Fourteenth anniversaries can be the most fun you'll ever have. If you've been married fourteen years, congratulations, and many more. Fourteen years together is more than an anniversary, it's a statement of real commitment and care for each other. It's obvious to everyone at this point that you two have a special bond, that you're not just a passing thing. If you're looking for ways to recognize fourteen years, look no further. Here are seven ways to celebrate that major milestone in your relationship.

1. The traditional item used to celebrate fourteenth wedding anniversaries is ivory. Due to the reprehensible treatment of elephants, and their abuse to find ivory, we avoid recommending real ivory products to mark this date. Instead, we propose changing the traditional gift item in a way that may actually assist these endangered, magnificent animals. Why not a gift to the various organizations that seek elephant protection and assistance? There are groups which actively work for animal protection, even for large animals worldwide. A check to them for as little as fifty dollars goes a long way in their efforts.

2. If you'd like to celebrate in an ivory kind of way, there's a wide selection of artificial ivory products out there that resemble the real thing. There are cufflinks, earrings, tableware, knick-knacks and various other furnishings available. And they're all less expensive than the real thing. And they all avoid abetting the ivory trade.

3. Another way to celebrate fourteen years, and to do something bigger than ourselves, is to help change the traditional symbol altogether. Why not start with your own anniversary, and recognize it with a substance or article of your choosing? How about jade, or moonstone, or even something expensive like emeralds? Sure there's overlap to other anniversaries, but there's always room for alteration, as fourteen years together has proven to you.

4. Why not change the traditional item to something green? Not color green, but eco-friendly green? Go through the house together, make a list of items you use often, and decide together to help the environment by replacing whatever you can with green items. It could be as exotic as the charging substance in your air conditioner or refrigerator, to the mundane, like your selection of toilet paper. Not very romantic, perhaps, but committed in the long run, just like your marriage.

5. Speaking of alternatives, the bloodstone is also a not so common gift item for fourteen years together. Bloodstone, also called heliotrope, is a greenish semi-precious stone laced with red streaks. Ancient lore indicates that it got its color from the drippings of Christ's blood as it fell from the cross on Calvary onto the green earth below. Bloodstone is the symbol of justice, and as bookends or decoration it makes a nice addition to book shelves or a night stand with its dramatic coloration. It's also used in holistic practices to increase blood flow, and energize.

6. Fourteen days of love notes, and/or promises of simple exchange can be the best way to celebrate fourteen years. Scribble a promise of a back rub, foot massage or whole body pampering every day for two weeks. Mix it up with special dinners, inexpensive dates, small hidden gift items and various courtesies done just because. It really is the small stuff, after all.

7. The economy appears headed for a comeback, so why not check into a really lavish celebration before prices creep back up? It may be time to give serious thought to that Hawaiian vacation, or that trip to Disney, or a week exploring New York City and all of New England.

Fourteen years of marriage is a big deal. It may be an anniversary you're tempted to let come and go, but you don't have to. There are ways, and plenty of reasons, to celebrate. Happy anniversary!