marriage

My husband and I just celebrated our second anniversary this past weekend. We didn’t do anything incredibly special, just went out to dinner and opened that special bottle of wine we had been saving for a special occasion. Even our gift to each other wasn’t really special, more practical. We decided for our ‘Cotton Anniversary’ to get a new couch. Romantic, right? But at least we are keeping with tradition! I have to it admit, it was difficult coming up with gift ideas for the second anniversary. Everything we thought of didn’t quite excite us, and in the end we thought we would get more use out of a new couch. But I did want to share with you a couple of the ideas that we did seriously consider

A lot of these ideas would work be a great gifts for both husband and wife, or a gift you give to yourselves.

Sheets and Bedding. I bet the last time you got new sheets and bedding was for your wedding. Well now would be a great time to get a fresh new set. Maybe even something with a higher thread count or a different color to acknowledge your first two years of wedded bliss.
His and Hers Towels. I don’t know about you and your husband/wife, but my husband and I can never tell whose towel is whose, and sometimes we end up using their already used wet towel. I would love to get a pair of towels embroidered with “his” and “hers so that we are never confused.
Quilt. Quilts are such a wonderful keepsake that can actually serve a purpose. Do you have special items of clothing, t-shirts, or other fabric that you don’t mind cutting up? You could even get photos printed onto fabric to sew into the quilt as well. Even if it is just something you make or have made, it will be something special to remind you of year two every time you use it to cuddle under.
Canvas Print. Nowadays you can put anything on canvas: a wedding photo, your vows, a map, a piece of art (your own, or professional). My personal favorite, and something that my husband found, is getting your vows printed onto a canvas which you can hang up in your home to remind you of your special day.
Monogrammed Robes. This may be one of those gifts that would be great for a wife, but maybe not for your husband (my husband would not use a robe). I personally love robes, especially those really nice, fluffy ones they have in nice hotels. A really nice robe will last for years and will make those minutes after your shower in the morning that much cozier.
Clothes. If both you and your hubby are fashinista/os at heart, you could each treat the other to a brand new outfit (preferably made of cotton, like a dress, jeans, oxford shirt, etc.). The experience of shopping for one another will be a lot of fun and you can wear your new duds to a nice anniversary dinner.

Hope this helps inspire your gift giving for your second anniversary! And if you are looking for ideas for the first anniversary, check our my post from the previous year.

My husband and I are coming up on our first anniversary gifts and I have struggled coming up with good ideas for him! The first anniversary is the “paper” anniversary, according to tradition. Now paper isn’t the most romantic material, and in this day in age, isn’t the most coveted. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any good ideas out there! I guarantee your husband will love at least one of the gift ideas below!

1. Tickets. Does your husband love sports, traveling, or maybe the theater? Get him tickets to see his favorite sports team, fly to a city he’s never been, or go see one of his favorite shows. Both my husband and got each other tickets for our anniversary: I college football tickets and he So You Think You Can Dance tour tickets. What can I say, we’re romantics. 🙂

2. Artwork. If your husband is on the artistic side, or at least has an appreciation for art, why not get him a water color or sketch by his favorite artist, of something he’s interested in, or has meaning to the two of you that he can hang in his office or in your living room. I know my husband love Banksy prints and Minted has a lot of wonderful prints from up and coming artists.

3. Books. My husband isn’t an avid reader, but if he were I would have loved to track down a limited edition or first edition version of his favorite book. Or maybe a signed copy by his favorite author. This could definitely also include comic books. If your husband loves or collect comic books, he would be so impressed if you tracked down a rare comic book.

4. Stationary. I find that good quality, personalized stationary can make an ordinary note that much more special or professional. This is a great gift for any guy who has a job were they send a lot of notes or cards out to people, or just like writing. Or if your man works for himself or has a small business you could surprise him with professionally designed business cards and letter head.

5. Boudoir Photos. This may seem like the trend for new brides to get their new husbands, but why not save these for your first anniversary. Of course, not all of us are super comfortable stripping down in front of the camera, but I bet any husband would love a photo of his beautiful wife. Especially if she’s in lingerie.

6. Journal. If your man like to write down thoughts, poems, recipes, or whatever, why not get him a really nice journal. Every time he writes in it he will think of you and the meaning behind it. And once its full, he can keep it out and display it. Or save it to look back on over the years.

7. A Love Letter. This won’t require any money, but it will require the most work. I am certainly not a super romantic person, so writing a love letter doesn’t come easy. But you can fill it with some of your best memories over the first year of marriage. Or telling him all the ways you love him. He will certainly appreciate the thought and love behind it.

What did you get your husband for your first anniversary?

Second Anniversary Gifts for Him and Her

First Anniversary Gifts for Him