Wishing a partner or spouse a Happy Anniversary is a reminder that you value the love they’ve shared with you. On top of that, you can express your appreciation for other important people in your life, whether they be friends or family, by helping them celebrate their own anniversaries.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- ‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes for Your Spouse or Partner
- ‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes to a Couple You’re Friends With
- ‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes for Your Parents or Grandparents
- ‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes for Your Kids
- ‘Happy Anniversary’ Post Ideas for Instagram or Facebook
- Short ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages for a Cake
- Funny ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
- Romantic or Sweet ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
- First-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
- Five-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
- Ten-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
- Twenty-Five-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
- Fifty-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
You also might want to do so in a unique way. Sending a basic happy anniversary message is fine, but there are other options worth keeping in mind if you want to make a stronger impression.
These are a few noteworthy examples. They’ll help you send the kind of happy anniversary message that genuinely gets your point across.
‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes for Your Spouse or Partner
Merely saying “Happy Anniversary” isn’t always enough to let your partner know you love them. Consider one of these unique ideas instead!
1. Give them an anniversary survey
Some people want their partners to take the lead when treating them to fun anniversary activities and sentimental gifts.
Others prefer to have some control over how they spend the day. If your partner is this type, include a “survey” with your happy anniversary card in which they can choose an activity, a meal, and a gift from a list of ideas.
2. Recreate the wedding menu
If your partner was particularly happy with the menu at your wedding, give them a happy anniversary card in the form of the same menu. Just make sure you actually prepare the food yourself!
3. Plan a scavenger hunt
Have fun on your anniversary by surprising your partner with a letter in the morning explaining your plans to spend the day with an anniversary “scavenger hunt” that takes you to special places from your relationship. It might take a little planning, but there’ll be a big payoff.
4. Plan a surprise day off
Wishing your partner a happy anniversary doesn’t just involve expressing romantic love. You can also express your gratitude for the helpful role they play in your life by surprising them with a planned-out day off.
5. “Remember this?”
If you’re getting married soon, collect items and photos for a wedding time capsule, and surprise your spouse with this gift on your first anniversary. If you already have one, this anniversary could be the perfect time to open it!
‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes to a Couple You’re Friends With
Wishing your friends a happy anniversary isn’t merely a kind gesture. It can also let them know you enjoyed their wedding, or have simply been thrilled to see their love flourish.
6. Send a heartfelt letter
You might feel inspired to wish your friends a happy anniversary if both members of the couple have played an important role in your life. Express your gratitude with an extended happy anniversary letter.
7. Send a gift card
You want your friends to enjoy their anniversary. Thus, you could send them a gift card or a similar digital gift for an anniversary date activity.
8. A social media post
It’s common for significant others to post about their love on an anniversary. However, you could treat your friends to a nice surprise by also posting about their anniversary, discussing how much you admire them as a couple.
9. “Let me babysit?”
Along with a traditional happy anniversary message, if you’re friends with a couple who have limited free time due to recently becoming parents, help them enjoy their anniversary even more by offering to babysit so they can go on a date.
10. “My favorite wedding moment”
The official wedding photos aren’t the only pictures a couple may have from their special day. Wedding attendees also tend to take pictures. Remind your friends of their wedding with a happy anniversary card featuring a funny or heartwarming photo they may not have seen.
‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes for Your Parents or Grandparents
Are you trying to let your parents or grandparents know you want them to enjoy their anniversary? Consider these ideas!
11. “Take a trip”
If you know your parents have the free time, surprise them with a happy anniversary message that includes details for a romantic weekend away (that you’ve paid for).
12. Send them a “what we’ve learned from you” message
If you’re currently in a healthy relationship, send your parents a happy anniversary letter or email thanking them for the various lessons they taught you about love.
13. Give your parents a date night gift book
Treating your parents to a date night with a gift card for a restaurant or fun activity is a common way to let them know you appreciate their hard work. If you’re willing to spend a little more, send them a happy anniversary letter or email with multiple gift cards for multiple dates.
14. Help a grandparent say happy anniversary to a deceased partner
Your grandparent’s spouse may no longer be alive. Help them say happy anniversary in Heaven with a visit to their spouse’s burial site or similar activity.
15. “Surprise!”
Gathering loved ones for a surprise anniversary party will give your parents or grandparents the chance to reflect on the long and happy life they’ve shared.
‘Happy Anniversary’ Wishes for Your Kids
Whether your kids are grown or you’re merely trying to help a younger child have a fun anniversary, keep these messages and ideas in mind.
16. “Our beautiful family”
Make your kid’s partner feel like a welcome member of the family by sending a card with a family picture that includes them. This will make it clear you accept them as one of your own children.
17. “Your love inspires us”
Just as parents like to know they’ve taught their kids valuable lessons about romantic love, so too do kids like to know their own relationships have reminded their parents how to be good partners.
18. Send a letter
Don’t overlook traditional happy anniversary message ideas! Your kids (and their partners) might appreciate anniversary letters in which you describe the joy you’ve experienced seeing their love grow.
19. Take them to ‘Prom’
This happy anniversary idea is ideal for teens. Help your kid enjoy the day by escorting them to a date as if you were a chauffeur driving them to prom.
20. “Thank you”
Parents typically want their kids to enjoy happy relationships. Thus, you may want to send a funny happy anniversary letter thanking your child’s partner for putting up with them.
‘Happy Anniversary’ Post Ideas for Instagram or Facebook
Posting happy anniversary messages on social media lets a partner know you love them enough to tell the world (or at least all their followers) publicly. Consider doing so with these unique ideas.
21. A surprise photo album
Just as you can say happy anniversary to a couple you’re friends with by sending them pictures from their wedding they didn’t know existed, you could also say happy anniversary to your own spouse with a Facebook or Instagram photo album featuring such pictures.
22. A funny meme
Some people prefer happy anniversary social media posts to be on the lighter side. Find or create the perfect funny meme for your anniversary, and surprise your partner by posting it.
23. Tell the story of your relationship in GIFs
This is a fun twist on the above idea. On Twitter (or Facebook if you don’t think you’ll annoy your other followers with too many posts!) post a series of relevant GIFs/memes that “tell the story” of your relationship.
For instance, one GIF could remind your partner of your first date, the second could remind them of your early courtship, the third could remind them of a funny early memory (such as meeting each other’s parents), and so on.
24. Dedicate a song
It used to be common for partners and spouses to call into radio stations and dedicate love songs on anniversaries. Update this type of message for the digital age by “dedicating” a song to your partner via a social media post.
25. First date recreation
This is the type of happy anniversary social media “message” you might want to post if you and your significant other want to digitally celebrate your anniversary together.
When posting on Instagram or Facebook about the wonderful times you’ve spent together over the years, you can both post a picture in which you recreate one of your first dates. Bonus points if you have a picture from that date that you can repost as well!
Short ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages for a Cake
Wishing someone a happy anniversary via a cake is a common choice for a simple reason: it’s sweet (no pun intended).
That said, a cake usually doesn’t offer a lot of space for a lengthy message. That might not matter if any of these ideas appeal to you:
26. Use a special “language”
Fitting a sweet happy anniversary message on a cake can be easier if you and your partner both share knowledge or love of a certain language or similar form of communication. For instance, you can include a message in Morse Code, or reference a relevant Bible passage.
27. Use text lingo
If you want your happy anniversary to say more than you can typically fit on a cake, consider using text shorthand/hashtags creatively.
28. Happy [relevant number of candles] anniversary!
This is an easy way to make a basic happy anniversary cake message a little more interesting. Just as you might represent someone’s age on a birthday cake with the appropriate number of candles, so too might you decide to mark your anniversary with five candles for a fifth anniversary, six candles for a sixth, etc.
29. “A sweet anniversary treat for my sweetie.”
A happy anniversary message doesn’t need to be complicated. When you’re working with limited space, it really can’t be. You can instead simply focus on being cute.
30. A relevant quote
Many romantic quotes from songs, poems, movies, or books aren’t very long, but they can be very meaningful for a couple. You may want to use such a quote for a unique happy anniversary cake message.
Funny ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
A happy anniversary message can absolutely be funny. Comedic anniversary messages are particularly ideal when two members of a couple share a sense of humor. The following are a few examples to consider:
31. “I just realized something insane (but wonderful). After all these years, we’re still together. How’d that happen?”
For even the closest of couples, maintaining a healthy relationship can involve some degree of challenge. There’s a reason so many relationships don’t last. Thus, a message acknowledging that it comes as a bit of a surprise to realize a relationship has lasted as long as it has can be a cute, somewhat funny little way of thanking a partner for all the hard work they’ve done to keep the relationship going.
32. “Sorry, all sales are final. You’re stuck with me.”
This little bit of self-deprecation is a humorous message that can express appreciation for a partner who’s stuck around through thick and thin.
33. “If we’ve tolerated each other this long, we must be doing something right.”
Although this might not be an ideal message for all couples, it’s one to consider when two partners are the type to honestly admit that making a relationship work does naturally involve a degree of putting up with a partner’s bad qualities just as much as it involves loving them for their good qualities.
34. “Happy birthday!”
This “happy anniversary” message (or a variation on it) is ideal if one member of a couple has a tendency to forget certain important dates. They could get a laugh out of their partner by acknowledging this trait on an anniversary.
35. “Looks like I’m going to keep making memories with you until I lose my memory. Which might not be long…”
Someone might use this funny “happy anniversary” message if they’ve been with their partner or spouse for many years and are beginning to approach old age.
Romantic or Sweet ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
Naturally, many feel it’s best for a “happy anniversary” message to be romantic in some way. Examples of such messages include:
36. “I genuinely love you more with each passing day.”
Sure, it’s a basic message, but it’s also one that’s very popular for a reason: many people deeply appreciate hearing it.
37. “My life is so much better than I could have ever dreamed it would be, thanks to you.”
Being with the right partner or spouse can result in living a life that is in many ways much more enjoyable than it otherwise could have been. An anniversary is certainly the perfect time to address this.
38. “I’m not usually a fan of love stories, but I make a big exception for ours.”
This type of message is, of course, best if the person expressing it genuinely isn’t a major fan of romance books or movies. If they are, they can modify the message, saying something like “I may be obsessed with love stories, but none can ever compare to ours.”
39. “I still want to be with you forever. You just make me wish forever was longer.”
Telling someone you want to spend the rest of your life with them is one of the most common ways to wish them a happy anniversary. You could thus add a romantic spin to this popular message by stating that being with your partner or spouse makes forever still seem like not enough time.
40. “I didn’t believe in soulmates until I met mine.”
The experience of feeling as though a partner is a soulmate despite previously not believing in soulmates is one many people in committed relationships can relate to. This message expresses that feeling simply and sweetly.
First-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
Many couples consider a first-year anniversary to be one of the most important in their lives together. Messages to consider for this big day include:
41. “That first year wasn’t so bad. Let’s try a few more.”
The nature of a first-year “happy anniversary” message can be wide-ranging. For example, if you wanted your message to be funny, you might consider something along these lines. As always, you can add more humor depending on how comfortable you feel your partner would be with such a message.
42. “Thank you for the best year of my life.”
Again, life can improve in ways both big and small when you find the right person for you. A first-year anniversary offers the opportunity to thank a partner or spouse for the role they’ve played in making your life better than it ever was before you met them.
43. “I could get used to this.”
This is another message that’s mildly humorous while nevertheless expressing deep love on a one-year anniversary.
44. “I never realized it was possible to pack what seems like a lifetime’s worth of love into a single year, but you proved that can happen.”
The first year of a relationship or marriage can sometimes be filled with intense emotion as two people first get to know one another. This message sums up that feeling on a first-year anniversary.
45. “Discovering all the ways in which you’re an amazing person and partner has given me joy just about every single day of this past year.”
As two people get to know more about each other over the course of the first year of a relationship, they may consistently discover new reasons for falling in love with one another. Let a partner know you’ve experienced that with this message.
Five-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
A five-year anniversary is also a very important one. By this point, a couple has likely gone through some of the challenges a relationship can involve, but have nevertheless managed to continue making it work. Messages worth sharing on this day include:
46. “I’ve officially dedicated more time to you than I did to getting my college degree. Somehow, I’ve also had more fun doing so.”
Because the average college student will spend about four years pursuing the degree that’s meant to play such an important role in their life, acknowledging the fact that spending five years with someone represents making an even bigger commitment might be ideal on a five-year anniversary. This could also be a perfect message for a couple who met in college.
47. “Every challenge we’ve faced, you’ve impressed me with your love.”
Once more, over the course of the first five years of a relationship, it’s not uncommon for partners to face natural difficulties. Now might be the time to thank a partner or spouse for how they’ve handled those experiences.
48. “Time for our first parole board review.”
As with all humorous “happy anniversary” messages, this one might not be right for everyone. But it could be perfect for some!
49. “Congratulations on this major milestone, you two!”
Remember, you don’t actually have to be a member of a couple to still wish a beloved couple a happy anniversary, particularly one as important as this.
50. “One of the happiest thoughts I have is knowing our life together has just begun.”
Five years can seem like a long time at first, but if a couple stays together for life, five years may end up feeling like no time at all. On a five-year anniversary, you might want to explain that you’re thrilled to realize your relationship is actually just beginning.
Ten-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
It’s remarkably easy to understand why some people consider spending a decade with a partner a significant milestone. Mark the occasion with one of these messages:
51. Give jewelry
Again, not all “happy anniversary” messages need to take the form of actual words. The right gesture is sometimes the best way to show your love. On the date of a ten-year anniversary, many people traditionally give their partners the gift of jewelry. This is always a reliable option to consider!
52. “They say time flies when you’re having fun. That explains why the past ten years went by so quickly.”
This is a sweet little message that can remind a partner or spouse they’ve provided you with so much joy and love that a decade has gone by much more quickly than expected.
53. “Congratulations on a decade of love. You two have many more to look forward to.”
Depending on your relationship with a couple, it may not be necessary to send them a “happy anniversary” message on every anniversary. However, because a ten-year anniversary is so significant, it’s a good day to remind a couple you know that their friends and family admire their dedication to one another.
54. “After ten years, you can still surprise me (in the best of ways, of course).”
After spending a decade with someone, a partner may like a reminder that their other half hasn’t grown bored of them, and in fact actually continues to find them attractive, interesting, and dynamic.
55. “We’ve been through a lot over the course of ten years, but I still know there’s no one else I’d rather have spent this time with.”
Once more, sometimes the best “happy anniversary” messages are those which let a partner or spouse know you’ve never once felt as though you made the wrong decision by committing to them.
Twenty-Five-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
If spending a decade with someone is impressive, staying committed to someone for a quarter of a century is downright inspiring. Celebrate the moment with one of these messages:
56. Give silver
Traditionally, many refer to a twenty-five year anniversary as a “silver anniversary” or a “silver jubilee.” Thus, people often give silver gifts on this anniversary. Consider doing the same if tradition is important to you and your partner.
57. “After twenty-five years together, we’ve learned a lot. What I’ve learned most is I can experience more love than I ever thought possible.”
The right message for a twenty-five year anniversary might be a romantic one that allows you to reflect on the valuable lessons you and your partner have learned after spending more than two decades together.
58. “I’ve now spent most of my life with you. Still, I can only wish I met you earlier.”
By the time a couple has been together for twenty-five years, there’s a good chance they genuinely have spent most of their lives with one another. This message is a kind way of saying that doesn’t feel like nearly enough time.
59. “Twenty-five years isn’t as long as it sounds when a person is lucky enough to spend that time with you.”
This is another variation on the type of “happy anniversary” message that tells someone their presence makes the years seem to fly by.
60. “A lot can change over a quarter of a century. One thing that hasn’t changed is my love for you.”
This message is worth considering because it may simply be true. A lot may change in a couple’s life together over the course of twenty-five years. However, your love might not change at all. Let your spouse know you still love them just as much as you did when you first met.
Fifty-Year ‘Happy Anniversary’ Messages
Spending half a century with someone is a truly astounding feat worthy of celebration. These messages can help you express your love in a way that feels fresh after so much time:
61. Give gold
Just as it’s tradition to give silver for a twenty-five year anniversary, it’s common to give gold on what’s known as the “golden anniversary” or “golden jubilee.”
62. “Some say the best love stories are those that stand the test of time. I think it’s fair to say ours has.”
It’s hard to ignore the fact that half a century is a fairly significant amount of time to spend with someone when sending a “happy anniversary” message on a fifty-year anniversary. As such, your message could directly address this fact.
63. “We may no longer be young, but you certainly make me feel young.”
Although your body and mind may not be what they once were if you’re old enough to be celebrating a fifty-year anniversary, it’s possible for the love you share with a partner to make you forget that.
64. “Thank you for inspiring all of us throughout the years.”
If you’re sending a “happy anniversary” message to a couple you know on their fifty-year anniversary, consider letting them know their commitment has served as an inspiration to many other couples. This is a sentiment many appreciate hearing their loved ones express on such an important anniversary.
65. “Every single year of the past half-century has brought me so much happiness and so many wonderful memories because of you.”
On the date of your fifty-year anniversary, you may want to take the opportunity to tell your partner or spouse that every year you’ve spent together has been one for which you remain profoundly grateful.
Happy Anniversary: How to Express Your Feelings
Saying happy anniversary in a unique way lets a person know you genuinely feel a deep love for them. These ideas can help.