Today was very special for a number of reasons – not only did my wife and I celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary, but I came out of it smelling like roses and should have earned myself enough brownie points to last until our next anniversary (which also happens to be this year – I was married in Shanghai, China, where the registration is often done some months in advance of the formal ceremony… resulting in two wedding anniversaries every year).Let me explain – I’ve learned over time that the wedding anniversary is just as (if not more) important to one’s wife than her birthday, Christmas day or any other gift-giving celebration time.
So to all the other married guys out there reading my blog, I want to share my experiences and offer to you Aussie Pete’s “Survival Guide for Wedding Anniversaries (For Men)”. All it takes is to follow three very simple guidelines to achieve eternal success and happiness:
1. NEVER FORGET!!
This may seem obvious, but it is very possible that with our everyday chaotic lifestyle at work, we might sometimes forget even the important stuff. If you do happen to forget your anniversary, the next thing you’ll be looking to remember is just where to find that dog house to sleep in. There is a Japanese term used in process improvement, “poka yoke” – loosely translated, it means to ‘failsafe’ or ‘idiot-proof’ something. In the case of your wedding anniversary, the perfect poka yoke solution is to schedule it in your calendar – whether it’s Outlook, Google Calendar or just your iPhone Calendar, schedule in an ‘all day event’ for your wedding anniversary to recur annually with a popup reminder set for the day before. Easy right? – Now you will never forget again and you will have 24-hours to search for that perfect gift… Of course, do not tell your wife that you have scheduled an annual reminder for your wedding anniversary, because by doing so, it could actually have a negative effect on what you’re trying to achieve.
2. MIX IT UP!!
Keep her guessing… Did he remember, or didn’t he? – so on one occasion, wake up and give your wife a big cuddle and say “Happy Anniversary, darling”. Then next time, leave for work without saying anything and surprise her with her gift when you come home. The important message here, is don’t become predictable.
3. A GIFT FROM THE HEART!!
Now if you’re anything like me, buying a present for any occasion can be a very stressful and arduous task. It’s not unusual for me to walk the entire length and breadth of Suntec City for two hours and still have absolutely no idea what to buy. Here’s my secret solution: As I’m sure you already know, there are certain ‘traditions’ for each annual stage of married life. Follow the traditional gifts and let your wife know you’ve done so. Then regardless of what you buy, your partner will always know that you’ve bought the gift with the right romantic intentions. Personally, I have to research again every year to discover what is appropriate, so I am listing them below so that I have a record of which to refer for the rest of our lives.
On a very, very funny note, there is a YouTube video that’s been circulating for a couple of years (from Saturday Night Live – Justin Timberlake feat. Andy - **** In A Box) and it makes me roll on the floor with laughter no matter how much I watch it – Although it’s the censored version, be warned, it is very much for 16+ readers only. This kind of present should only be given to your wife if you have been married for a long time and your relationship is at the right level. :)
TRADITIONAL AND MODERN GIFTS
| Year | Traditional (U.S.) | Traditional (U.K.) | Modern (U.S.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Paper | Cotton | Clocks |
| 2nd | Cotton | Paper | China |
| 3rd | Leather | Leather | Crystal, Glass |
| 4th | Linen, Silk | Fruit and Flower | Appliances (electrical) |
| 5th | Wood | Wooden | Silverware |
| 6th | Iron | Sugar | Wood objects |
| 7th | Wool, Copper | Woollen | Desk sets/Pen & Pencil sets |
| 8th | Bronze | Salt, Pottery | Linens, Lace |
| 9th | Pottery, China | Copper | Leather goods |
| 10th | Tin, Aluminum | Tin, coal | Diamond jewelry |
| 11th | Steel | Scent | Fashion jewelry, accessories |
| 12th | Silk | Silk and Fine Linen | Pearls, Colored gems |
| 13th | Lace | Barometer | Textiles, Furs |
| 14th | Ivory | Clock | Gold jewelry |
| 15th | Crystal | Crystal | Watches |
| 16th | Tourmaline | Holloware | Silver Holloware |
| 17th | Furniture | Furniture | Furniture |
| 18th | Turquoise | Coloured Gems | Porcelain |
| 19th | Aquamarine | Furniture | Bronze |
| 20th | China | China | Platinum |
| 21st | Brass, Nickel | ||
| 22nd | Copper | ||
| 23rd | Silver plate | ||
| 24th | Opal | Musical Instruments | |
| 25th | Silver | Silver | Silver |
| 29th | |||
| 30th | Pearl | Pearl | Diamond |
| 35th | Coral, Jade | Coral | Jade |
| 40th | Ruby | Ruby | Ruby |
| 45th | Sapphire | Sapphire | Sapphire |
| 50th | Gold | Gold | Gold |
| 55th | Emerald | Emerald | Emerald |
| 60th | Diamond (Yellow) | Diamond | Diamond |
| 65th | Blue Sapphire | Star Sapphire (Gray) | |
| 70th | Platinum | ||
| 75th | Diamond, Gold | Diamond | Diamond, Gold |
| 80th | Oak | Oak | |
| 90th | Granite | Granite |
1 comment:
LOL thanks! I've sent your link to my bf. Although ours aren't wedding anniversaries yet but he better keep to the same rules. haha :P
Post a Comment