders
To remind your honey how much love you feel for him/her, scatter the house with a bunch of nicely decorated notes. On each note, write something you love about him/her. To make it even more personal, write each note on the back of a different photograph you had printed. You can print pictures at any Walgreens or CVS.
Photo Credit: Damask Love
Sweet Puns
Puns are a great way to make people laugh, especially for partners with somewhat cheesy and witty humor. Pair a sweet treat with a funny pun. You could make his or her favorite dessert with a nicely decorated note that says you think he or she is the “sweetest”, or make a collection of his/her favorite candies with a note that says you “love him/her to pieces”.
Photo Credit: Etsy
Love Every Day
Some of the best creative gifts come from adding a twist on everyday objects. Buy a 7-day pillbox and in each slot, place a few pieces of candy and a small note with something you love about your partner. This gift symbolizes that although today is your special day, you love him/her every day of the week. If the pillbox is large enough, you can also exchange the candies for small personal gifts that mean something to the both of you.
Photo Credit: Red Tricycle
52 Reasons I Choose You
Here we have another romantic twist on regular objects. Buy a deck of cards and with it, 52 index cards. Glue one index card to the face-side of each card (where the numbers are), then on each index card write one description of something you love about your sweetheart. On the first card of the deck, explain the present with “52 things I love about you” or create a play on words including the words “luck”, “game”, or “magic trick”. This gift is a thoughtful way to show your hubby your care that is sure to leave him/her feeling good.
Photo Credit: Makadet Home
Boudoir Shoot
Boudoir shoots aren’t for everyone, but if you didn’t do one for your wedding, you should consider whether you want a boudoir shoot now. Keep in mind that although typically women in these shoots pose in lingerie or undergarments, you can choose to do your shoot in your/his favorite jersey or an oversized shirt/sweater. If you choose to do a boudoir shoot, get your album printed by professionals who know the importance of top quality printing. Create a BrideBox Boudoir Album that you can customize and design to make look exactly the way you want it.
His and Her Mugs
If you want to opt for a practical and reusable anniversary present, consider making his and her coffee mugs with something personal and relevant written on each mug. This can be anything from a personal joke to general tasks you hold around the house to your nicknames for one another. This present is especially great for coffee and tea lovers.
Photo Credit: Craftoholics Anonymous
Indoor Outdoor Adventures
There are all sorts of ways to bring fun outdoor activities into the comfort of your own home. If you are nature-lovers living in a city, summer outdoors lovers in a cold winter or just plain busy with work, bring the fun to your home with an indoor picnic. Surprise your hubby with an indoor picnic. Lay out a blanket in your living room with wine and candles and collect or buy flower petals and leaves to spread around you. Bring your favorite picnic snacks (cheese, crackers, fruit, etc). If you are big on camping, you alternatively set up a tent in your living room with an electric camp light and use Christmas lights do create the illusion of stars (or buy glow-in-the-dark stars and stick them along the tent walls). If you choose to do the indoor camping surprise, prepare s’mores ahead of time (since you can’t light a real fire inside) and put them on a plate covered in tinfoil in the tent.
Photo Credit: Lipstick Alley
Morning Message
Start the day off right with a morning surprise… sneak into his/her car in the morning before work and in the driver’s seat leave a joke book to get him/her through the work day, a favorite snack and a love letter. If you struggle writing a sweet love letter, instead write an anniversary note with a romantic quote.
Photo Credit: Anne’s Cookbook
Pre-Planned Dates
To keep the romance going all year, create 12 creative and romantic date itinerary/ideas for the two of you. Put each date in one folder, seal it shut, and mark it with a month. Start the first date on your anniversary and continue going through these activities, one day a month until your next anniversary. This thoughtful gift is long lasting and incredibly romantic. For inspiration on date ideas, check out our date night ideas to keep the spark going.
Photo Credit: While He Was Napping
The Fight Jar
For this sweet gift, you will need to buy a jar and some notepaper. Create a bunch of little notes with memories you have together—whether they’re romantic Valentine’s Day nights or rough things you’ve gotten through together—and with things that you love about him/her. You can also include some printed photos. Fill the jar with these sentiments and decorate it. On the outside of the jar, write a note that explains that for every fight you have or any day that he/she is feeling sad, he/she can pluck one note out as a reminder of the love you share.
Photo Credit: Sticky Love Notes
Photo Jar
While this gift also includes a jar, the idea is much different. You will need a Mason jar, vegetable oil, your favorite photography (or 3) of you and your hubby and a dried flower (optional). You should get your photograph printed on real photo paper, which you can do at a CVS or Walgreens. Put the photo inside of the mason jar with the picture facing out. Then fill the jar with vegetable oil and the dried flower. Close the lid tightly. You have now created a photo capsule with a vintage look that will last you a long time. You can use this gift as decoration in the kitchen, living room or bedroom.
Special Gift Basket
Stick with a traditional present by creating a special-made gift basket. This basket will include his/her favorite alcohol, sweet treat (bought candy or made desserts), a special love note, and some classic anniversary flowers. You can also include a DVD of his favorite movie or a record of the band he loves most. To add an especially romantic touch, get a photo of the two of you printed and framed.
Photo Credit: Gift Tree
Dinner Surprise
Go for a classic wedding anniversary present with a dinner surprise. Make your love’s favorite dinner meal along with a special chocolate covered fruit dessert. Decorate the table with flower pedals or cut out hearts, a candle or two, and a love letter. Pick a romantic play list with your favorite classical, oldies or acoustic music to have playing in the background.
Photo Credit: Paws Up
Massage Treat
Surprise your sweetheart with a gift he/she is bound to enjoy… a romantic massage! Create a calm ambiance in your bedroom with relaxing music, candlelight and massage oil. Give him a thorough massage (look up tips online if you need to) and don’t skimp out on digging into those back muscles… it will be especially relaxing if the massage actually undoes some knots! If you’re unsure about music choice, check out these classic anniversary songs.
Photo Credit: Tuned Body
A Photo Album
There’s nothing more romantic than reliving your most intimate days together… create a photo album with pictures of adventures you have gone on, your favorite pictures of your partner and of course, pictures from your wedding. This gift is great for preserving memories forever in high quality. You can customize the album to be as simple or artsy as you would like. Get started with your photographer-quality photo album here.
Celebrating your anniversary is an important part of your relationship because it symbolizes taking time to celebrate yourselves and each other. Romantic surprises and dates are a great way to keep the spark going and remind your hubby how much you love him every single day. Pick your favorite homemade present and put in all you can to show the effort and time you are willing to and want to put in just to see a smile on his face.
Photo Credit: Jenna Cole
