(If you're looking for the perfect anniversary gift then here is a good example of what can be achieved. Allana wanted something special for her husband Barry to help celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Allana also wanted a traditional first anniversary gift, i.e. a gift made out of paper. Allana has kindly given her permission for her story to be published).
"Thank you so much! You are so talented. I love it! I also love the title =). I hope you don't mind, but I made a few changes to make it sound more like me talking to him, so here they are…
As God Planned (traditional first anniversary gift)
What is your name: Allana Saunders
Who do you want the poem written for: Barry Saunders, my husband
Why do you want the poem written: This is for our 1st wedding anniv. We were married May 6, 2007. I wanted to do something special and thoughtful and this is perfect since the traditional 1st anniv gift is "paper".
What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.): Happy, romantic (preferably with a little humor)
Please choose which package you would prefer : Deluxe
Would you like a copy of the handwritten drafts : Yes
What are the key messages you would like to send: This first year of marriage has been amazing! I appreciate him sooooo much. I am so grateful to God for giving me such a wonderful husband. He is the most wonderful husband in the whole world…for being so loving, so caring, for making me feel so loved and appreciated, for being an amazing provider, for doing the dishes after dinner, for making the bed only because he knows it makes me happy, and for making me laugh non-stop. He has made me the happiest woman in the world and it is an honor and a priviledge to be his wife. I am excited about spending the rest of our lives together and so grateful that I have him to go through life with. He truly is, and always will be "the love of my life."
Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share: We actually knew each other for about 5 or 6 years before we started dating. He had a girlfriend, then I had a boyfriend, then he flirted with me a lot (and I flirted back a little) then on Superbowl Sunday 2005 he asked me out and I said "no". And then Superbowl Sunday 2006, he asked me out again and I said "yes". So, needless to say, Superbowl Sunday has a special meaning to us. I am so glad he was persistent. We both agree it happened when it was suppose to in God's perfect timing.
He proposed at the 2007 Salsa Challenge and Margarita Mix-off in Tempe, Arizona on March 24, 2007 where he is the reigning Margarita Champ for several years. He rode in on a donkey, dressed up as a mexican (he has blond/light brown hair and very blue eyes) named "El Barracho". I had no idea it was planned. I was completely shocked when he got me up on stage in the middle of his performance and asked me to marry him. And of course I said YES (how could I turn down the 3 kt diamond - haha).
Everyone said (and says) the 1st year of marriage is the toughest. Well we have been through some major losses (my stepmom passed away right after we were married and we lost our baby when I was 11 weeks pregnant) and even through all that and the normal adjustment stuff, we both agree it has been a wonderful year and was not hard. Sure, we had a few challenging moments, but they only made us learn more about each other, about ourselves, made us grow, and made us stronger…individually and as a couple.
Do you have any other comments or thoughts : We got married at 36 years old and I always told my single girlfriends (and still do) that when we meet the right person it will all be worth it…the yucky dating stuff you go through. I always believed that, and now Barry has proved it and I can tell all my single friends "That he was definitely worth the wait" and worth everything I had to go through to get to him =). I would do it all over again, but I would get to him sooner!!!
As God Planned
My love, I wanted to get you something special,
you know, traditional, made of paper, that sort of thing,
because after our first glorious year of marriage,
I know that you're my all, truly, my everything.
We've come such a long way in such a short time,
I just can't believe how quickly this year has flown,
but I do just want to thank you for being you,
I'm very grateful for all the love that you've shown.
I'll never forget our very perfect wedding day,
that beautiful sunday, May 6th, 2007,
that was the day I married my perfect match,
the day, here on Earth, I found my idea of heaven.
Our first year of marriage has been amazing,
please know that I appreciate all you've done,
because your love has been my inspiration, my light,
in every way, you've been like my morning sun.
I am so grateful to God for giving me such a husband,
wonderful, powerful, yet so very gentle, so very kind,
I want you to know that I appreciate you sooooo much,
you are always in my heart, you are always on my mind.
You really know how to make me feel loved,
I think you're the best husband on Earth,
and my sweet Barry, I just want to say "thank you",
I do appreciate your true and honest worth.
You're so loving, so caring, an amazing provider,
in the lottery of life, I've really picked a winner,
a man who makes the bed, just to keep me happy,
one that also, thankfully, does the dishes after dinner.
You have made me the happiest woman in the world,
you make me laugh so hard my sides do ache,
it is an honor and a privilege to be your wife,
in my life, you are simply the icing on the cake.
I'm so excited about spending the rest of our lives,
because I know, undoubtedly, that we'll be together,
I am so grateful that I have you to go through life with, and
when that's done, I know our love will last forever and ever.
So I want you to know that I love you to pieces,
I am just so very proud to be called 'your wife',
and for the record, and never, ever doubt this,
you are my one and only, the love of my life.
They say that all good things come to those who wait,
and I'm so glad that you didn't accept my first "no",
because my true love rode in on a donkey, and
I love my El Barracho, more than you'll ever know.
Actually, you can dress up as a Mexican anytime,
as long as you have three carats in your hand,
but seriously, I'm so glad that I waited for you,
but then again, our love is just as God planned.
And I know we've had some ups and downs this year,
but hey! Who says that life is all a rose filled dream?
Just know that I love you very, very much, and so
does God, as He obviously planned us as a team.
And our challenges have only made us stronger,
we are so united, so in love, soul mate to soul mate,
and as I tell every one of my still single friends: "Yes!
Barry was definitely worth the wait!"
And I just want to say Happy 1st Anniversary,
that's really what these words are for,
here's to you Barry, you're truly wonderful,
and here's to our everlasting love, for evermore.
"Thanks again for the awesome poem. You are welcome to use it as an example. It was from seeing your example that I knew you would do an amazing job with the information given…and of course you did =). I will now go to the links you gave me and pick out the card, paper, favorite verse, etc. Thanks again and I will be looking forward to hearing back from you very soon. Allana"
2008 
