What Would Be a Great 12Th Anniversary Gift for a "Very Practical" Husband?

Okay, first off...something about silk sheets and silk boxers creeps me out. Yuck. Just NO. No pillow cases either.

Anniversary gifts are personal to the couple. Without knowing anything about you, I couldn't begin to make suggestions. But I will say this: I think anniversary gifts should be something the couple shares or does together. This isn't Father's Day. Don't buy him a shopvac.

Does he like to fish or bowl? I would do his favorite activity as a family, then an adult dinner with him.

We found over the years that experiences are way better than stuff. Concerts, shows, comedy clubs, professional sporting events, going to a hot new restaurant, either just the two of us or with friends. If there's nothing happening on your anniversary buy tickets for a future event and give that as a gift. It's a present and date night all in one, win win!!!

so why stick with the 'traditional' list? there's not much there i'd want to buy my very practical ol' man.
a season of his favorite tv show on dvd. tickets to a sporting event. reservations at his favorite restaurant on a weekend not so busy. reservations for romantic weekend in the near future. something related to his favorite sport or hobby. something for the house that's a bit of a luxury you've put off (a good coffee grinder or piece of art or heated towel bars or something.)
khairete
S.

I will be honest, I think those lists are silly.

Get something hubby would like. What are his hobbies?

Our anniversary is Sunday, August 23rd. 29 years. My hubby got me a purse and I'm getting him a couple of new suits. We have both lost a bit of weight and need new clothes. =) Just see what he needs or what he doesn't need but would really like to have. Does he do any home improvements?

We haven't done those traditional gifts.

I tend to do the hobby or interest type gifts more for fathers day or birthday and we tend to do a overnight trip, meal or night out for anniversaries. If we can't make it that weekend then we just book it.

Friends of ours buy a piece of art together every year for their home. It sounds like a funny idea but it's actually kind of nice. They kind of splurge and it's their gift to each other. They usually get it while on vacation or to remind them of something. Now their house is filled with them twenty years later.

How about just giving him a great day... you and the kids cook a nice meal, breakfast or even dinner... the kids are little but that doesn't mean they can't help out... let one help set the table, add flowers to a vase.. make a card. for the ones that may not be able to write, they can draw a picture..
make decorations for the house...
I would keep it simple and practical..
we have a hard time buying for my husband who is also very practical.. however, a nice favorite meal of some sort is always welcomed...

You could just get him something he would like and not even bother with the silk/linen/pearl idea.

We've never really gone by any official list of recommended gifts for anniversaries.
No guy would be displeased with a shop vac.
I surprised my husband with a shop vac one Christmas (I put a picture of it in his stocking with directions to where I hid it (was too big to wrap) and he was so delighted!

What are his hobbies?

Get him something that would interest him or that he could use. Maybe a night out to dinner and a movie (for both of you of course). Does he like sports? Get him tickets to a game.

My husband would not like personalized pillow cases or silk pj's, and the other things on an 11 year list are not practical.

We typically take a day trip to NY to see a show. It usually doesn't happen our anniversary weekend either because of our kid's activities. We just schedule it when it is convenient.

I never pay attention to the traditional gifts. Buy him tickets to a future event or plan a weekend away when it is more convenient. It doesn't have to be on the exact weekend as your anniversary. Buy him something that would fit with his hobbies or interests.

Buy some silk sheets, take him to bed, and ask him for a "string of pearls."

We plan something for us to do together - a concert or even just a nice dinner for just the 2 of us as our gift to each other. We started this a while ago and it makes us both happy.

If you can't go this weekend, make the plans for in a week or two, and tell him the plan on your anniversary.

You don't tell us his hobbies. What does he love to do? My husband is really into biking, bike races, and triathalons, so there are all kinds of clothing/gear/gadgets he would like that have to do with this. He is also really into space, space physics, satellites, and astronomy, so the newest book on this kind of topic is always appreciated. My husband always wished for a hammock in the backyard and this was his gift one year. He had always wished for a unicycle for the first 15 years we were together...just an off hand fun wish he would say now and then. One year I surprised him with one...boy was he delighted!

We have never followed tradition with this....I know few who do. We get each other what makes sense, if we do gifts at all.

I would find something he has been really excited for and maybe try that. For example, our 11th is coming up and I am planning to book a hotel in DC and take us to a jazz club for a night out, no kids. No gifts, just good, quality, adult time together. We'll see if it works out that way or not, but I would like that over any material item.

I gave my DH 12 photographs of mostly just the 2 of us (one picture of us taking DD home from the hospital when she was born) - one for every year we have been married. It's easy to do, and inexpensive. I forget now which one I used - snapfish or shutterfly. One allowed me to manipulate the photos better than the other, and zoom in/crop out. I also got a nice frame for him.

If you're committed to the list, how about pearl cuff links or tie tack?
There are cool linen gift ideas on Etsy, etc. "family established" signs, wedding date pillows and the like.
ETA: silk tie!

Traditional is silk or linen, Modern is pearls.

Hmm, how about taking a spin on the linen by buying him a nice warm, cozy
blanket?

You could, also, just veer off of the traditional/modern ideas & get him
something you think he would like & could use:
-beer stein
-favorite beer
-book if he reads
-write a nice loving note detailing your lives together, how you met, proposal
etc.
-a cd you know he'd love
-make him a nice dinner you know he'd like (steak, mashed potatoes etc. &
serve w/a nice beer or glass of wine if he drinks)
-copy a photo of either your wedding or favorite memory of something you
did together or went together.
-go somewhere for the day even with the kids. Go on a hike & pack a cool
lunch w/a couple of cold beers in your backpack. Or go to a local downtown
to walk around, walk through it's park & have lunch or dinner al fresco. It can
be all of you. Give him a card & write all the reasons you love him & are so
happy you ended up together.
Happy anniversary....enjoy your time together. Best wishes for many more!

A little different we have had two music concerts as wedding anniversary gifts to each other. We went to a Tina Turner concert just before she hung up her shoes. This past A. we went to a Fleetwood Mac concert and saw all five of the artists. Each concert was also out of town so it made it nice to be away.

Our anniversary is in November and the reason we did the A. concert is due to a reschedule of the event and the cost of the tickets per person was in my price range.

We both enjoyed the events and will do it again with a favorite group from the past.

Good luck on your plan. How about a picnic somewhere not local? Just something that would make both of you happy and be away from the kids for a day or so to be adults.

the other S.