50 People Who Proved Their Love With Wholesome And Funny Anniversaries (New Pics)

Be honest, Pandas: how many of you have ever forgotten a significant other's birthday? How many of you have had a partner forget yours? And what about relationship milestones? How many times have you fought with a loved one over a forgotten anniversary?

Don't feel so bad if you have. If you answered "Yes" to at least one of these, you're actually in the majority. A Dating.com survey in 2023 revealed that 82% of people have actually forgotten an important anniversary at some point in their relationship. It's probably not the best defense to throw out the next time you argue, but it's still something.

Birthdays aren't safe from being forgotten, too. 43% of the survey respondents said they forgot their SO's special day at least once during the relationship. After all, remembering dates like these means something; at least, that's what most people think. 

In fact, 68% said they would break up with their partner if they forgot an important relationship milestone. Granted, some would only separate temporarily, but it still shows how important anniversaries can be for some folks. 

Although we hate to perpetuate gender stereotypes here at Bored Panda, sometimes the statistics speak for themselves. Sadly, 82% of the respondents who said they'd forgotten an anniversary identified as men. 

When a partner forgets a birthday, an anniversary, or another important date, people tend to take it personally. In reality, the reason for their forgetting is quite easy to explain. Most people in the survey said they're simply too busy with work schedules or taking care of the household and the kids.

There can be so many anniversaries in a relationship: first meeting, first date, first kiss, first and the many subsequent years of marriage, and so on. How do you decide which ones to celebrate and which ones to possibly forget? Some might think that celebrating dating anniversaries is pointless after getting married, but relationship experts say that might be more important than even a 10th anniversary.

Essentially, celebrating dating anniversaries is about going back to your roots. By commemorating the day when you and your significant other met, you're remembering why the two of you got together in the first place. "It's a way to honor the roots by remembering the moments that laid the foundation for your lifelong commitment," Dr. Jacquie Del Rosario told Brides.

Why do we have to celebrate anniversaries at all? Psychologist Jeremy Nicholson says there are three reasons. 

1. To remember the past and the love story that led to the present moment;
2. To celebrate the present and be grateful for what each partner brings to the relationship;
3. And to recommit to the relationship and declare shared goals for the future.