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Anniversaries 2 min read1 study cited

Long-distance anniversary ideas

An anniversary apart can feel like a reminder of the distance. It can also be the anniversary you plan hardest for, because you have to. Here's how to make the day feel shared even when the city isn't.

By the dearyou team ·

A scooter parked on a quiet beach at sunset

Mark the day together

  • Start and end the day on a call.
  • Watch the film from your first date, in sync.
  • Order each other's favourite food to the other's address.
  • Write letters to read aloud at the same time.

Gifts that arrive on time

  • A passport of your relationship: every trip and visit stamped, and a boarding pass for the next one.
  • A countdown to the next time you'll see each other.
  • A digital album of every visit so far.
  • Something to sleep with: a T-shirt that smells like you, posted ahead.
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Plan the next visit, together

The best long-distance anniversary gift is a date on the calendar. Use the day to book the next trip, or at least pick it. Having a countdown makes the distance feel temporary.

What the research says

From the research
Long-distance dating couples in one study reported more intimacy than couples who lived close by, driven by sharing more about themselves and idealising each other more.
[1] Jiang & Hancock, 2013Journal of Communication

In practice: make the anniversary about honest conversation. Write letters to read aloud, talk about the year properly, and plan the next visit together.

Questions people ask

How do you celebrate an anniversary long distance?+

Spend the day on calls, watch your first-date film in sync, send each other food, and plan or book your next visit together.

What is a good gift for a long-distance anniversary?+

Something that marks your story and your next step: a personalised passport of your visits, a countdown to the next one, or food delivered on the day.

Make it yours

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#longdistance#anniversary#virtualdates#visits

Sources

  1. [1]Jiang, L. C. & Hancock, J. T. (2013). Absence makes the communication grow fonder: Geographic separation, interpersonal media, and intimacy in dating relationships. Journal of Communication, 63(3), 556–577. Read

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