Our Sixth Anniversary: A Simple Family Walk, Photos, and a Low-Key Date Night

Last weekend we celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. Over the years we’ve made a habit of marking each anniversary with family time, a good meal, and a photo to remember the day. One of our small traditions is to capture a family portrait every year — something that began with a point-and-shoot camera, graduated to tripods and remotes (thank you, Clara), and now often happens with whatever camera is handy. This year, on a relaxed family walk, I grabbed the iPhone and shot a quick portrait with my own hand.

We tried to get a second shot of us kissing, but Clara tends to make goofy faces when the phone is in “selfie” or “facetime” mode — which led to some genuinely silly images instead of a tender embrace. Still, those candid moments are exactly what we love: honest, unposed slices of family life.

That short photo session turned out to be our most successful yet. A few quick clicks and we had at least one picture with everyone smiling — enough to hang on the wall or tuck away in our family album. It felt like an anniversary miracle: efficient, authentic, and sweet.

We spent most of the day on Belle Isle, one of our favorite spots in Richmond. The island’s combination of natural scenery and local history makes it a great place for a family walk. Clara loved exploring the paths and stopping to inspect rocks, leaves, and anything else that caught her attention. Being outdoors, getting some exercise, and watching her discover small things made the morning feel both peaceful and memorable.

Since we were downtown afterward, we decided to try a pie restaurant we’d been curious about. It was a fun change of pace — a place focused on both savory and sweet pies. We chose savory options for our lunch, enjoying the hearty, comforting flavors that come with a good savory pie, while noting that dessert pies are available if you prefer to indulge after. If we were planning another celebration, catering by a pie-focused restaurant would definitely be on our short list.

Part of our afternoon included a short break for naptime. While Clara slept, we squeezed in a little work time and some quiet moments to recharge. As luck would have it, Grammy arrived right as Clara woke up and took over babysitting duties — which freed us up to enjoy a date night that evening.

For our evening out we went to Cinebistro, one of those dine-while-you-watch theaters. It’s a great option for a relaxed and slightly indulgent date: comfortable seats, good food delivered during the movie, and the convenience of a sitter already on duty at home. We saw The Heat and laughed a lot — the movie was a perfect fit for a casual anniversary night. We also treated ourselves to banana cheesecake, which made the evening feel extra celebratory. If you’re planning a date night, combining a movie with a favorite dessert is a simple way to make the night feel special.

All in all, this year’s anniversary was intentionally low-key: a family walk, a quick and successful photo, a savory lunch at a pie restaurant, and a cozy movie-and-dinner date once Clara was in capable hands. It wasn’t extravagant, but it was exactly what we wanted — time together, a few laughs, and some new photos to add to our growing collection of family portraits. With a busy Fourth of July weekend packed with events, keeping our celebration simple felt just right.

We’ve shared other anniversary moments in previous years — small rituals and celebrations that have become part of our story — and this year added another warm, easy chapter. Whether it’s an elaborate party or a quiet walk on Belle Isle, what matters most is being together and making memories that we can look back on, camera in hand.