So I am kind of new at this couple's thing. It is me and my girlfriends first year together dating at the end of August.

Do people get their partner gifts? If so like what are good ideas? I know my parents dont but I feel like some people do.

Do you go anywhere for yours? I was thinking of going up north and having a night out together.

Not sure what other people do

Hey Carl

I think it's wonderful you want to show your appreciation and your love to your girlfriend for your first year together

I think what you give or do depends on your girlfriend, and your relationship with her. If it's very lovingly emotional, a hand made gift would be a great idea. A letter, expressing your love to her and what you've appreciated from her over the year. Something like that would be very touching and I'm sure she'd keep it forever.

If your relationship is more of a physical sense as in you guys love doing a lot of outdoors stuff, camping etc.. together, enjoy sports or something of that nature. You could get her tickets to a game, some kind of sporting gift that relates to what you both enjoy doing together.

If your relationship is of a more intimate physical nature, well......you know what to do

My relationship is a little bit of all of the above, except I'm the sport nut and he's a geek. We used to celebrate the early years, but when you get beyond 10 years I think it just gets really comfortable and you pretty much know everything about one another and there isn't really any need to celebrate those years, but we do still surprise eachother every now and then with weird, wacky ideas or gifts because it's always nice to feel loved and appreciated.

Congrats on your one year anniversary!

Thanks for the idea. I kind of like your first idea. I am more of the sports person she likes Hockey like I do, but not much of everything else. She thinks Football is all about "Guys in tights" Which I get lol.

Aww this is such a sweet thread Carl.
Congrats on getting to your first year with your partner

If I haven't already said it to you, let me first welcome you to the Forums! It's great to see new faces around here.

Ok now to your question.... it's a hard one to give you ideas on without first knowing what your partner's love language is. I'm wondering whether you have worked it out yourself or both of you taken the test. This to be an invaluable way of understanding and having successful meaningful relationships.

So in case you are not aware, everyone has their own specific love language which comprises of the following:
1. Acts of Service
2. Words of Affirmation
3. Physical Touch
4. Receiving Gifts
5. Quality Time.

Each of us, has all 5 components, but what makes it unique to an individual, is the priority or order we each have. So for example your #1 love language could be Physical Touch, whereas mine would be Quality Time. But we would both have all the others just in a different order.

So think about what makes girlfriend most happy: is it when you do something that helps her out at home or with her chores?; is it when you give her gift?, is it when you tell her how much she means to you or write her a loving text or letter?, is it when you spend time with her?.etc Once you have worked that out, working out what to do for her will be easy .

If you're not sure what her love language is or even what yours is, you can do an online test - just google the 5 Love Languages and take it either separately or as a couple. I promise you, you won't regret it!

Hey Carl I wish I was as smart as you and asked some people for some help when I was getting started. LOL

I married a girl whose love language is GIFTS, so let me tell you, I had to LEARN real quick. It's a real challenge at times to get it done, but that's part of what she values. The gift is just the end result of the effort that tells her she is special. And it almost never has to do with money. My go to gift is flowers when they aren't expected. But not just any flowers. I go to this super exotic shop where I design the bouquet myself, and I will often buy a raw vase and custom paint it for special anniversaries. It takes an hour or two, but worth every minute. She uses the vases all over the house to make her smile when I'm traveling too much.

But when I'm really going for the homerun, I will simply make her a card. I'll find the images I want from the web and place them into a card shape. And then I'll add the words. Not Hallmark's words. Mine. And yeah, they're as sappy as you can imagine, but they are her most treasured possessions. She has every one I ever made.

But of course when I want to shock her, I will plan a surprise vacation without her help and then put a picture of it in a box and give it to her to open. She loves that when I spend like THAT. LOL

Oh and I'll give you another clue if you want to hit a homerun. Whenever her birthday comes along and you are going to be around her family, buy her mom some flowers and thank her for delivering your most precious gift ever. You'll be gold for eternity.

A lot of women will be thankful just that you remembered. A nice dinner and maybe some flowers or something is never a bad idea. If you know her favorite flower, get that for her.

I agree with those above and say personalize the experience. If you both met at a certain place, go back there if it's at all pleasant to do so. Either way, have fun and congratulations on the anniversary.

Women are simple. Clean the house for us and make us dinner and fold the laundry and put it away.
We don't need all that other superfluous BS.

SvG Jericha (6077295) wrote:Women are simple. Clean the house for us and make us dinner and fold the laundry and put it away.
We don't need all that other superfluous BS.

Hahaha speak for yourself!!

My love language is receiving gifts!! I don't need him to clean the house for me or do laundry - that's what a cleaner is for!

He'd betta be coming home with a shiny NEW gadget, exotic flowers, or jewellery if he wants to get me smiling

ijOjO uK (109723058) wrote:

SvG Jericha (6077295) wrote:Women are simple. Clean the house for us and make us dinner and fold the laundry and put it away.
We don't need all that other superfluous BS.

Hahaha speak for yourself!!

My love language is receiving gifts!! I don't need him to clean the house for me or do laundry - that's what a cleaner is for!

He'd betta be coming home with a shiny NEW gadget, exotic flowers, or jewelry if he wants to get me smiling

Carl it'll just depend on the girl and her own personality. Age changes certain expectations and requests sometimes, too. You know her much better than we do.

ijOjO uK (109723058) wrote:

SvG Jericha (6077295) wrote:Women are simple. Clean the house for us and make us dinner and fold the laundry and put it away.
We don't need all that other superfluous BS.

Hahaha speak for yourself!!

My love language is receiving gifts!! I don't need him to clean the house for me or do laundry - that's what a cleaner is for!

He'd betta be coming home with a shiny NEW gadget, exotic flowers, or jewellery if he wants to get me smiling

So you're saying he should get you a maid?

ijOjO uK (109723058) wrote:

SvG Jericha (6077295) wrote:Women are simple. Clean the house for us and make us dinner and fold the laundry and put it away.
We don't need all that other superfluous BS.

Hahaha speak for yourself!!

My love language is receiving gifts!! I don't need him to clean the house for me or do laundry - that's what a cleaner is for!

He'd betta be coming home with a shiny NEW gadget, exotic flowers, or jewellery if he wants to get me smiling

I didn't specify that HE had to clean the house, just that the house needed to be cleaned. That's up to the individual to decide. Besides, I've already gotten all the gifts I could possibly want. I'd rather have experiences because when we kick the bucket, that's the only thing that matters.

It's all subjective, anyhow.

Nubber (126579776) wrote:So you're saying he should get you a maid?

Hahaha no...I can get my own maid.... I just need the goodies

Isla (2518852) wrote:
Carl it'll just depend on the girl and her own personality. Age changes certain expectations and requests sometimes, too. You know her much better than we do.

Now that is the truth ^^^^

SvG Jericha (6077295) wrote:I didn't specify that HE had to clean the house, just that the house needed to be cleaned. That's up to the individual to decide. Besides, I've already gotten all the gifts I could possibly want. I'd rather have experiences because when we kick the bucket, that's the only thing that matters.

It's all subjective, anyhow.

True true, it is subjective for sure... that's the whole rationale behind each individual's own love language. What floats your boat or mine, might be hell for Carl's girlfriend or anyone else for that matter.

I'm not where you're at with all the gifts, I could possibly want, being received yet.... ..my *unknown giftor* has yet to get me: my own island, jet and yacht. When that happens I will happily be at the stage you are now!

@ Carl, please remember the most important thing in all this is your girlfriend. She is the one you want to make happy!

ijOjO uK (109723058) wrote:

Nubber (126579776) wrote:So you're saying he should get you a maid?

Hahaha no...I can get my own maid.... I just need the goodies

Isla (2518852) wrote:
Carl it'll just depend on the girl and her own personality. Age changes certain expectations and requests sometimes, too. You know her much better than we do.

Now that is the truth ^^^^

SvG Jericha (6077295) wrote:I didn't specify that HE had to clean the house, just that the house needed to be cleaned. That's up to the individual to decide. Besides, I've already gotten all the gifts I could possibly want. I'd rather have experiences because when we kick the bucket, that's the only thing that matters.

It's all subjective, anyhow.

True true, it is subjective for sure... that's the whole rationale behind each individual's own love language. What floats your boat or mine, might be hell for Carl's girlfriend or anyone else for that matter.

I'm not where you're at with all the gifts, I could possibly want, being received yet.... ..my *unknown giftor* has yet to get me: my own island, jet and yacht. When that happens I will happily be at the stage you are now!

@ Carl, please remember the most important thing in all this is your girlfriend. She is the one you want to make happy!

*Gets JoJo a small RC plane on a rusted pontoon boat, in the middle of a puddle*

DinosaurNerd89 (11877186) wrote:
*Gets JoJo a small RC plane on a rusted pontoon boat, in the middle of a puddle*

Oh. My. CD you shouldn't have!! That plane had betta have fuel is all I'm saying, and if I can swim in that puddle, you had betta keep the receipt!!

Like Mir and others said it all depends on your girlfriend. You have been together for 1 year so I am sure you know her well enough to know what makes her happy. For me personally its more about the thought and memories we can make. I love the silly little surprises my husband does for me. I love the things we do and places we go together that we both enjoy and creating those memories. He has gave me many gifts but it is those things that I hold near and dear the most. I would suggest thinking of something or maybe going some place that you can celebrate times you had in your year together. Memories you might of made and things you might of done. For example if your girlfriend told you a story about something maybe she use to own that she enjoyed or cherished. Maybe a childhood memory, or just a time in her life that was important. Maybe it is something she just enjoys doing, or a place special to her try to play off of that as a gift. It will show her you listened, remembered, and care.

ijOjO uK (109723058) wrote:Aww this is such a sweet thread Carl.
Congrats on getting to your first year with your partner

If I haven't already said it to you, let me first welcome you to the Forums! It's great to see new faces around here.

Ok now to your question.... it's a hard one to give you ideas on without first knowing what your partner's love language is. I'm wondering whether you have worked it out yourself or both of you taken the test. This to be an invaluable way of understanding and having successful meaningful relationships.

So in case you are not aware, everyone has their own specific love language which comprises of the following:
1. Acts of Service
2. Words of Affirmation
3. Physical Touch
4. Receiving Gifts
5. Quality Time.

Each of us, has all 5 components, but what makes it unique to an individual, is the priority or order we each have. So for example your #1 love language could be Physical Touch, whereas mine would be Quality Time. But we would both have all the others just in a different order.

So think about what makes girlfriend most happy: is it when you do something that helps her out at home or with her chores?; is it when you give her gift?, is it when you tell her how much she means to you or write her a loving text or letter?, is it when you spend time with her?.etc Once you have worked that out, working out what to do for her will be easy .

If you're not sure what her love language is or even what yours is, you can do an online test - just google the 5 Love Languages and take it either separately or as a couple. I promise you, you won't regret it!

So, We have started this adventure book last fall it was her idea you have to scratch off 1 task at a time and complete it. Long Story Short that Love Language was one of them. I think we both Matched with Physical Touch or Quality time she has the book that says it in. lol.

Thanks for welcoming me to forums however ive been around here for awhile with another name

The best thing is we love spending time together the most, she does like going out trying different restaurants. A love note does sound like a good idea.

Tingle DaDingle (126579776) wrote:Hey Carl I wish I was as smart as you and asked some people for some help when I was getting started. LOL

I married a girl whose love language is GIFTS, so let me tell you, I had to LEARN real quick. It's a real challenge at times to get it done, but that's part of what she values. The gift is just the end result of the effort that tells her she is special. And it almost never has to do with money. My go to gift is flowers when they aren't expected. But not just any flowers. I go to this super exotic shop where I design the bouquet myself, and I will often buy a raw vase and custom paint it for special anniversaries. It takes an hour or two, but worth every minute. She uses the vases all over the house to make her smile when I'm traveling too much.

But when I'm really going for the homerun, I will simply make her a card. I'll find the images I want from the web and place them into a card shape. And then I'll add the words. Not Hallmark's words. Mine. And yeah, they're as sappy as you can imagine, but they are her most treasured possessions. She has every one I ever made.

But of course when I want to shock her, I will plan a surprise vacation without her help and then put a picture of it in a box and give it to her to open. She loves that when I spend like THAT. LOL

Oh and I'll give you another clue if you want to hit a homerun. Whenever her birthday comes along and you are going to be around her family, buy her mom some flowers and thank her for delivering your most precious gift ever. You'll be gold for eternity.

Thanks for the tips.

Never thought about the last part Her Birthday isnt tell April so I could think about it

Yeah I like the idea of the Card online Ill proboly work on it this weekend. I was thinking of flowers too but just thought should something else go with it? She does like Frogs, Decorative Gnomes, Dogs, & Coffee.

Isla (2518852) wrote:A lot of women will be thankful just that you remembered. A nice dinner and maybe some flowers or something is never a bad idea. If you know her favorite flower, get that for her.

I agree with those above and say personalize the experience. If you both met at a certain place, go back there if it's at all pleasant to do so. Either way, have fun and congratulations on the anniversary.

Im thinking too a nicer place for dinner, flowers, and something small would be good. She does like Yellow.

Ok Ill be Honest we meet through our mothers, they were good friends through grade school.

Again like I said from another reply that we are doing this 50 dates book one of them was create our first date.

Wanna know our first date? It was going to a local restaurant (Village Inn) & a Trip to Dairy Queen. Nothing Fancy...

sNaPCaCkLeNPooP (12927062) wrote:Like Mir and others said it all depends on your girlfriend. You have been together for 1 year so I am sure you know her well enough to know what makes her happy. For me personally its more about the thought and memories we can make. I love the silly little surprises my husband does for me. I love the things we do and places we go together that we both enjoy and creating those memories. He has gave me many gifts but it is those things that I hold near and dear the most. I would suggest thinking of something or maybe going some place that you can celebrate times you had in your year together. Memories you might of made and things you might of done. For example if your girlfriend told you a story about something maybe she use to own that she enjoyed or cherished. Maybe a childhood memory, or just a time in her life that was important. Maybe it is something she just enjoys doing, or a place special to her try to play off of that as a gift. It will show her you listened, remembered, and care.

Thanks for the tips, she likes to talk about going to the City where she went to college. I mean Ive been there it is a nice town to explore. The thing is timing. I would like to have a clear weekend for this. But these next few weeks I am or her is busy so we wouldnt have enough time to go up there and explore.

August 21st- She Works
August 28th- I wanted to bring her to the State Fair (Possibly with family)
September 4th- She Works/Labor Day Weekend
September 11th- I have a Volunteer Event All Day
September 18th- I am going out of town/She Works

Maybe we should go the 26th Weekend?...I mean a delayed Trip but still go. I mean I want to go up to the city but just timing isnt the best.