New Traditions to Start with Your Future Spouse after Your Wedding

Your wedding day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to let go of those memories and feelings. It was a special day, probably your most special day to date, and that deserves to be celebrated every year. But instead of the typical eating your wedding cake (spoiler: year-old wedding cake isn’t that tasty) or dinner and a movie anniversary date, start one or more of these new traditions with your future spouse after your wedding day.

Have an annual anniversary wine tasting date night at home.

Unwinding at home with a glass of wine with the one you love—is there anything more appealing after a long day at work? This is the perfect tradition to start after you’ve had a wedding wine box ceremony.

Never heard of it? Here’s how it works: You get a bottle of wine that will age well, letters you’ve written to each other about what and why you love them and any sentimental keepsake items. Then, during a predetermined part of your marriage ceremony, the two of you put these items inside a special wooden ceremony keepsake box and seal it together as your officiant explains to your guests what’s happening.

Beforehand, you’ll have also decided when you want to open your time capsule. And if you ask us, it’s something you could open every anniversary. You not only get to drink good wine with good company, but you get to remember and celebrate your wonderful wedding day and relive those butterfly feelings of new love year after year. It also gives you an excuse to buy a new bottle of expensive wine every year.

Invest in your home.

No matter how long you’ve known someone, finding each other an anniversary gift is stressful. You may even tell your spouse they don’t have to get you anything, so they don’t, but then when your anniversary comes and they don’t give you a gift you’re upset. Take the worry, pressure and stress out of anniversary gift giving and instead invest the time and money you would’ve spent buying something together for your home. If you’re both art lovers, every year get a new piece of art for your home. If you’ve been wanting a new TV or living room set, treat yourselves with it on your anniversary this year.

Spend the night where you got married.

If you live near where you were married, start a tradition of going back to that same venue each year on your anniversary or the weekend around it. The venue, your wedding night room, the spots you danced and had photos taken, the food—all the sights, tastes and smells will quickly bring back all those blissful wedding day memories. You’ll love this tradition even more when you have kids and need an excuse for a couple’s escape.

Dance to your wedding song.

Few things make us as humans more emotional than music. So whether you’re looking for an excuse to cry or just to get close and slow dance with your partner, crank up your wedding song and dance together. Or if you’re really feeling loose and nostalgic, bust out your wedding playlist and dance while you make dinner and do the dishes. It’ll have you laughing and will help spice up that mundane nightly routine once a year.

Do the “I love you because…” exercise.

You know all the big and little reasons why you love your spouse. But do they? This exercise is a very relationship-building tradition to start. You can do it on your anniversary, but it’s an even better thing to do once a month or week. To do it, each spouse takes a turn telling the other person why they love them. You can describe physical characteristics, behaviors, qualities, quirks or whatever it is that you love. You can spend 5 or 50 minutes doing it, and you can do it anywhere, at home, in the car or at a restaurant.