Best Anniversary Songs (Plus What to Do With Them)
Anniversary coming up and you're stuck on what song represents your relationship? Or maybe you know the song but don't know what to do with it?
I've been there. My 5th anniversary I spent two hours scrolling through Spotify going "is this the one?" Spoiler: I was overthinking it.
Here's what actually matters when picking anniversary songs, plus some ideas that aren't just "make a playlist."
Songs for Early Anniversaries (1-5 Years)
These years are still pretty romantic. You're not at the "we fight about laundry" stage yet. Pick something that captures that.
"Can't Help Falling in Love" - Elvis Presley The classic for a reason. Works for year 1 or year 50. Simple, sweet, doesn't get old.
"All of Me" - John Legend If you got married in the 2010s, there's a 90% chance this was somewhere in your wedding. It holds up though.
"Lucky" - Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat For couples who are still kinda surprised they found each other. Very sweet without being too sappy.
"Everything" - Michael Bublé Good for the "I still can't believe you're real" phase.
Songs for Middle Anniversaries (5-15 Years)
You've been together long enough to have real history. Pick songs that acknowledge that you've built something together.
"The Luckiest" - Ben Folds For when you've been through stuff together and came out better. Not just puppy love anymore.
"Beyond" - Leon Bridges Modern classic. About choosing someone every day, not just the initial falling in love part.
"Make You Feel My Love" - Adele Everyone knows this one. About weathering storms together. Perfect for this stage.
"Still the One" - Orleans Literally what it says. You've been together a while and they're still the one.
Songs for Long Anniversaries (15+ Years)
At this point, you've built a whole life together. Pick something that honors that longevity.
"Grow Old With Me" - Tom Odell Self-explanatory. For the "we're in this for the long haul" couples.
"The Book of Love" - Peter Gabriel Long, slow, deep. For couples who have real history.
"When I'm 64" - The Beatles If you can't be a little bit playful after 15+ years, what's the point?
"Unchained Melody" - The Righteous Brothers Classic, timeless, emotional. Your grandparents probably slow-danced to this.
Not Doing a Paper Card This Year
Okay, so you picked a song. Now what?
Here's where most people just write the name in a card and call it a day. But you can do something better without much extra effort.
Turn it into a lyrics poster
Print out the lyrics in a nice design, frame it, done. They hang it on the wall and see it every day instead of a card that goes in a drawer.
You can add your anniversary date to it, or the location where you got married, or whatever makes it specific to you two.
My friend does a new one every year with a different song. Now she has a whole wall of their relationship in song lyrics. It's actually really cool.
Make It a Tradition
Here's an idea that's better than buying flowers every year (though flowers are fine too):
Every anniversary, pick a new song that represents that year. Create a custom song poster for it.
After 10 years, you'll have 10 posters that tell the story of your relationship. Way more meaningful than random gifts you forget about.
For the "I Don't Know Our Song" People
If you've been together a while and never had "a song," that's fine. Pick one now.
It can be:
- The song from your first dance (if you're married)
- A song you both actually like (revolutionary concept)
- The song that was playing during your first kiss
- A song you listened to a lot when you first dated
- Literally anything you both agree on
Once you pick it, it becomes your song. That's how this works. There's no song police.
The DIY Anniversary Gift Formula
Want to know the secret to a good anniversary gift? It's not complicated:
- Pick a song that means something specific to your relationship
- Create a lyrics poster or custom design
- Frame it nicely
- Write a card explaining why you picked that song
The card part is important. Don't assume they remember which song was playing when you did that thing that one time. Tell them.
Songs by Paper Anniversary Theme
Traditional anniversary themes are kinda silly, but they can help you pick a song:
1st (Paper): "I Choose You" - Sara Bareilles 5th (Wood): "Roots" - Imagine Dragons 10th (Tin): "Ten Years" - Daði Freyr 15th (Crystal): "Crystal" - Stevie Nicks 20th (China): "20 Years" - The Civil Wars 25th (Silver): "Silver Springs" - Fleetwood Mac 50th (Gold): "Golden Years" - David Bowie
(These are kind of a stretch, but you get the idea.)
What If You Disagree on the Song?
Simple - do two different ones.
Make a lyrics poster with lyrics from your song, and one from their song. Hang them next to each other.
Or compromise and pick a third song you both like. You're adults, you can figure this out.
The "Every Year" Song List
Can't pick just one? Make a small collection:
- The song from your first date
- The song from your wedding/commitment ceremony
- The song you listened to on a memorable trip together
- A song you both love now
Create a printable music poster for each one. Instant gallery wall.
Keep It Simple
Look, you don't have to do anything complicated. Pick a song. Make a poster or just play it for them. Write why it matters.
That's better than buying some generic "Happy Anniversary" thing from a store.
The whole point is showing that you remember. That you pay attention. That you still care after all this time.
The song is just the vehicle for that.
Ready to create your anniversary gift? Try our anniversary song lyrics poster maker or explore our custom templates to get started.