Long Distance Celebrations
As crazy as this life can be, there are often times when you cannot be with your spouse or significant other during anniversaries or other big celebrations. Here are some ideas to make the day special even if you’re apart.
Movie Date
Check out the local movie listings for each of you and find a time that matches across the time zones. When the movie ends, call or video chat to talk about the movie, your thoughts, your favorite scenes, etc. Also chat about the trailers you saw before the show and discover if you saw the same ones.
Dinner and a Movie
If you’d rather stay in, find a time when you both can eat a meal and watch a movie. Decide ahead of time on a meal you can both cook or have delivered. Call or video chat while you eat. Then cue up your computers to a movie to start at the same time. Call or video chat after it’s over to talk about it.
What I Love About You
If you’re able to plan ahead for your time apart, buy a copy of “What I Love About You,”. It’s a great book with fill-in-the-blank lines describing some aspect of your spouse. Order two of the books and then pick a time on your special day to complete each page. Once you’re together again, plan a special date to sit and read each other’s book. Another option would be to take time beforehand to complete each page, and then trade them with each other, but don’t read them yet! Pick a time on your special day while you’re apart to each read the book.
Quiz One Another
Another fun book to get ahead of time is The Quiz Book for Couples. Pick a quiz and complete it. Then call or video chat and share and compare your responses. If you don’t want to purchase the book, check out these 99 Fun Questions to Ask Your Partner. This is a great list to use any time you need some conversation prompts!
Open When Letters
Another idea that requires some prep time is to exchange Open When Letters. Write a stack of these letters or simple notes and title them “Open When . . . ” Here are some ideas:
- Open when you’re feeling lonely
- Open when you miss me
- Open when you want to reminisce
- Open when it’s the day before our anniversary
- Open when you wake up on our anniversary
- Open when you want to find out my wish for us
Long Distance Gift Exchange
Plan ahead to exchange gifts and call or video chat while you open them together. You can have something delivered, send something in their suitcase, or leave something in a special spot at home.
Video Messages
Exchange special questions for each other, and then on your special day record a video message answering those questions. Send it to your spouse. It’s extra special to watch your mate reminisce about special moments. Here are some ideas:
- What made you fall in love with me?
- Talk about the day we met.
- What will we be doing 10 years from now?
- Share some of your favorite memories of us laughing together.
Memory Pack
If you can plan ahead, take a stack of index cards and write one special memory on each card (maybe one per months, weeks, years you’ve been married). It doesn’t have to be long or detailed, but something that will just help your spouse remember that special moment also. Exchange the pack of cards and read them on your special day. And if you can, call or video chat and read them together. Another variation of this would be to write ONE word on each card, maybe a word that describes your spouse or your relationship.
Mixtapes
Yes, you can still make a mixtape, only an updated version of one! You can find most songs on YouTube or online somewhere. Make a playlist of songs that remind you of your spouse. Find an online link for each one and then email it to your spouse. Plan a special time for you to both listen to your “mixtape” at the same time and see if you pick any of the same songs!
Extend the Celebration
And as always, remember you can always celebrate later. Nothing says you can’t celebrate on another day or weekend when you’re together again.
Do you have other ideas or something you’ve done in the past that worked really well? Share them below so I can add them to the list!