Since the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, it’s a popular day for weddings. Are you attending any Fourth of July weddings? Would you incorporate red, white and blue accents into your ceremony as a nod to the national holiday?

A good friend of mine is meeting with his pastor this evening so that he and his bride can submit letters detailing ten reasons why they are marrying each other. In a year, the pastor will send the letters to them in the mail as a sweet reminder of all of the passion and excitement they feel right now.

I love the idea of using your wedding planning process to build in romantic traditions that you can use to celebrate your love year after year. In addition to sending yourself letters, try some of these ideas to make sure your first (and fiftieth!) anniversary is bursting with romance and passion:

• Let Them Eat Cake! Many couples defrost a slice of their wedding cake to eat during their one-year anniversary, but why not carry the tradition over indefinitely? Choose a timeless cake flavor you can make yourself, so that you can celebrate each year of wedded bliss with the same sweet treat.
• Relive the Memories. Watch your wedding video, flip through your scrapbook and scan through photos to remember all of the good times. Some couples even arrange for the videographer to film wedding guests giving advice specifically for after the first year, and then they wait to watch the video until their first anniversary.
• Mini-Ceremonies. While you rehearse your wedding ceremony, think about little parts of the tradition that you could relive at each anniversary celebration. Even if it’s just you, your spouse, a bottle of wine and a box of Chinese takeout, you could both stand up and renew your vows, slipping your rings on each other’s fingers again and repeating your favorite part of your big day.
• Watch Your Love Grow. Immediately after your ceremony, plant a tree in the backyard. Take a photo with it each year on your anniversary so you can document how your love has grown since the day you said, “I do.” If you rent, use a houseplant or plant your wedding flowers at every place you live to keep the tradition going.