5th Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas?
July 21, 2010 11:23 AM Subscribe
5th Wedding Anniversary Gift Ideas For My Wife?
Some background about her, she is a house wife. We have two kids. What can I get her? I want to get her something really nice. I can go until $700. Thoughts?
Some background about her, she is a house wife. We have two kids. What can I get her? I want to get her something really nice. I can go until $700. Thoughts?
Without knowing more about her, her habits, likes and dis-likes:
- Weekend get-away with you, without the kids
-- in a cozy B&B, away from people and noise
-- in a near-by city to see sights / museums / plays / musical shows
- Day of pampering
-- spa with personal attention and relaxation, take care of the kids yourself, and make something with them to give to her at the end of the day saying that you appreciate all she does for them
- jewelry / clothing / technology
-- something she's been thinking about that was beyond usual expenditures
-- something unknown, in her style/liking
I'd say you should avoid house-keeping or kid-managing things, but maybe she loves that kind of thing.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:35 AM on July 21, 2010
- Weekend get-away with you, without the kids
-- in a cozy B&B, away from people and noise
-- in a near-by city to see sights / museums / plays / musical shows
- Day of pampering
-- spa with personal attention and relaxation, take care of the kids yourself, and make something with them to give to her at the end of the day saying that you appreciate all she does for them
- jewelry / clothing / technology
-- something she's been thinking about that was beyond usual expenditures
-- something unknown, in her style/liking
I'd say you should avoid house-keeping or kid-managing things, but maybe she loves that kind of thing.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:35 AM on July 21, 2010
The traditional gift for a fifth anniversary is wood. So, maybe a nice cedar chest, or jewelry box, or some kind of keepsake box? Does she have any hobbies that a wood gift would tie into, such as sewing>>>a nice sewing box, gardening>>>a bench or lounge, hockey>>>new hockey sticks?;-)
If you don't want to go in the wood direction, perhaps you could do some thinking about your wife's interests and what you could get that she'd enjoy using to do those things. I'd advise against getting her something that is for the house or that the whole family will use. Her entire workday already revolves around the kids, the house, and you. I'd get her something that's just for her use, something she would like but wouldn't feel she could indulge in.
posted by orange swan at 11:36 AM on July 21, 2010
If you don't want to go in the wood direction, perhaps you could do some thinking about your wife's interests and what you could get that she'd enjoy using to do those things. I'd advise against getting her something that is for the house or that the whole family will use. Her entire workday already revolves around the kids, the house, and you. I'd get her something that's just for her use, something she would like but wouldn't feel she could indulge in.
posted by orange swan at 11:36 AM on July 21, 2010
Also, traditional and modern anniversary gifts seem ridiculous - Wood? Silverware? Gee, thanks. (Again, unless she's fond of traditions.)
Maybe a trip to see family or friends?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:37 AM on July 21, 2010
Maybe a trip to see family or friends?
posted by filthy light thief at 11:37 AM on July 21, 2010
If I were your wife, I think I'd appreciate a weekend getaway the most. For a twist on that idea, have the kids stay overnight with someone and have a romantic weekend at home with lots of pampering, luxurious meals, doing things around town she doesn't normally get a chance to do, etc.
posted by spinto at 11:45 AM on July 21, 2010
posted by spinto at 11:45 AM on July 21, 2010
Not that this would be the main gift, but something you could include since wood is the traditional 5th anniversary gift, how about a wooden boomerang and either inscribed or with an included card something like "I'll always keep coming back to you".
posted by marsha56 at 11:47 AM on July 21, 2010
posted by marsha56 at 11:47 AM on July 21, 2010
Your profile lists you as being in Toronto, and a quick look reveals that there is a spa in the area called Elmwood. Giving her both a nice relaxing gift, and one that keeps with the "5th anniversary is wood" theme.
posted by quin at 11:55 AM on July 21, 2010
posted by quin at 11:55 AM on July 21, 2010
Response by poster: Great ideas! So far I love the spa idea. The weekend gateway is also very good and feasible though with a 5 month old boy, we cannot leave him behind.
The private chef idea is also great!
posted by alshain at 11:55 AM on July 21, 2010
The private chef idea is also great!
posted by alshain at 11:55 AM on July 21, 2010
We did a "weekend getaway" in our own city -- we did actually spend the night, but left the baby with the inlaws at our house. We were only 10 minutes away in case something went awry, but we also got to stay at a fancy hotel and have a fancy dinner and some quality time.
Or, have a "tourist weekend" in your own city - plan things you can do with the kid - the zoo, museums, whatever. Sleep in your guest bedroom that has fancy new sheets on the bed. Hang out in the formal living room you never use.
If you do a spa, do massages for two - -anniversaries are meant to be spent together :)
Cook, or cleaning lady, or some other way that frees up time for you to spend with her and the kid would also be great.
I'd love a piece of jewerly that represents the three of us as a family - etsy has lots of ideas.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/38599222/fire-on-the-mountain-stacking-ring-set
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BragAboutIt
http://www.etsy.com/listing/40171753/the-savannah-necklace-madrindesigns
posted by dpx.mfx at 12:03 PM on July 21, 2010
Or, have a "tourist weekend" in your own city - plan things you can do with the kid - the zoo, museums, whatever. Sleep in your guest bedroom that has fancy new sheets on the bed. Hang out in the formal living room you never use.
If you do a spa, do massages for two - -anniversaries are meant to be spent together :)
Cook, or cleaning lady, or some other way that frees up time for you to spend with her and the kid would also be great.
I'd love a piece of jewerly that represents the three of us as a family - etsy has lots of ideas.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/38599222/fire-on-the-mountain-stacking-ring-set
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BragAboutIt
http://www.etsy.com/listing/40171753/the-savannah-necklace-madrindesigns
posted by dpx.mfx at 12:03 PM on July 21, 2010
One of the best gifts my husband gave me was tickets for the theater to a play I'd always wanted to see, plus an entire new outfit to wear. He even braved Victoria's Secret all by himself and actually asked the salesgirl for help in picking out the right kind of bra to go under the sweater he'd bought. If you knew my incredibly shy husband you'd know that him doing that took a lot of guts, and so it meant a lot more to me. The outfit was lovely and showed me how much he really knew me and my tastes.
I think more important than the actual gift is the 'why' behind it. Any rich guy can buy his wife jewelry, but getting her that one special necklace because it looks like the one that her grandfather got her grandmother (or whatever) makes all the difference.
And try not to get her something that she has to take care of, she has enough to do without worrying that she might kill whatever it is. And don't get her something that she 'needs', even if it might make her life easier. It's no fun to have your girlfriends ask what your husband got you for your anniversary and have to tell them that he got you a new coffee maker. (Unless of course your wife loves coffee and you get her a top of the line espresso machine or something like that.)
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:12 PM on July 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think more important than the actual gift is the 'why' behind it. Any rich guy can buy his wife jewelry, but getting her that one special necklace because it looks like the one that her grandfather got her grandmother (or whatever) makes all the difference.
And try not to get her something that she has to take care of, she has enough to do without worrying that she might kill whatever it is. And don't get her something that she 'needs', even if it might make her life easier. It's no fun to have your girlfriends ask what your husband got you for your anniversary and have to tell them that he got you a new coffee maker. (Unless of course your wife loves coffee and you get her a top of the line espresso machine or something like that.)
posted by TooFewShoes at 12:12 PM on July 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
@filthylightthief - most people I know who bother with the traditional anniversary gifts do a fun spin on it. For instance a friend of mine gave her husband a gift card to the comic book store for their first anniversary, since the gift is supposed to be "paper".
posted by Sara C. at 12:21 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by Sara C. at 12:21 PM on July 21, 2010
Mod note: few comments removed - if you want to promote your own stuff you ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY have to identify it as your own stuff. If you do not do this you will be instabanned. Please read the FAQ if you are unclear on this.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:45 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:45 PM on July 21, 2010
a helicopter tour of your city.
posted by WeekendJen at 12:55 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by WeekendJen at 12:55 PM on July 21, 2010
One of my faves to do every few years is to arrange to have the grandparents stay with the kids in our house for a weekend and then to "get away" downtown for a night. You could get a night in the finest boutique hotel, the chef's table at the best restaurant, and maybe even some high end shopping for your budget.
posted by cross_impact at 1:20 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by cross_impact at 1:20 PM on July 21, 2010
The traditional US anniversary gift is wood. My friend just received this nice necklace for her anniversary. Five wooden rings, five years. I thought it was very sweet.
posted by cior at 1:31 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by cior at 1:31 PM on July 21, 2010
The wood thing boggles my mind. Wood?!?
The point of the exercise is to give her a kid-free, vacation-like experience, if only for a day, right?
Spa.
And arrange something fun for the kids, too, so she'll know they're okay without her, which means she can lean into the "me feeling," if only for a day.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 5:30 PM on July 21, 2010
The point of the exercise is to give her a kid-free, vacation-like experience, if only for a day, right?
Spa.
And arrange something fun for the kids, too, so she'll know they're okay without her, which means she can lean into the "me feeling," if only for a day.
posted by Short Attention Sp at 5:30 PM on July 21, 2010
For our 10th this year, my husband "gave" me a welding class in Community Ed. It's something we've wanted to learn for years, and it was something we could do together. It was SO much fun. If there's anything your local community ed offers that you both would like to learn, I definitely recommend this route.
posted by galadriel at 6:58 PM on July 21, 2010
posted by galadriel at 6:58 PM on July 21, 2010
I realize that these might not fit the OP but they might be useful down the line for other 5th anniversary gift seekers who want to do the traditional "wood."
For ours, I gave my husband a guitar and I received a wall-mounted rack for wine glasses.
posted by pineapple at 8:55 PM on July 21, 2010
For ours, I gave my husband a guitar and I received a wall-mounted rack for wine glasses.
posted by pineapple at 8:55 PM on July 21, 2010
While I love the idea of anniversary presents to pamper your significant other, I find it odd to exclude yourself completely. It's a celebration of a couple, not a single individual. But that's my view of the event, and I don't have kids yet. Perhaps my ideas will change when Mrs. light thief and/or I are spending time taking care of little ones, and time to ourselves is a great gift unto itself.
Sara C. - crafty idea, but I think it's odd that there's still an effort to creatively fit anniversary gifts to traditions from a forgotten past, especially with materials that are generally not considered valuable or meaningful, but I digress.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:12 PM on July 23, 2010
Sara C. - crafty idea, but I think it's odd that there's still an effort to creatively fit anniversary gifts to traditions from a forgotten past, especially with materials that are generally not considered valuable or meaningful, but I digress.
posted by filthy light thief at 4:12 PM on July 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Seboshin at 11:29 AM on July 21, 2010