im trying to do something special for hour 1 year anniversary without it being so expansive...what can i do?
359136
If you don't have the moola, you can still have a great evening.  My boyfriend once took me on a late day picnic.  He had made simple things but all which I had mentionned I like.  He wrote me a wonderful card and then he sent me a treasure hunt around his house for a surprise (for me it was earrings but you can use anything cute that you know he likes).  I think if most of your effort go into planning, he will definately see it and enjoy it.  Happy anniversary!
676024
Make a scrapbook of all the things that you guys have been through over the past year. I did that for my boyfriend and he really loved it. It was great remembering all the stuff that we had done and now we have something to look at whenever we want to remember our first year together.
5869
Since year 7 is a big year, why not theme your anniversary surprise around the number 7? For example, have 7 roses placed in a small vase on the kitchen table. Around the base, place 7 Hershey's Kisses. Have 7 small balloon boquet's, (or simply 7 individual helium balloons tied up together if finances are tight) tied to one of the kitchen chairs. Then write her a simple love letter listing the 7 most wonderful things that you love about your wife. Have it sitting beside the roses. (If you are getting her a seperate gift, you can place it on top of the gift if you like!)  \n\nTo top off the evening, you could pre-order one of her favorite dinners so that it is already there when she gets home, rent her favorite romance in advance, have a bottle of wine ready, and snuggle up on the couch for a quiet evening of intimacy. It really is these simple things that let her know you care! :)
287502
Romance is sweet,wonderful,and exciting!\nOn our anniversary,I always get a babysitter to take the kids overnight. I make a very romantic dinner including candlelight and our china place settings from our wedding. I have it down to a science! I have the bubbles ready for the tub,the massage oil ready by the bed,and also pick up a few little things that we can enjoy together! Top that off with some whipped cream and a cherry and you're all set to go!\n\nThe other thing we do that is soooo romantic and special just for the 2 of us is to rent a room,we have our own special one!  It's a honeymoon suite,complete with a whirlpool and a fireplace. Use your imagination here,but the possibilities are endless!  And you don't have to clean a thing in the morning!\nYou 2 have fun and enjoy your anniversary!  ZOYA.\n\nThank you for your note!  You are welcome. ZOYA.
348375
go to the beach and have a nice dinner. That is what me and my boyfriend did for our one year. It was great. Just bring a blanket, watch the sunset, and eat some dinner. Fantastic GOOD LUCK!!
256986
write her a poem or a letter about your past year together, take to a place you went to on your first date, spend the entire day together doing eachother's favorite things. look at old pictures over dinner and just celebrate what you have done with eachother in a year or even make her something with the pictures as a gift!
434469
I have been in your situation.  And while you do have a year to give a gift, it didn't feel right to me to be at the wedding without a gift.  \n\nHere's what I did.  I bought a bottle of champagne and a couple of candles.  I put them in the same box with a suggestive note about the honeymoon.\n\nAnother time I took a look at the registry and discovered the couple had actually picked some smaller, more affordable items (salt & pepper shakers, sheets).\n\nDon't sweat it.  These are friends, and surely don't expect large gifts from everyone.
715496
How funny -- my husband has done all of the things you listed (the song is still top of the list).  \n\nHe gave me an awesome b-day present of a hot air balloon trip for my 30th b-day (don't know if I could stomach it now) and another great gift was a surprise gondola ride (wine and chocolate covered strawberries as we cruised Coronado bay as the sun set..)  Horsebackriding was also a fun gift -- the trick is that these were all surprises and the fun part was in guessing where we were headed and then the fun of getting there to see what we were in for!\n\nSo try a neat "experience" like these.  Another cool thing (but you have to really know your wife) is a big household project that you could care less about but you know your wife would love (a fancy new front door that you install -- or have a professional insall -- a cool new chandelier or modern light to replace the old one above the dining room table - just be sur eto get advice from her mom or friend on the taste / appearance of what you select).\n\nGood luck -- you sound like a great husband and I know that takes hard work and dedication  :)
161577
Be creative.  My husband filled our bedroom with candles, put soft music on and had a platter of my favourite foods.  Give her your time and show some thought.  So much better than a big expensive gift.
885516
My friends wife, before they were married, made him a calender one year for Christmas.  She put pictures of them together or of other family members for the top part.  The bottom part was just like a regular calender except she had marked "important" dates on there like birthdays, anniversaries, first kiss anniversaries, future wedding date, birthdays of family members.  It was really cute and really thoughtful.  You can usually buy a kit at walmart....not sure they have those over in Germany...lol.  but any kind of paper would work.  It's a project that I think I might do this year!  \nGood Luck!  Congrats on the wedding!  I'm getting married on the 18th of this month......Good Luck to you!
159134
Make her something!  Something that you made with your own two hands, that will last forever, will be worth more than anything perishable, that you can just pick up in the store, by far.  Here is a list of ideas to get you started:\n\n1.  Make "coupons" for her.  An example would be one that says, "Good for one back rub."  She could cash these in at any time during the year and you can really get creative with the favors offered. :)\n\n2.  Make copies of excerpts of love letters (or emails) between the two of you and make a book out of it entitled "The Story of Us."  Mix pictures in with the letters, in between excerpts, of the two of you together.\n\n3.  Since you're sending her stuff, I'm assuming you won't be able to be together.  If that's the case, perhaps you could send her one wine glass, a mixed CD of romantic music, and a teddy bear wearing one of your shirts, that has your cologne sprayed on it.  Then, if you're able to talk on the phone, you can sip wine together, listen to the music together, and she can close her eyes, squeeze the teddy bear, and it will be almost like you are spending the evening together.\n\n4.  Send her a video-taped Valentine message.  Pour your heart out to her in the video and then, after you've finished talking, stop the camera.  Lay out some photos of the two of you.  Put a CD of "your song" in a portable CD player.  Set a pair of headphones so that they're directly over the microphone of the video camera.  Push play on both the CD and the video camera and pan across pictures of the two of you as your song plays in the background.  End the video by panning over a handwritten sign that says, "I love you.  Happy Valentine's Day."\n\nI hope this helps. :)  Best of luck!!
433517
write/find some good poem, and use your creativity with some flower pictures in powerpoint and make a nice image out of it. Then get a real good Frame sold especially for anniversaries, and insert the printed image(poem) in the frame. that wud be a nice thing with a jewel and flower gift. Also get some nice yankee candles...
991318
maam this would be the awsome idea \nkool \njust do it\nwell give him a surprise at 12.o1am with a huge cake and then go outside for a fun or either to a restaurant and call ur all relatives and ur friends and all others u knw \nthis day comes once in a year so y not to try some thing new so i think u r going in the ryt way maam \narrange an awsome party after the get toghter \nmay be go for a dance party or some singjng type of \nand the gud gift in my opnion wud be ur DEEP LOVE FOR HIM OR MAY BE A GUD THING THAT HE LOVES \nask this thing one or two day before abt his gift \nbut dun even whisper abt the surprise party \ni think this bday wud be the bst if u do so like this \nWELL MY BEST WISHES FOR HIM AND U \nMAY GOD BLESS U BOTH \nHAVE A WONDERFULL LIFE AHEAD
1009239
That is sooooo AWESOME and selfless of him.  THE BEST thing you can give him is yourself, meaning, write him a meaningful poem describing how good he makes you feel & how much you appreciate and aknowledge what he's done for you, how happy he makes you, how you have no regrets marrying him, and how much better than you expected your marriage turned out to be.  \n\nThen, if you're artistic, re-write it on some fancy paper in caligraphy-or have it done for you, have the poem professionally framed and matted and include a photo of you & him, and don't forget to put the date of this Anniversary, so when you look back at it in 50 years, you'll always remember this Anniversary.  (THEN you can smack him upside  the head, and cuss him out asking him where the heck did the romance go, you nit-wit as you notice his dentures fell out into your cup of tea.)
953390
A gift is almost required for this kind of occasion--this sounds like something that would require a gift on the same scale as an anniversary present.  If you think in that direction then it might give you some more ideas.\n\nSome Mormons do drink wine and caffeine, but if you don't know for sure then it is a good idea to avoid them.\n\nI would look for something elegant like a cut crystal vase, with a dry floral arraignment.  You can buy the vase and then go to a florist and ask them to make an arraignment for you.  Or you could do it yourself, if you are skilled in that area.\n\nA pair of pumpkin pies (use Libby Pie Mix) would give that homemade touch.  If you follow the instructions on the can they are very easy to make.  You could buy a pie, or a cake, but the homemade touch would be better.  This isn't a "pot luck" dinner so I wouldn't try to bring anything except a desert course and of course you want to present it in a dish that you expect them to keep, and tell her that she doesn't have to worry about returning anything. \n\nYou can have your husband contact his boss or you can contact her yourself and ask her if you can bring a centerpiece for the table.  If you coordinate with her in advance then it will show you care, and she can make room for it at the table.  Make sure that the arraignment you get is a low one.  Most floral shops can help you with this.\n\nYou could bring a nice set of linen napkins or a beautiful salt and pepper set--that could be easily put on the table.  A silver candle set with a set of nice candles would also be nice.\n\nI guess the best rule would be simple and elegant.  People are more impressed with this kind of gift.  Remember, if you seem to be spending a lot of money then the gift will look like a clumsy attempt at a bribe, a modest gift would be the best, and of course you want to avoid something tacky.
751637
How about you throw an anniversary party to commemorate your 10 years of marriage and renew your vows?  That way you can invite your family and friends, wear a gorgeous dress, have him in a tux and write your own vows.  Renew the vows at the place you're having the party then have dinner and dancing just like a wedding reception!  Congratulations on your 10th anniversary!
258313
Make sure she knows how much she means to you.  If it's by a poem, card or letter.  That would melt me.  Take her out to a nice dinner and give her an anniversary ring.  Ive been married 6 years and would love one of those!