How are you celebrating your anniversary?

Whether you and your other half have been married for five years or 50, anniversaries are a big event, and they should be celebrated as such. Anniversary cards have always been a timeless and romantic way to really express yourself, and these cards can be kept throughout the years as special keepsakes. Once the cards have been opened and the gifts have been exchanged, what are you doing to celebrate? If you seem to be out of creative ideas, I have a few for you:

Renew your vows
What’s more romantic than restating the vows you said to one another on your wedding day? A vow renewal ceremony doesn’t have to be as extravagant as your wedding. In fact, it could just be the two of you. Relive some of the events from your nuptials, like dancing to the same song.

Learn something new together
Brainstorm a list of the things you have yet to conquer together, whether it’s traveling to a location you’ve never been to, learning a new language or taking a cooking class. Exploring a new skill, concept or location together can be a creative way to build your relationship and strengthen your bond.

Gaze up at the stars
Get out of the well-lighted areas of your hometown to find a dimly lit place where the stars are brightly shining. Bring a blanket and gaze up at the stars together, looking for planets and constellations. Your smartphone could come in handy for this activity – download the Google Sky app, which will help you both identify the various stars and constellations up in the sky.

Cheer on your favorite team
Looking for a low-key way to celebrate your anniversary? Head out to a baseball, hockey, basketball or football game all dressed up in your favorite team’s gear. Have a hot dog and a few drinks. Depending on the venue and the sport you’re going to watch, prices will vary. However, getting decent seats at basketball or baseball games is typically inexpensive, so a sporting event doesn’t have to break the bank.

Go on a staycation
A vacation to France or Bali sounds pretty nice, doesn’t it? I know those two places are definitely on my bucket list. But sometimes, life can be just a little too busy for you to find time for travel, especially if you have kids and other responsibilities. So if you don’t have the time or budget to jet​ set to a new location, consider a staycation instead for a fun and affordable alternative.

Go camping like kids in your own backyard, or pay a visit to one of your town’s attractions and get a hotel room for the night. Escape to your patio with a few cocktails, lay down a blanket and light the outdoor fireplace. Put on your favorite music and just spend time together. Any of these options will make it feel like you’re getting away without having to actually purchase tickets and jump on a plane.

Set a few ground rules before you go, like not checking your phone or computer so you both can just focus on each other.

Create a bucket list
If you haven’t already, create a bucket list with your other half to commemorate your anniversary. Whenever you both need weekend plans or what to do on your next anniversary, you can reference this list and have some awesome ideas to try out.

Recreate the past
Think back on some of your favorite dates together. Where did you go? What did you do? Why was it memorable? If possible, go back to that restaurant or park where you shared special moments. It’s amazing how familiar locations can bring back such vivid memories.