Mr Anniversary Gift

I've been asked many times if I am married (yes), and what did I do for my own Wedding Anniversaries? It's tough - my wife has seen all my tricks! I'm coming up on my own 3rd "leather" Anniversary (2nd marriage - I'm 51). So what could I do for my own "paper" Wedding Anniversary? My wife runs the baby department at a local hospital and she collects storks - the kind with a baby in a sling in it's mouth. She has a nice collection of glass, ceramic, and stuff toy storks and is always hunting for more. Sooooo, I knew a paper stork was in order, but my own skills for creating an Origami stork are lacking. I turned to another pro - Joseph Wu. http://www.origami.vancouver.bc.ca/ Joseph's work and the work of others at his site are breathtaking. I commissioned Joseph to make the Origami stork shown on our home page (at the bottom - it's on the table in the picture of me). It's a one of a kind creation, as is almost all of Joseph's works. My wife was ecstatic.

For the 2nd "cotton" Annivesary? I couldn't do a cotton stork, so I got boring with cotton robes.

3rd "leather" approaches...

Okay, so you're married for 85 years and have run out of things to buy for an traditional Wedding Anniversary Gift http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2398463.stm . I guess by then just saying "good morning" to each other is enough of a gift?

I find it fascinating (of course) that men and women go on a "hunt" for Anniversary Gifts each year. It's not an easy task, especially with each passing year when you don't want to repeat something you've given her before. The traditonal themes for Wedding Anniversary gifts actually make it easier on you, because with a little creativity you can find 5 to 10 things made from the appropriate materials. Each year as your anniversary approaches, sit down with a blank piece of paper and write the year's material at top, and quickly write down the first 10 things you can think of. You're on your way...

80% of our customers are a husband buying a themed wedding anniversary gift. Most find us by searching online or by being referred from an existing customer of ours. There are approximately 2.5 million wedding each year in the USA, so there are many more husbands who would buy from us, if they only knew about us.

So who knows who got married 49 weeks ago ??? People in the wedding industry! 1 year after the couple is a customer/client of the wedding industry professional, they become our customer. So there is only 1 degree of separation between us and our customer, and that 1 degree is you, the wedding industry professional.

Our business platform (NetSuite) is set up to easily create Partners. We've created a "let us be the first to wish you a Happy 1st "paper" Anniversary" greeting card for the wedding industry professional to give/mail 49 weeks later to the groom/husband. This card also contains a discount code specifically for that Partner, so not matter how the groom/husband comes to us, as long as he mentions the discount code he'll get $10 off plus be electronically tagged for his first order PLUS all future orders as a customer to that Partner.

What's in it for the wedding industry professional? First and foremost it's good business, helping the lovingly clueless groom/husband score big on his first attempt at finding and buying an anniversary gift. His gratitude will be to you for helping him find us. Second there is a small commission - nothing you'll retire on, but a little something extra to add to your business.

What does it mean to "be romantic" anyway? A good place to read up on romance is at www.RomanceStuck.com. That's a site that's loaded with romance, beyond our niche of gifts for the wedding anniversary. To me, romance is about observing your spouse or s.o. Then learning what he/she likes. Then being thoughtful about the gifts and experiences you share together. The occasion of your wedding anniversary is a great time to be thoughtful. Somehow, themed materials for each wedding anniversary have become a tradition. If your spouse is into or sentimental about most traditions, then this is an easy one. Besides buying a traditional anniversary gift from us, you can get creative and enjoy a weekend immersed in the theme! Whatever year you are celebrating, write down the first 10 things that come to mind when you think of the particular material? Then get creative!

While we obviously suggest a bouquet from our line of JustPaperRoses®, your Wedding Anniversary is the time to go "crazy" with the material themes of each Anniversary: 1st paper, 2nd cotton, 3rd leather, 4th fruit, 5th wood, 6th candy, 7th wool, 8th bronze, 9th pottery, 10th aluminum, 11th steel, 12th silk, 13th lace, 14th ivory, 15th crystal, 25th silver, and 50th gold.

Marriages are not an easy relationship to maintain. Almost everyone experiences high charged romance at the beginning, which lessens with each passing year. Why? If I knew the answer I wouldn't write it here. I do know it takes a romantic effort by both Husband and Wife to keep the romance going.

Make it a tradition for at least one day per year, if not a weekend per year, or even a week per year to celebrate your Wedding Anniversary, and make it romantic. Wedding Anniversary gifts are just a part of the celebration, and in addition to a gift from us spend some time thinking of the material of your year and get creative! And then, just spend as much one on one time with your spouse as possible - make your Wedding Anniversary memorable and look forward to the next one 52 weeks from now!