A Thoughtful Toast: Celebrating Anniversaries Big & Small
At Welcome Home Markets, we believe the best moments in life are the ones we pause to celebrate — and anniversaries are the perfect reason to do just that. Whether it’s a wedding anniversary, the anniversary of a first home, a business milestone, or simply marking another year of friendship, anniversaries remind us to honor love, growth, and connection.
May, in particular, is a season filled with celebration — from graduations at Washington College in Chestertown to the United States Naval Academy and St. John’s College in Annapolis. These joyful milestones remind us that life is full of moments worth honoring, big and small.
This May is especially meaningful for us at Welcome Home Markets. Jenn and John are thrilled to be celebrating their own 10-year wedding anniversary, the 4th anniversary of Welcome Home Annapolis, and the 1st anniversary of the reopening of our Chestertown store. It’s hard to believe that the same year we were married, we opened Chester River Wine and Cheese, moved to the Town of Chestertown (by way of Rock Hall and Philadelphia), and began building the life and businesses we cherish today — all within just a few months.
And we’re looking forward to many anniversaries ahead, including the first anniversary of Welcome Home Easton in July. These many small moments give us sprinkles of joy throughout the year, so that in the moments between, there is always something to look forward to.
Our greatest lesson in both marriage and business, as a married couple who are also business partners, has been the importance of flexibility. We’ve learned to seek positive intent and always assume the other person means well. When challenges come up, we remind ourselves to check in and get clear on what we each need — and here’s a pro tip: there’s never a “winner.” Most importantly, we try to keep a sense of humor; even in the hardest moments, you can find joy, and from there, a path forward.
A Moment of Gratitude
As we reflect on 15 years of love, 10 years of marriage (and business), we are filled with gratitude. We do nothing without our team — from our families who miss us at Thanksgiving dinner because of retail holidays, to our staff who laugh with us every day, to our community who has shopped with us week after week. We are deeply grateful to step into the lives of our community, even for brief moments, to share in your celebrations, successes, challenges, and everyday life. You remind us why we do what we do, and we are honored to be part of your story.
So Let’s Celebrate!
Celebrating doesn’t have to mean a grand gesture. Sometimes the most meaningful anniversaries are the ones marked in quiet, thoughtful ways:
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Light a simple taper candle over a homemade dinner.
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Set the table with linens and raise a glass of sparkling wine.
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Find a new recipe, gather the ingredients, and invite your partner, friend, or parent to prepare it with you.
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Make plans — a day trip or even a future dinner. Having something joyful to anticipate creates its own kind of magic.
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Keep gifts simple. We love something that shows you “remember” or “care” — a handwritten note, a fluffy pillow for relaxing, a candle for bath time, a soap that evokes a favorite memory or scent, or a beautiful piece of tableware or linen to enjoy again and again.
For those planning something a little bigger, we love the idea of hosting an intimate dinner party at home. Keep it relaxed and organic — a table filled with fresh flowers, simple dishes, and good conversation goes much further than perfection. In the past, we loved big, bold cocktail parties, a house humming with energy and laughter. As we’ve matured in our relationship, we’ve come to cherish small dinner parties, longer conversations, and earlier nights.
