Make Your Anniversary as Special as the Day You Said "I do"

How you spend your anniversary depends upon the type of couple you are and, to some extent, which anniversary it happens to be. We've got lots of anniversary celebration ideas to help you plan the perfect anniversary.

If you love being surrounded by family and friends, you may want to mark this milestone year -say the 25th or 50th - with a big celebration.

If it's your 11th year of marriage, and you're a busy couple with demanding jobs and young children, you may like nothing more than to hire a sitter and share a quiet, romantic dinner at a special restaurant.

Or maybe it's your 30th anniversary, your kids are grown and you have the time and the resources to treat yourself to a fabulous trip. An anniversary celebration idea could be to tour Italy, cruise through Alaska, rent a condo in the Florida Keys or head to Las Vegas. Do you know how your wife would like to spend your anniversary?

Whether you celebrate with lots of fanfare or very quietly, there is only one hard and fast rule: Don't forget it! If you're someone who has trouble remembering even important dates like this, be sure to program a reminder into your computer or ask a reliable friend to remind you that your anniversary is approaching.

Anniversary celebration ideas: The basics

Probably the most basic way of acknowledging your anniversary is to exchange cards. But even something as simple as this can go awry. The important thing is to know his or her tastes. So if your wife is a romantic who loves formality and elegance, don't be tempted to buy her a raunchy card (she probably won't be amused). A pretty card with an affectionate message, a personal note that expresses your love, and maybe a dozen roses to go along with it, will make this the kind of anniversary she'll remember fondly.

The same rule applies if you're buying her a diamond, surprising him with an anniversary party , renewing wedding vows or planning an anniversary trip. Be sure you know what he (or she) would like. If in doubt, consult with a trusted friend or skip the surprise and make your plans together.

Anniversary celebration ideas: Just the two of you - or not

For some couples, an anniversary is the ultimate occasion to celebrate each other. Why not arrange for the kids to stay with their grandparents and cook a romantic dinner at home? Want some romantic recipes to help you plan your menu? If you'd prefer to have someone else do the cooking, consider dining at your favorite restaurant or that new one you've heard so much about.

On the other hand, there's something to be said for including your children in your celebration. What is more charming than a card hand-made by your six-year-old? Or, your kids might offer to prepare a meal or breakfast in bed for you and your spouse. Your anniversary is a great time for children to be reminded of what is wonderful about a successful marriage. So if your anniversary falls during the week, why not have a special family dinner to celebrate? On the weekend, plan a night out for just the two of you.

Choose an anniversary gift that's guaranteed to please

Long ago, someone came up with a scheme to match certain anniversary years with certain types of gifts. Traditional anniversary year gifts are: paper for the first, cotton for the second, wood for the fifth, tin for the tenth, and so on. Somewhere along the line, the list was updated and "modernized," but in reality, relatively few people pay attention to it these days. We've got anniversary gift ideas to help you choose the perfect gift no matter what anniversary it is.

If you really want to delight your husband with an anniversary gift that says how much you love and appreciate him, buy him something he'll really enjoy - a new watch, a digital camera or a leather jacket, for example. One woman we know surprised her husband with a caricature portrait. She provided the artist with a good snapshot taken of them on vacation. When it was done, she had it professionally matted and framed. A couple we know chooses to bypass anniversary gifts. Instead, they buy tickets to a Broadway show or other performance and have dinner in a New York restaurant afterward.

If you're looking for a special gift for your wife, you can't go wrong with anniversary jewelry . You might consider a three stone diamond ring, 3 stone diamond pendant, or 3 stone diamond earrings , symbolizing your past, present and future together. We have anniversary gift ideas that will make this anniversary intimate, romantic and special for her. Many men find that an anniversary is a perfect time to acquire the ring they would have liked to buy, but couldn't afford, when they got married. Is it time to upgrade her engagement ring ?

Anniversary celebration ideas: Anniversary parties

Milestone anniversaries are typically chosen to celebrate with a party, most commonly the 25th and 50th. If you're planning your own party, make the party as big or as small as you want and can afford. If you're honoring another couple with this party, be sure you know what size party they are most comfortable with. As for the type of party -almost anything goes, as long as it matches the tastes and desires of the couple being honored. Below are a few ideas to inspire your anniversary celebration.

• Surprise your wife with a hot-air balloon ride. Take along champagne and a picnic basket full of goodies. Sneak a pair of diamond solitaire earrings in amid the other treats, and she'll really be on top of the world.
• Throw a paper party for your first anniversary: Invite a dozen of your best friends to help celebrate your "Paper" anniversary. Order Chinese take-out in paper cartons, and have specially made fortune cookies that fit the occasion. Decorate with paper flowers and streamers. Buy brightly colored paper plates, cups and table cloths at a party supply store. Give the guests construction paper to make their own party hats.
• Gather children and grandchildren for your 40th: Celebrate four decades of marriage with your family by gathering at your favorite restaurant. Remember, anniversary parties don't have to be big and flashy. The important thing is being with the people you love and showing your spouse how much he or she means to you. If you'd like to really dazzle her, surprise her with a three stone diamond ring or 3 stone diamond pendant after you've toasted to 40 wonderful years.
• Go all out for your parents' golden anniversary: What better reason to celebrate than a half-decade of married life, enriched by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren? Ask your parents to make up the guest list, find out what kind of party they'd enjoy and then plan a celebration as special as they are.

See more anniversary party ideas.

Anniversary celebration ideas: Would you like an anniversary trip?

Many couples plan a vacation to celebrate a special anniversary, and for good reason: Getting away from it all is a wonderful way to keep the flames burning and let your spouse know you would marry him or her all over again. Whether it's a couple of days for just the two of you at a country inn, or a week at a resort with three generations of your family, an anniversary trip is a perfect vehicle for celebration.

Whatever says romance to you (and your spouse) is the best choice. It could be sightseeing in New York, skiing in Aspen, sunning in the Caribbean or even returning to the site of your honeymoon. We have lots of tips for finding the right anniversary trip .

Some couples who want to renew their wedding vows make arrangement to do this while on vacation. If this is something that interests you, we have some great ideas for renewing wedding vows.