It’s that special time of the year when you and your loved one look back on the last year of marriage and see how far you’ve come. Anniversary party ideas range from romantic cities to beach resorts, depending on your wants and budget.
We’ll discuss below the best wedding anniversary ideas, whether you want to throw a party locally for you and your loved ones or travel further away for the celebrations.
How To Set a Budget For Your Anniversary Party
Before you start any anniversary party planning it is essential to set a budget. Begin by setting your overall budget, which should include the venue, travel, food and drinks, activities, or any other expenses.
After you’ve got your overall budget, allocate how much you spend per category and prioritize what you value the most, concentrate more of your budget on this.
Use a spreadsheet to keep track of your budget and make sure to leave some room in your budget for hidden costs like transportation. Having a budget is also essential to a travel registry, so you can know what type of experiences can be added as extras or gifts.
Destination Wedding Anniversary Ideas
Celebrating your anniversary party abroad or somewhere different can make the event even more special since you get to take a vacation and create new memories.
You could pick a memorable place like where you got engaged, or choose destinations like Thailand or Tulum. Create a travel registry to help fund your trip, and travel in the off-season to help you save more money.
If you don’t want to travel abroad, you can also travel locally and stay at an Airbnb a few cities away to shake up your celebration or go on a road trip.
Choose The Right Venue For The Anniversary Party
The venue for your anniversary party is important since it needs to support the number of guests you're inviting and the theme of the party.
Some venues to consider are private rooms in restaurants, church halls, hotels, golf clubs, clubs, parks/gardens, galleries, and so on.
Decide The Anniversary Party Theme
Choosing a party theme for your anniversary can make it even more enjoyable. Some themed anniversary party ideas are:
- Brunch themed
- Casino night
- Garden party
- Outdoor movie night
- Around the world
- Bridgerton
Recreate Your Wedding Day
Recreating your wedding day is a common anniversary party theme that can make a special throwback. Choose a similar venue, wear your wedding dress and get your guests to dress up.
Renew Your Vows
A vow renewal ceremony can be a great addition to your anniversary party. You could renew them in front of your loved ones and reaffirm your love to your partner, then end with a party. Think of it as a low-key, intimate recreation of your wedding, but without as much pressure.
Rewrite Your Vows
Rewriting your vows can be a special way to reaffirm your love for your partner and reflect on the growth in your relationship. This little ceremony is a perfect way to celebrate your anniversary and shared experiences as a couple.
Anniversary Party Planning Tips
Make Party Favors
Party favors go a long way when showing appreciation for your guests. You could create keepsakes related to the theme of your anniversary party, or mini bottles of wine, for example.
Prepare The Guest List
Think about if you just want an anniversary party for the two of you, perhaps to go abroad, or if you want a large party or an intimate one with a few guests. This will influence the type of venue you choose and whether it's local.
Consider The Invitations
If you're planning on throwing a party for your anniversary, you will need to send your invites early and get them to RSVP so you can have an idea of the total headcount. Create an anniversary party website to make it official and keep everyone up to date on party details.
Remember Activities
Make video montages, playlists, and cook your spouse's favorite meal to make your anniversary more special. If you're traveling, do local activities in the area, whether it’s hiking, kayaking, or trying local restaurants.
Food & Drinks
If you're throwing an anniversary party, make sure you’ve considered the choice of food, whether it's a buffet or plated menu, and also a beverage bar that shows your anniversary theme.
Choose The Decor
Think elegant flowers, vintage vibes or anything else related to your theme for your party. You could even create a wedding arch for your ceremony if you plan to renew or rewrite your vows.
Think About The Entertainment
Entertainment is key to a successful anniversary party. You might want a live DJ or band to play, make a playlist of memorable songs, and a dance floor, photo booth, and games.
You could also plan for speeches, trivia, and storytelling to share meaningful memories about your relationship.
Hire a Photographer
You will not regret booking a professional photographer for your anniversary celebration; they will ensure you have amazing memories to look back on with you and your friends. If you're doing a destination anniversary party, then hire a local photographer to save money on travel costs; you could even get them to make an anniversary film if your budget allows.
Celebrate Your Anniversary Party Ideas With Us!
Get your anniversary party planning organized with our online planning features. With our services, you can create an anniversary registry to crowdsource some funds towards the celebration, make an anniversary party website, manage your event details, guests, create invites, and more.