Romantic Anniversary Ideas at Home (No Babysitter Needed)

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You wanted a fancy dinner out. Then you remembered the babysitter costs $20 an hour, the restaurant wants a reservation three weeks ago, and honestly, you’re tired.

Staying in for your anniversary isn’t settling. With a little setup, a night at home can feel more romantic than a loud restaurant, and you can be in sweatpants by 10.

Set the mood first

Lighting does most of the work. Turn off the overhead lights. Add candles (flameless if there are kids around), string lights, and a playlist. Suddenly your living room looks like a different place.

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Check price on Amazon: warm fairy lights

Indoor picnic

Spread a blanket on the living room floor, pile up pillows, and do a picnic with cheese, fruit, bread, and a bottle of wine. It feels playful and different, and the kids can be asleep upstairs.

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Cook a meal together

Pick a recipe neither of you has made, or recreate the meal from your first date. Cooking together is the date. A fondue set is a fun upgrade, since you can’t rush fondue.

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Backyard date night

If you have a yard, string up lights, set a small table, and eat outside. Add a fire pit and s’mores for dessert. Here’s how to light a backyard without an outlet.

Movie night, upgraded

Watch your wedding video, or the movie from your first date. Make a “theater” with blankets, real popcorn, and candy. A projector on a blank wall turns it into an event.

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Memory lane

Go through old photos, read your wedding vows out loud, or write each other a letter about your favorite moments from the year. It sounds cheesy. It’s also the part you’ll remember.

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A small gift

Look up your traditional anniversary gift by year (paper for the first, cotton for the second, and so on) in our anniversary gifts by year guide. Forgot to buy one? These last-minute anniversary gifts still look thoughtful.

My take

Candles, an indoor picnic, and your wedding song. It costs less than one restaurant entrée, and it feels a lot more like the two of you.

FAQ

How can I make my anniversary special at home?

Dim the lights, add candles and string lights, cook a meal together or have an indoor picnic, and spend time looking back at photos or your vows.

What’s a cheap romantic anniversary idea?

An indoor picnic, a backyard dinner with string lights, or a movie night with your first-date movie.

How do you celebrate an anniversary with kids at home?

Plan the date after the kids go to bed, or have an early family dinner and a late date night for the two of you.

What do you do on a first anniversary at home?

Eat a piece of your frozen wedding cake, watch your wedding video, and exchange a paper gift. Here are more first anniversary ideas.

What should I write in an anniversary card?

Share a favorite memory from the year, something you love about them, and something you’re looking forward to together.