| For the average husband, gift-giving occasions are | | | | be remembered with nostalgia even in your |
| always fraught with stress - there are a million | | | | twilight ears. Did you meet in another city? Try |
| things that he could do wrong. If there is one | | | | and go there and linger at special spots, take |
| thing that still gives him butterflies in the pit of his | | | | photographs and surrender yourselves to the |
| stomach, it has got to be that sabre-toothed | | | | enchantment of the moment. |
| monster called 'gifts and romance'. He is trying, | | | | 5. Last but definitely not the least, make sure you |
| really, but to him it seems that he always just | | | | get her a really special gift. Personalised jewellery, |
| makes it just by the skin of his teeth. Hit and | | | | classy and lush bath and spa products, |
| miss, at best. | | | | custom-made poems and photo montages are |
| And for those of you who are about to celebrate | | | | just some of the anniversary pressies you could |
| your landmark 1st wedding anniversary, then you | | | | go for. The key words here are 'exclusive' and |
| had better make sure you get it right - and get it | | | | 'romantic'. Oh, and do pay special attention to how |
| right the first time. This is one super special day | | | | the gift is packaged. Nothing detracts from the |
| and one which a new wife looks forward to with | | | | value of a gift so much as shoddy wrapping. |
| delicious anticipation. Your excitement is, of | | | | Don'ts: |
| course, considerably dulled by the raging confusion | | | | If you want to avoid being sent to the dog-house, |
| in your mind. Roses and diamonds? Cards and | | | | steer clear of these anniversary bloopers: |
| chocolates? A weekend getaway? You can't quite | | | | 1. Don't forget the date! No rocket science to |
| make up your mind. No day is so fraught with | | | | decipher this one. Probably men just aren't wired |
| risks as this one! After all, your romantic abilities | | | | to remember such red-letter days as birthdays |
| are under the scanner. | | | | and anniversaries, but if you have said your 'I dos' |
| Well, if you find yourself careening helplessly | | | | you had better make sure that you don't forget |
| between bewildering options, allow yourself to be | | | | your anniversary or her birthday. Do whatever it |
| guided by these 5 simple (but life-saving) basic | | | | takes to not stare at her blankly when she starts |
| dos and don'ts when it comes to successfully | | | | dropping hints a week in advance. Keep this day |
| celebrating your 1st wedding anniversary. | | | | free of appointments and work deadlines and |
| Do's: | | | | take a day off from work if you have to. Set a |
| 1. Romance, romance and more romance. Women | | | | reminder on the mobile phone, mark the date in |
| have a miraculous in-built sponge that simply | | | | your diary or ask a friend to remind you of it. |
| soaks in all the romance they can squeeze out of | | | | Half the battle is won when you haven't |
| a relationship. With room left for more. And, this is | | | | forgotten, particularly when she is expecting you |
| one day when you need to pull out all your | | | | to! |
| imaginative ideas from the mothballs. Be as | | | | 2. Don't grab the first likely present you lay your |
| romantic as possible and make her feel really | | | | eyes on. Spend time over choosing a really nice |
| special. Let her day start and end on a romantic | | | | and thoughtful gift for her. She is probably |
| note. That means anything from taking over her | | | | spending hours getting one for you as well. |
| morning chores and cooking breakfast for her to | | | | Nothing can be worse than a cheap and tacky |
| whisking her off for a whole day of fun and | | | | present (other than forgetting the date of |
| pleasure. | | | | course). This is not the day for bargain hunting or |
| 2. Three is not company today. This is a special | | | | looking for a freebie offer. She is special and |
| time for the two of you and so make it as | | | | deserves nothing less than the best. |
| intimate and memorable for her as possible. | | | | 3. Don't spoil her mood by being boorish - either a |
| Whether you choose to spend the day at home | | | | day before the anniversary, or on the actual day |
| or go out hiking, it has to be exclusive 'couple' | | | | itself. Sulks and hurt sentiments do not augur well |
| time for both of you. Arrange for grandparents | | | | for a day as significant as this one. And even if an |
| or a babysitter to look after the kids (if any) for | | | | argument has taken place, eat humble pie just for |
| just this one day and make your spouse feel | | | | maintaining peace on this day. |
| more than just a mom and a harried homemaker. | | | | 4. Don't leave last-minute details to, well, the last |
| Recall your dating years and the crazy fun you | | | | minute. Planning a dinner at a swanky restaurant? |
| have had. | | | | Don't make reservations at the last minute even |
| 3. The pen is mightier than the sword today. Don't | | | | if you are on chummy terms with the head |
| underestimate the power of the written word. | | | | waiter. He may report sick that day. Important |
| Put your love for her in black and white (or any | | | | events need advance planning to avoid being at |
| colour ink you choose). A love letter is charmingly | | | | the receiving end of a nasty surprise. |
| old-fashioned and very refreshing for the very | | | | 5. Don't spend long hours on the phone or at your |
| same reason. In the age of emails and instant | | | | laptop even if you have taken the day off from |
| messaging, this is still the number one way to tell | | | | work. Nothing infuriates a woman more than |
| her how much you love her - and why. Promise | | | | smiling with gritted teeth in a restaurant even as |
| to love and cherish her always. It will make a | | | | her companion is glued to his mobile phone. Catch |
| wonderful keepsake for later years. | | | | up with your buddies at the pub the next evening. |
| 4. Do something different. How about revisiting all | | | | The day and evening is exclusively for her. |
| the romantic haunts of your dating years? Make | | | | Get it right and it's another high. So, relax and |
| this a day of magical memories for her, a day to | | | | have a happy first wedding anniversary! |