Suggestions needed for simple 'romantic' ideas for 25th Anniversary

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

I hope your lady is doing something special for you to - you sound like a husband who deserves it since for 25 years you have been her loving husband also.

Thanks.

Oh I suspect she has purchased a few Dallas Cowboys theme gifts for me. The thing is, I REALLY don't need to have gifts, etc. for the day.

I would be alot better off if she would buy what SHE wants for herself. That's where the rub is---I think most of us that are a MALE would agree.

BUT, the FEMALE likes to give, and also receive the romantic things.

I still don't have this solved yet!!!

Pat

 

[jme]

for OUR 25th....

I'm not the female, but here goes.....

For OUR 25th, which is still coming up in December, I'm planning a week in NYC for Christmas...actually the week before Christmas, and it's all still a surprise. She knows nothing! I'll leave little hints under (& even ON) our tree next month, like hints about NYC landmarks, etc. (but not too obvious!), and will break the news slowly with the clues, which hopefully will lead to HER discovering the trip herself...

I've already had an ornament, an old-fashioned round colored ball, personalized with "Christmas in New York City, 2007" painted on it, with glitter for snowflakes added tastefully....'course, that's the last and final clue! I'll place it on the tree secretly the day before the secret ends. I guess the final clue is that something special is ON the tree.

.....THEN, she'll have about 3 weeks to get excited & dream before we go...I've already bought tickets to TWO B/W shows, front & center, and have dinner reservations atop the Rockefeller Center restaurant famous from a movie (the window table looks out over the city and the Empire State Bldg is most prominent).

Here's my only dilemma.....should I at some point, at that dinner table, give her a little gift from Tiffany's----OR, should I give her a note that someone from Tiffany's has called us to pick up "something" the next day, and we'll go in and let HER pick it out! (Do you think she'll want to go?) i can't decide which to do-----probably the gift at the table would be more romantic, but GOING to Tiffany's BEFOREHAND would be difficult!!! Plus an open invitation to Tiffany's is probably a girl's dream!

Anyway, that's my anniversary thing..........So, obviously, I decided that a most memorable surprise is the way to go...and all the little things, like sweet notes , etc. can also be a part of it....but it's the trip that will forever remain.....We'll ice skate in Rock. Cntr, walk in Central Park, have a hotdog on the street , window shop, and do other romantic things.....really the sky's the limit in NYC!!! Good luck yourself....jme

 

[mepiccolo]

Your plans sound lovely and I'm sure your wife will be extremely happy.

As for whether to buy something beforehand or have her go with you only you know the answer to that. If she is very particular she would probably want to pick it out herself. If she is more sentimental than particular then she'd probably be disappointed if you didn't buy it and present it to her at your special dinner. Some women are very hard to please and other's not so much so you just need to decide which is more important for your wife - the actual jewelry or the romantic presentation?

I once worked for a female who on her first birthday after getting married returned the flowers her new groom sent to the office for her ("they weren't fresh enough") and returned the expensive purse he bought her. The next day at work all she did was complain about how bad her birthday dinner was. Yikes! (Now see if I was her husband I certainly wouldn't have stuck around for the next birthday! How would you like to be married to that for 25 years!)

 

[sandesurf]

OMG, jme, are you for real? You rock!
Congratulations on 25 and mostly on your very clever ideas!
Enjoy!

 

[sun starved Gayle]

When we were just married we were invited to a Halloween party and I couldn't think of a really great costume. My husband surprised me by renting gorilla suits for us (he's kind of an unusual guy!) and we were the hit of the party. I was touched that he would go to the trouble and expense of doing that for me. I thought THAT was very romantic.

For my husbands 50th birthday I got together a bunch of pictures of us thru the years and had it put to the song "Still The One" by the band Orleans on a DVD. Goggle the words, you might find they are appropriate for you too. We still like to watch that DVD together, even though my kids are sick of it!

Good Luck!
Gayle

 

[m61376]

Go through all your old photos and make a collage out of special moments in your life together. You'll enjoy the memories doing it and then you can share them again with her. You could even have them made into a picture book if you wanted.

Whatever you decide I'm sure will be special, because you are giving it a lot of thought.

Congrats on your 25th!

and- jme- congrats on yours- hope you have a wonderful time in NY! BTW- the "Tiffany's" name is important to a lot of people, but check out the prices on their site so you know what to expect. I love jewelry, but would rather shop other places in NY for much better value...of course, there is a certain romance to Tiffany's.

 

[gsturtz]

. . .also jme, while your ideas are wonderful and romantic, i have to ask that you stop posting them publicly! You are so making the rest of us "Flowers and Dinner" guys look bad!:annoyed:

 

[jme]

I love jewelry, but would rather shop other places in NY for much better value...of course, there is a certain romance to Tiffany's.

OK, then....maybe we'll just have "breakfast at Tiffany's" .....followed by a horse and buggy ride thru Central Park.....


jme

 

[pcgirl54]

Marty
And I thought you only knew the best spots on Hilton Head. What a great trip you planned for your bride. Do take the carriage ride,at night it's very beautiful.

 

[andrea t]

. There I found my husband, with our son held against his shoulder. He was crying into my husband's shoulder, because he was hungry. My husband was crooning "Shhh. Mommy is tired and she needs to get some sleep."
Good luck![/QUOTE]

Wow, That made me cry!

 

[jme]

. . .also jme, while your ideas are wonderful and romantic, i have to ask that you stop posting them publicly! You are so making the rest of us "Flowers and Dinner" guys look bad!:annoyed:

Hey. I get the message, and I totally understand, BUT....

there's just something (akin to EMPTINESS) that I feel when I open the trash can "5 days after" and see those dozen DEAD roses. It's like I didn't do enough to make them last......so hence the trip.....and it could be a 2-nighter in a cabin somewhere...doesn't have to be BIG or expensive.

BTW, we just returned from a 4-nighter in a cabin in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge last weekend. It was heavenly, and wasn't even a special occasion, except FALL . see www.thepreserveresort.com. AMAZING cabins! jme

{P.S. I still contend that the most wonderful & romantic getaway weekend, or a 2-night stay anytime, is found at the
Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C.---an easy drive for most (see www.groveparkinn.com. click "leisure" & watch pictures change) , with a halfday tour of the Biltmore House...(see www.biltmore.com. click "visit biltmore"). } jme

 

[Seti]

If you are going to be in Central Park, try to stop by Serendipity III for a frozen hot chocolate. It's from the romantic comedy Serendipity.

 

[jme]

If you are going to be in Central Park, try to stop by Serendipity III for a frozen hot chocolate. It's from the romantic comedy Serendipity.

I'll do that, and thanks...i'll report back....jme

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

Hey---my 'thread' has been hijacked!!!

I'm looking for simple ideas for a 25th Anniversary gift---and people have gone waaayyy off base from the topic.

Is anyone listening----I STILL NEED HELP!!!!

Pat

 

[pcgirl54]

Pat,
There have been many, many ideas posted that are simple and then there are some that are getaways. You don't have much time to make CDs or the photo book if that's what you decide to do. I think we have run out of ideas ourselves.

Any that you are leaning to? I don't think you mentioned your budget. You said you have no vacation days left.

BTW,second vote for Asheville NC, Biltmore and Grovepark Inn. I went right after Christmas 06 until New Year's. Very ,very beautiful. Marty is the one who told us about Grovepark. There was a gingerbread house contest with displays all over the Inn. There have a great breakfast buffet and a massive stone fireplace plus a spa that is incredible. We stayed at the Marriott across from the airport on rewards points but I recommend staying at GP if you can.

 

[Egret1986]

The Grove Park Inn! Wow! Thanks for sharing!

{P.S. I still contend that the most wonderful & romantic getaway weekend, or a 2-night stay anytime, is found at the
Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C.---an easy drive for most (see www.groveparkinn.com. click "leisure" & watch pictures change) , with a halfday tour of the Biltmore House...(see www.biltmore.com. click "visit biltmore"). } jme

Their website is awesome! Wow! We also will be celebrating our 25th this Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, we can't get away then. We've exchanged for a Tradewinds Cruise in the BVI's in May to celebrate our anniversary; our first time away for more than a night without our sons. This place would definitely be my choice if things don't work out as planned for the May trip. Thank you for bringing it to the attention of those looking for a truly romantic getaway. Man O' man! It looks like they have everything covered! I've got to figure out how to fit this trip in!

 

[Seti]

How about a treasure hunt. You leave clues around the house, possibly in poem form. Each clue leads to the next one. Yo can even have a bunch of small gifts at each clue location. The clue could include some special thing that happened in each location, if approproate, like first kiss in the new house, etc.

 

[Emily]

Pat -

Maybe you could gather some pictures and download music that is special to her. They have some nice digital frames that play sideshows. If she works, she could put it on her desk, show it to her co-workers and remember your thoughtfulness for a long time. Even if she doesn't work, I'm sure there is a place that she could place it and enjoy it.

Something like this http://www.edgetechcorp.com/accessories/digital-picture-frame.asp


Hope you have a great anniversary.
Emily

 

[#1 Cowboys Fan]

Pat,
There have been many, many ideas posted that are simple and then there are some that are getaways. You don't have much time to make CDs or the photo book if that's what you decide to do. I think we have run out of ideas ourselves.

Any that you are leaning to?

Okay, here's what I have so far (not official).

Her 'card' will be a 25 foot scroll with my VERY primitive
drawing/'artwork' highlighting some of the last 30 years (we met 5 years before we were married).

I plan to send 25 roses to her at work on that Tuesday.

An invitation to go to the jeweler (I wish this idea could be better formulated/achieved; but I am not going to try to pick out what she might not like).

(25 X 10 =) $250 gift to The Smile Foundation, that will be 'matched'. We often give to this charity for cleft palate
(my wife has a PASSION as a Dental Hygienist.)

I plan to make something nice for dinner, including French Onion Soup (any recipes on how to make that soup from TUGgers are appreciated!!) Will probably have Scallops, and maybe I can make that dish heart-shaped.

A CD with songs

2 new fish (our 'kids') for our fish tank.

A few other VERY small (inexpensive) gifts, including
"Marry Me" Ice Cream Bars.

That's it so far---thanks to all for helping me through this.

Oh my, I failed to mention----her birthday is in December.

Then there's Christmas.

December 2008 is her 50th birthday!!!

 

[pcgirl54]

Pat.
Your anniversary and then the 50th. What a year! I love the Marry Me Ice Cream bars. The card,CD and roses plus dinner are all special things that take time and effort.

Take her away for New Years for her 50th!!!

Turning 50 for me was very,very difficult and that is putting it mildly. I went away so no one would throw a party. DH brought me breakfast at the beach and a single yellow rose in a Pellagrino bottle. He arranged for our sons who live in other states talk to me via conference call and open a special card when I was on the phone with them. It was tickets to the Lion King Play,something I really wanted to see. At first I thought it was for two until the card fell off my lap. He had bought 5 tickets so our sons could go with us at Christmas,two months later. He was worried that I would mind because it was after my birthday. In fact, it was the best part of the present-being with our sons. I cried buckets that day. I still have the Pellagrino bottle.

Buying gifts and being romantic is not easy for him. This however made a really tough birthday very ,very special.