Why these Anniversary Logos?
Many moons ago, I considered becoming a graphic designer. I became a therapist instead. However, I've long dabbled in graphic design and do most of my own marketing and design materials. It's fun. And I've designed all our anniversary logos.
I also teach a workshop called "Creating the GREAT Relationship Brand" on how to use branding, marketing, and customer service concepts from business in our own relationships. So, several years ago, I came up with the idea of creating our own brand for our relationship. While I do a different logo each year, the actual brand aspect that remains constant in each iteration is the “I ❤️ Kara.” And the number one thing to know in marketing is that a brand is not just a logo. A brand is an identity.A brand is a promise. And “I ❤️ Kara” is who we are (identity), and it is my promise: Love is not just a feeling; it’s a promise regardless of how I feel.
I put it on the back windows of our vehicles as a vinyl sticker every year. Over the years, friends and locals have come to look for it and anticipate the next year's asking, "Are you doing a new one this year?"
Yep! Here it is :-)
34th Anniversary, Logo, & Love Song Mixtape
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; 5. The Getaway; and 6. Kara’s Valentines Decorations. Our way is one way, not “the” way. What works for each couple (simple or complex, cheap or expensive) is the right way.
I share all of this here as clients and workshop participants often ask for examples of how to keep the love alive. This is one example. I recommend a “Valentines All Year” mentality to keep the romance going throughout the year: weekly date nights, take the time daily to share each other’s days (and really listen), plan get-aways, find thoughtful ways to show you care that are meaningful to your partner, a brief call or text during the day to say, “I’m thinking about you.”
33rd Anniversary, Logo, & Love Song Playlist
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; 5. The Getaway; and 6. Kara’s Valentines Decorations. Our way is one way, not “the” way. What works for each couple (simple or complex, cheap or expensive) is the right way.
I share all of this here as clients and workshop participants often ask for examples of how to keep the love alive. This is one example. I recommend a “Valentines All Year” mentality to keep the romance going throughout the year: weekly date nights, take the time daily to share each other’s days (and really listen), plan get-aways, find thoughtful ways to show you care that are meaningful to your partner, a brief call or text during the day to say, “I’m thinking about you.”
32nd Anniversary, Logo, & Love Song Playlist
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; 5. The Getaway; and 6. Kara’s Valentines Decorations. Our way is one way, not “the” way. What works for each couple (simple or complex, cheap or expensive) is the right way.
I share all of this here as clients and workshop participants often ask for examples of how to keep the love alive. This is one example. I recommend a “Valentines All Year” mentality to keep the romance going throughout the year: weekly date nights, take the time daily to share each other’s days (and really listen), plan get-aways, find thoughtful ways to show you care that are meaningful to your partner, a brief call or text during the day to say, “I’m thinking about you.”
31st Anniversary, Logo, & Love Song Playlist
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; 5. The Getaway; and 6. Kara’s Valentines Decorations
30th Anniversary, Logo, & Love Song Playlist
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; 5. The Getaway; and 6. Kara’s Valentines Decorations
29th Anniversary Logo & Love Song Playlist
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 6 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; 5. The Getaway; and 6. Kara’s Valentines Decorations
28th Anniversary Logo & Love Song Playlist
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 5 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; and 5. The Getaway.
27th Anniversary Logo & Love Song Playlist
If you’re a romantic sap like me, then read on! Our Anniversary Tradition typically includes 5 Things: 1. The Anniversary Logo; 2. The Love Song Playlist; 3. The Growing Bouquet of Roses; 4. The Fancy Schmancy Dinner; and 5. The Getaway.
26th Anniversary Logo & 26 Love Songs
I didn’t realize until I made this year’s anniversary logo how much the alphabet had been a crucial part of our relationship and love story. These building blocks are the perfect metaphor. Our relationship has been built from them. Our friendship and our marriage is made up of letters that created the words, laughter, promises, vows, and even the unpleasant fights (that we thankfully learned to move past, change behaviors, forgive, and do better). All of these words are backed up by the foundation of committed behavior tempered by time... 26 years of time to be exact.
25th Anniversary Logo & 42 Love Songs
25 Years!!! That's a quarter of a century! It's our Silver Anniversary! Woo hoo! And not only that, we've not only been married for 25 years, we've been friends for three decades now! And THAT is where it's at. 25 years in and we still...
24th Anniversary Logo & 41 Love Songs
It's our 24th Anniversary this month. This marks the year that MORE than half of our lives have been each other's.... A long time ago, I decided I would keep working to win and woo my one "marital customer." I've found it's a fun way to stay focused on her and us throughout the year and makes our anniversary and Valentine's something especially enjoyable to look forward to.... Each year I do the following five things for Kara every anniversary. I guess you could say this is all part of my "Marital Marketing Campaign." So far, she's still buying! :-)
23rd Anniversary: I'm 46... Half My Life Has Been Hers
It's our 23rd Anniversary this month. I'm 46-years-old next month. Half of my life has been Kara's. She's also 46. Half of her life has been mine. Listen to this year's Anniversary Playlist with 33 great love songs and read the blog.
22nd Anniversary Logo & 49 Love Songs
From a marketing and design standpoint it is important to maintain consistency and continuity in your brand and in your branding. I believe this principle holds true in our relationships. You don’t need a logo for your relationship, but do you know your relationship brand? Is it clearly identifiable to each other? What does your relationship represent? What does it mean to each of you? Every brand carries a promise. What does your brand promise to each other? Do you maintain the integrity of your brand?
21 Year Anniversary Logo, 35 Love Songs & the Concept of Relationship Branding
About Relationship Branding Every year I make a new anniversary logo for my baby (I'm a graphic designer wannabe). This year is our 21st Anniversary—"Lucky 21" as in the best hand you can get in blackjack. While, I don't believe in luck in relationships I do believe we have a winning hand. I'm her Ace (her number one). She's my Queen... The Wampum Queen to be precise.
Our 20th Anniversary Year-Long Celebration
You know how business' celebrate their 10th, 20th, etc anniversary of being in business all year long? Well, marriage and family is more important than any business so Kara and I decided today that we're going to make our 20th Anniversary a Year-Long Celebration instead of just on our anniversary date itself and stretch it out throughout 2012 with various big and small celebrations, activities and parties. Woo hoo!
18th Anniversary Logo, Letter & Playlist
This year’s anniversary logo is tied into a larger plot to tell the world how I feel about you. The local approach of broadcasting it via your van’s rear window was a good start, however, this year I’m letting the world know through TWO blogs designed to celebrate how lucky I am to have you via giving you Valentine’s All Year: The 52 Love Songs Project and The 365 Love Quotes Project.