On Your Anniversary, Write to the Next One
After enough years, anniversaries turn into a routine: book a restaurant, post a photo, trade a quick "happy anniversary." But the whole point of an anniversary is remembering — why you chose each other in the first place, and what this particular year held. Here's a tradition that makes the day feel solemn again: every anniversary, write a letter addressed to the next one. Put the year's changes in it — the move, the fights and the making-up, the new habit they picked up, the promises you renewed. Next anniversary, you open last year's letter first, then write this year's. Keep the chain going and ten years becomes ten letters: a chronicle that belongs to exactly two people. It works for more than romance — the day your child was born, the day you got your marriage license, even the day you quit smoking. Below are anniversary letters people chose to share. This year, leave one for your future.
How to write this letter
- Log the year's highlights: the move, the trip, the worst fight and how you made up. Even a plain list works — time will do the seasoning.
- Write what you honestly feel about them, and about the relationship — the sweetness and the friction both. Only honest letters carry weight years later.
- Rope them in: write one each, or one together, and open them side by side next anniversary.
- Set delivery for the next anniversary itself, so opening the letter becomes part of the celebration.
Real letters from the vault
352 public letters你仲记得两年后嘅约定吗？
2017年7月14日喺你同静儿开始喺埋一齐嘅两周年..你曾经对佢许下约定话叫佢等你两年..两年之后送一部iPhone比佢...你仲记得吗？你能够做到吗？
wushiry
2016.01.19
写给2019的情人节
希望这一天，如我在2018年的情人节所言：仍然是你和我，仍然是最初相识时温暖的心情。爱上你，无怨无悔。感谢你也有同样的心情。望彼此的感情绵长永久……
末默无闻的招魂幡
2018.02.20
亲爱的，我们第一单独看电影
老公，我做完听到你要离开我，简直走火入魔，晴天霹雳的消息让我窒息……六年来的每一步很难，估计你已厌倦，一年后的你还是我的吗？还记得咱们犯傻吗？
傻傻鱼
2016.02.13
写给未来的你
你好鸭，李先生。今天，是我们在一起的第十三年，这些年都有发生什么事呢，我们应该结婚了吧，或许孩子也有了，我们过得是不是很幸福？我很爱你。
n6120
2020.11.30
老婆110
时光飞逝，领证都110天了！过的还好吧？对喽，都上十几天班了，累死喽！还坚持几天就要培训喽！加油↖(^ω^)↗！一周前的敏哥
2018年的敏哥
2018.07.12
一年之后的陈震
你好哦 嘻嘻 现在的你应该还在睡觉呢 啊哦 1月8日 特地选的这一天 我们在一起的那天 其实吧 咱俩的认识也是着实有趣呢
用户6534524409
2020.11.29
今天是在一起6周年
小张，今天是我们在一起的6周年哦，30岁的我们结婚了吗，不知道这个时候我们两个都在干嘛，但我可以保证，我这辈子都爱你。
n660
2023.04.11
和Kitty的十年之约
和Kitty的十年之约——2029年2月10日一起吃一顿超级大餐。那时候我们已经29岁了，时间过的好快啊！！
n4011
2019.02.15
十一周年纪念日
你们在一起了吗？你和妖妖结婚了吧你们早就有可爱的宝宝了吧这是我们在一起的第11年11周年纪念日万岁 我爱你
Ruru
2017.05.28
100 days with you
亲爱的：今天是与你相识的第100天100个日日夜夜的相识相伴已使我认清自己的内心你是我一生相携手的伴侣
n489
2017.03.26
写给小
有被自己蠢到，辛辛苦苦讲了好多话突然就没了我吐了。不出意外的话，我们现在已经在一起一年啦撒花撒花撒花
n6228
2020.12.14
今天你结婚了吗
今天是结婚的日子，当初答应的实现了吗？从今天起角色已经变化，希望未来的你好好珍惜，好好努力！
云锦
2020.11.29
Frequently Asked Questions
Won't it get repetitive, writing every year?
It never does. Everyone who keeps the chain discovers the same thing: the date stays fixed, but the person writing changes every year. Lay the letters side by side and you can see it happen.
Should I send it one year ahead, or further?
Both are common. Year-to-year is the natural rhythm — and free within a year. Some couples write on their wedding day for the tenth anniversary; longer terms are a one-time fee from ¥3.9 up to ¥19.9.
What do people mark besides romantic anniversaries?
The day a child was born, the day someone left the hospital healthy, the day a business was founded — any date you want to honor once a year deserves a letter.
On Your Anniversary, Write to the Next One
Write yours