Anniversary Celebration Ideas

When it comes to anniversary celebration ideas, there’s really no one “right” way to mark the occasion. Sometimes you might fancy a quiet dinner at home, others a trip away, and sometimes you might want to extend your celebration to include family and friends.

Whatever you do should reflect the things that bring you joy both individually and as a couple. Celebrating a wedding anniversary is about your shared story, an opportunity to reflect on how far you have come, and a chance to make some new memories together.

There are so many different ways you can mark the occasion that I always feel a little sad when people say they have not done anything at all or worse, that a couple’s anniversary has been forgotten altogether in the rush and busy-ness of life. It’s important to mark the milestones in our lives, and celebrate our marriages and families. Your anniversary celebration is just that – yours. We are all different and what appeals to us for our anniversary celebration ideas will reflect that.

Updated April 2026 with new ideas and inspiration.

Planning Your Anniversary Celebration

Decide What Feels Right To You

Consider what you and your spouse enjoy doing. Do you like to get out and about or do you prefer time at home? Do you like to have lots of friends around you in large groups or do you prefer more intimate gatherings? What is your budget for the celebration?

Choose Between an Intimate or Larger Celebration

If you enjoy time alone together, the best anniversary celebration ideas may be a long walk and a picnic for two, a weekend away or a meal for just the two of you. Or you can always prepare a romantic dinner at home. Afternoon tea – either a homemade afternoon tea or one at a hotel or restaurant – can be a wonderful way to celebrate as well.

You may want to involve others in the celebrations – or you may not. You could host a more intimate cocktail party for friends or a larger event at an outside location – or you could take that trip of a lifetime you’ve been planning for years. Do what suits you and have fun – after all, it is your anniversary!

Consider A Special Experience or Trip

This might be the time for a special trip or for doing one of those things you have always wanted to do. If you do go on a trip, be sure to share your special event with the venues you visit. Over the years we have been given champagne, beautiful desserts, flowers, and small gifts by restaurants and hotels over the course of our celebrations, all at no charge. So don’t be embarrassed – share your happy news!

Let Others Help You With Your Plans

If you are planning a larger celebration, it can be helpful to enlist others to support you with your anniversary celebration ideas. Many venues offer experienced event coordinators who can manage most of the details, allowing you to focus on the overall atmosphere and style of party that you want, rather than the logistics. Florists and caterers can take care of decorations, food and service, depending on your budget and how involved you like to be.

If you are celebrating at home, it may be a good idea to ask friends and family to help you with food, drinks or planning, so you don’t have to do everything by yourself. It is important that you enjoy the occasion as well.

Our Anniversary Celebrations Over The Years

If you are planning your own anniversary celebration, here are some of the ways we have marked the occasion over the years.

In the early years of our marriage, our celebrations reflected our budget and the fact we were starting a family. We would generally save up for a meal in a special restaurant and enjoy dinner together as a couple or sometimes I cooked a celebration dinner for two.

Our Tenth Wedding Anniversary

We considered our tenth wedding anniversary our first significant milestone, so we chose to renew our vows at our church, followed by celebration with friends and family. A month later, we hosted a second gathering in Canada as many of my Canadian friends and family had been unable to attend our wedding in the UK ten years earlier. My parents were able to be with us at both celebrations, which means even more to me now as they both passed away before our next milestone anniversary.

Our Twenty-Fifth Wedding Anniversary

When we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary in 2016, we decided to host a party, bringing together many of the people who were special to us. The party was a truly wonderful occasion, both at the time and remembered, and many of the photographs you see in this post are from that evening. (That’s us pictured with our son above.)

Our party took place at the beautiful Phyllis Court Club in Henley on the banks of the Thames. Emma, our lovely florist from Green Parlour in Pangbourne, listened to my dreams and ideas, refined them and planned gorgeous floral decorations.

We had three large arrangements, two on the antique fireplace and one on a plinth at the back of the room in front of a long mirror. We also had a variety of sweet little vases on each of the tables, all surrounding a candle in a glass hurricane lantern. Plus there were lots of shiny, sparkly tea light candles to make it look romantic and elegant.

I love dressing up and so do many of our friends, so we decided to make the dress code Black Tie.

The men all wore dinner suits and bow ties and the ladies wore long dresses, cocktail dresses or evening trousers. We shared a beautiful meal with our friends.

I enjoyed Parma Ham and Melon followed by Salmon en Croute in a peppercorn sauce. The other starter choice was Tomato and Mozzarella Salad and there were two other choices for main course – Chicken in a White Wine Sauce or Ravioli with Mushroom and Ricotta.

Dessert choices were Vanilla Crème Brûlée with Homemade Shortbread or Pear and Frangipane Tart with Homemade Pear Sorbet.

Our 35th Wedding Anniversary

More recently, as we marked our 35th Wedding Anniversary, we found ourselves celebrating with a series of smaller events, culminating with a few days in Maui and 24 hours in Vienna, a city we have always wanted to visit.

However you choose to celebrate, a wedding anniversary is an opportunity to take a moment to reflect on your journey as a couple and the life you have built together. Whether you do something together, celebrate with loved ones or choose a series of celebrations spread over time, the important thing is that it feels right for you both.