Oddball Anniversaries Are the Hot Relationship Trend

Who says anniversaries have to be tied to weddings or going steady?

A growing relationship trend is encouraging couples to celebrate what are being called “arbitrary-versaries” — offbeat, personal milestones that mark the quirky, real-life moments in a relationship.

What’s an “arbitrary-versary”?

The idea was originally floated in 2021, but it’s picking up steam now thanks to a recent PopSugar article that gave it a modern, fun spin. The concept? Mark the unusual, random, or downright ridiculous milestones that only the two of you would find meaningful.

Things like the first time you slid into their DMs, the first time you saw each other naked, or even just that first grilled cheese they made you that was sooooo good.

Yes, really. It can be anything.

While the term “arbitrary-versary” is a bit of a mouthful, the sentiment behind it is easy to get behind: creating more reasons to pause, reflect, and appreciate the shared experience of being weird together.

Other suggestions from PopSugar include sweet or sentimental moments — like the day you realized you had a crush on them, the day you realized you had the same favorite movie, or the first trip you took together.

But why would we need one? We have a real anniversary.

It might sound like something only unwed folks in their 20’s would do, but people of all ages can get in on it. Even if you’ve been married for a decade, it’s a playful way to re-inject some joy and spontaneity into your routine.

Relationship experts say these kinds of fun rituals help strengthen emotional bonds and keep the spark alive. It’s less about the calendar and more about the connection.

So if you’ve been feeling like your relationship could use a dose of fun or gratitude, maybe don’t wait for your next big anniversary. Just celebrate the day you made each other laugh until you cried… or that infamous fart in the car that changed everything.

Let love — and your imagination — be your guide.