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 :-)
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?
20th Anniversary Logo & Playlist
Every anniversary Kara gets a new playlist on (back in the day, kiddies, we called them "mix tapes") of songs I collect throughout the year that represent how I feel about my baby. I generally try to pick songs based on real committed love and not just cheesy love songs. I load these on CDs and we listen to them throughout our day date on our anniversary as we drive around and then she keeps them in her car to listen to throughout the year as she wants. Here's the playlist you can listen to in the background as you do your work today. I would love to hear your recommendations, too. Thanks.
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!