dearyou
What to write 2 min read1 study cited

How to write an anniversary letter (with examples)

Anniversary letters go wrong in two ways: too generic ("you mean the world to me") or too long to finish. The fix is structure. Four short parts, each one specific to the two of you.

By the dearyou team ·

A record spinning on a turntable in warm light

The four-part structure

  1. A memory. One moment, described like you're telling a friend.
  2. What it showed you. Why that moment mattered.
  3. Something you admire now. About who they are this year.
  4. What's next. One thing you're looking forward to together.

An example

"Remember the night we missed the last metro and walked home? You complained the whole way and still held my hand the entire time. That's when I knew you'd stick around for the boring parts too. This year I watched you start a job you were scared of and do it brilliantly. Next year, I want that trip we keep talking about. Happy anniversary."

Tips

  • Write it the way you talk. Hinglish is fine. Inside jokes are better.
  • Cut every line that could be in anyone's letter.
  • Read it out loud once. If you cringe, rewrite that line, not the whole thing.
  • Handwrite it, or put it somewhere they'll keep: the last page of an album, the hidden track of a mixtape.
A dearyou templateRewind TapePut your letter in the hidden track at the end of your story as a mixtape, after Side A and Side B.Play the demo free

What the research says

From the research
Revisiting meaningful shared memories (nostalgia) lifted people's mood and strengthened their sense of being connected to others.
[1] Wildschut et al., 2006Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

That's why the memory section matters most: it does more than decorate the letter, it brings the two of you back to a moment you shared.

Questions people ask

How long should an anniversary letter be?+

Short enough to read in a minute or two: four short paragraphs covering a memory, what it meant, what you admire now and what you're looking forward to.

Should an anniversary letter be handwritten?+

Handwritten is lovely and easy to keep. A typed letter inside something they'll revisit, like an album or a website, works just as well.

Make it yours

A dearyou templateOur AlbumPlay the demo free, then fill it with your own photos, words and song.Play the demo free A dearyou templateFirst TextsPlay the demo free, then fill it with your own photos, words and song.Play the demo free
#letters#anniversary#writing#examples

Sources

  1. [1]Wildschut, T., Sedikides, C., Arndt, J. & Routledge, C. (2006). Nostalgia: Content, triggers, functions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91(5), 975–993. Read

Read next

All ideas & guides