Your 30th wedding anniversary is coming up. Although it’s an exciting time worth celebrating, it might be a bit stressful for those who aren’t sure how they want to celebrate it yet. If your spouse isn’t one to enjoy surprised, then the two of you can now sit down together and begin to decide on a plan.

If you want to surprise your spouse with what you planned, then there’s no need to feel alone. We’re here to help. As your 30th anniversary approaches, you’ll need to start thinking of things to do for anniversary celebrations. What gift will you give to your spouse, where will you go, what will you do?

You want this celebration to be unforgettable and as close to perfect as possible. In the guide below, there are several 30th anniversary gift ideas and celebration ideas. Continue reading to start gathering some inspiration.

1. Take a Mini Vacation

When’s the last time you and your spouse went on a vacation together? Wouldn’t it be amazing to escape regular life with one another? It’s time to say goodbye to schedules, phone calls, and duties around the house.

Your anniversary should be spent together with little to no distractions. Taking a weekend vacation is a great way to do so. If you own a Las Vegas timeshare or a timeshare at any other location, then you’ll have an effortless way to vacation for a few days.

You can also plan a short cruise or book a vacation at a destination you know your spouse has wanted to visit for quite some time now. The vacation doesn’t have to be extravagant. As long as there’s an effort put into it, it’ll be perfect.

2. Plan a Surprise Party (or Not)

Any anniversary calls for a celebration, but being married for 30 years is a huge achievement that should be celebrated accordingly. A great way to celebrate the special day is to plan a surprise party for your loved one. Contact family members and friends to come out and have fun.

If there are any family members your loved one hasn’t seen in a while, then be sure to give them enough time’s notice to make it down. If your spouse doesn’t care for surprises, then there’s no need to worry. You can plan the party together!

This will actually make it a bit easier on you to have your spouse’s help when selecting the guest list, venue, music list, food, decorations, time and day, and more!

3. Prepare a Favorite Meal

Does your spouse have a favorite meal? Is there a certain restaurant they love to visit? Do they have roots in other countries and haven’t enjoyed an authentic meal in a while?

Now is the perfect time to prepare a favorite meal of theirs. You don’t have to go anywhere if you don’t want to either. Plan a nice evening inside your own home and prepare the meal yourself.

This will show how much dedication and love you have for them. If you’re not the best chef, then consider hiring a professional chef to come in and prepare the meal for you, especially if you want an authentic meal prepared by someone with knowledge about those specific dishes.

4. Visit a Favorite Place

Do you and your spouse have a favorite place you like to visit together? You can consider where you went on your first date, or a place the two of you visited a lot when younger. Think about places the two of you went together while still in school or in your early 20s and 30s if it applies.

When’s the last time the two of you visited this favorite spot? It’s a great idea for a 30th wedding anniversary. You can even recreate your very first date.

Even if your first date was low-budget, the cost won’t matter. What matters most is how much thought and time you put into recreating the first date. If you feel like you need to take it up a notch, then you can always include a gift as well.

5. Give a Customized Gift

When you’re not sure what to give your spouse on your wedding anniversary, think customizable. When you customize a gift, it makes it much more special. You can customize a gift by having it engraved with your spouse’s name, with your wedding anniversary date, with a quote or message, and anything else you can think of.

You can also have gifts made such as blankets, socks, mugs, phone cases, and other items with a photo of your choice on them. Get as creative as possible as long as the item is something they’ll use, they’re sure to love it.

6. Prepare to Renew Wedding Vows

Your 30th wedding anniversary is also the ideal time to renew your wedding vows. If you haven’t renewed your wedding vows before or haven’t in many years, then consider doing so. It’s a great way to relive your actual wedding day.

You can choose to recreate the wedding and plan it at the same venue, or you can put a new spin on it this time and choose a different location and theme. Have everyone get together to celebrate as you would a regular wedding. It’s even more special when the two of you take the time to prepare your own written vows.

Once the ceremony is over, be sure to plan a reception so everyone can get together and celebrate!

7. Schedule a Professional Photo Shoot

Taking a few professional photos together can really bring the two of you together. You’ll be stunned by how amazing your photos come out when you hire a professional photographer to take them. The two of you and your photographer can come up with a few ideas for poses, props, and photo locations.

Once you have these printed out, be sure to frame them and hang them up in your home. You can also consider doing a boudoir shoot for your partner if you want to spice things up a bit.

8. Try Something New Together

One of the best things about finding someone to spend the rest of your life with is all the cool things the two of you will get to do together. Can you remember the last time the two of you tried something new together as a couple? Trying new things together is a wonderful bonding experience.

Try to think of something neither of you has ever done before. Maybe this is climbing a small mountain, playing laser tag, or canoeing down a river. It doesn’t have to be anything extreme if you don’t want it to be.

As long as it’s something new to try, the two of you will have a blast together.

9. Enjoy a Wedding Video Night

Sometimes, the best way to celebrate a wedding anniversary is by staying home and watching home videos. This allows the two of you to reminisce on past events and memories. Take the time to celebrate all of the wonderful achievements the two of you have reached with one another.

Maybe there were job promotions, children and grandchildren being born, purchasing your first home, and more. You should also consider playing your wedding video. Cozy up on the couch next to one another with a few snacks and drinks and prepare to laugh and cry at all those precious moments.

10. Spend Time Without One Another

Finding the perfect way to spend your 30th anniversary might be a difficult decision. Always remember what’s most important, however, and that’s spending quality time with one another. This day is a celebration of the two of you coming together.

Call off of work, reschedule other plans, and make time for one another. Being with your spouse is what matters most on this day. Even if the two of you want to find a peaceful evening at home together, that’s perfectly okay! Do what the two of you want to do and enjoy doing.

Do You Have Your 30th Wedding Anniversary Planned Out?

Planning a 30th wedding anniversary is a lot of work. There are a lot of small details to factor in and many wonderful ideas to consider. Do you have your anniversary planned out yet?

If you were struggling to find the right way to spend it, we hope this guide was able to provide you with some inspiration. Be sure to use the advice listed above to help you start the planning process.

For other helpful articles similar to this one, keep checking back with us on a regular basis.