Micah and I made a special vow to each other after our wedding. It’s not quite as serious and official as the “til death do us part” covenant, but it’s pretty special nonetheless.
While we were on our honeymoon in Hawaii and having the time of our lives just being US… husband and wife… with no distractions or other people around, we made a commitment to each other to repeat a mini-version of our honeymoon every year to celebrate and guard our marriage against life’s busyness.
Our promise to each other was simply this: that we will make a sincere effort to go away, just the two of us, every year for our anniversary.
Year One: One-night stay in the little ocean-side town, Westport, in Washington State…
wedding cake topper and saltwater taffy made an appearance.
Now we made this promise with a vague foreknowledge that life might throw some curve balls at that commitment… with kids in the picture, responsibilities at work, possible sickness or injury, or financial constraints, we obviously realized that we would not be spending each anniversary in Hawaii {but it would be nice, huh?}.
We agreed that our getaway didn’t always have to be big, fancy, or expensive, but we had to make it happen… every year. Whether that means going to a hotel for a night in our own city, staying at a friend’s cabin or beach house for free or saving up for a big trip, we made a commitment to carve out special time for us, away from home, to celebrate the gift of marriage and enjoy the gift of each other’s company.
For us, this is a summer tradition, since our anniversary is in July, but no matter what time of year your anniversary takes place, I encourage you to get away with your husband and spend some quality time with one another. We laugh, we rest, and we always spend a little bit of time talking about the past year and setting some goals and praying for the next. It’s precious time and a tradition I highly recommend.
Year two: Staycation at a resort in Scottsdale. Took advantage of the summer time rates since no one likes to come to Phoenix in the extreme heat… even though it rained on us.
But that still didn’t stop me from enjoying the pool with my magazines in tow.
But that still didn’t stop me from enjoying the pool with my magazines in tow.
This year {today!} we are off to San Francisco and I’m so excited! I’ve never been before. I have big plans to explore as much of the city while I can… lots of hills + 7 months pregnant… bring it! However, if I get tired, you can probably find me on the lawn in front of the Full House house resting my swollen feet and dreaming of DJ Tanner.
What a sweet promise to one another. I hope that it works out each year. Enjoy your anniversary!
I love this promise… it will become super important when baby comes too!
We're not married yet, but my fiance and I have already talked about a tradition like this!!
Happy anniversary! Have fun in San Fran!!
Love this promise,so important in marriages! Have a blast in San Francisco!
We kind of have the same unspoken promise, but this last year, a 4-day-old baby got in the way! We had actually talked LAST year about getting away to California for our third year. We'll make up for it next year. 🙂
We are planning on doing the same thing. Enjoy San Fran! I haven't been there since I was 10 years old. I loved it then so I can't imagine how much better it would be as an adult!
We do the same thing! We didn't make an official promise to do it, but it's just something we've tried to do every year. So far we've done 2 cruises, Disney World, and this year we just went to Hilton Head for a night (only a couple hours from us) because we didn't have any vacation time at work. We did go to Gatlinburg for a long weekend in March though, which technically was considered our vacation for the year…but we couldn't NOT do something special on our actual anniversary in May. Hence the overnight trip to Hilton Head. 🙂 Oh, and we've also done hotel stays in our own city before. Not as the only vacation, but on years we vacationed a week or so before or after our actual anniversary. We did the hotel where we stayed on our wedding night for our actual anniversary night a couple years. 🙂 I also definitely recommend it! Good luck in San Fran! You are one brave woman!!
My husband and I celebrate our birthdays one week apart. We started the tradition of spending one night in a hotel downtown during one of our birthday "weekends," and I love it…coming home on a Friday and throwing everything we need in ONE bag. It kind of feels secretive. 🙂 Last year's was kind of a bust because I chose "the cheapest" hotel on the list (BIG mistake), but we've got plenty of time to make up for it!
I hope you have so much fun in CA! My family loves to use the summer rate to go to The Hilton (Squaw Peaks, I think) in Phoenix (near Scottsdale)? Super hot, but super fun to be close to their pool/mini water park.
Congrats on your anniversary!
What a sweet promise. We made a similar one, and the Air Force had a good old laugh at that. We have spent exactly half of our wedding anniversaries apart. Either different states or different countries. But we always try!
That is such a great idea. That is so exciting you do that. I can't wait to hear all about your trip to San Fran. 🙂
We live in Tempe, so you are right no one wants to come visit us during the summer. 🙂
Jessa