My M30 girlfriend F26 is extremely upset that our anniversary was terrible. What can I do to help us get past this?

It was my girlfriend and I’s anniversary this week, and it was a weeknight so I couldn’t really come up with the most mind-blowing plan. We’ve been dating for a year, so it’s our first.

Historically, our big days go pretty badly. Her birthday was ruined because we got sick, Valentine’s wasn’t as exciting as expected, and now our anniversary.

It all started when she asked me what present I got her for our first anniversary. I told her that I remembered she said she wanted to get into streetwear, so I got her a shirt from the brand she mentioned before.

Now, I get it… it’s a T-shirt for God’s sake. A $130 shirt, but still. She understandably got upset, and said “our anniversary is trash just like all the other days.”

I got upset at that comment, and I said that the present alone shouldn’t be a reason why she trivializes OUR important day. She said that anything would’ve been better, just not a shirt.

I luckily had a ring that I ordered for her weeks ago, but it magically came in the morning of our anniversary. I went to pick it up, and I also got her flowers and a card—all after work.

I waited outside her place for her, holding flowers, her ring, and a card. She apparently had to help out with the house just before coming out, so her clothes got dirty and she was extremely upset. She started yelling and throwing her makeup around in my car, and then got frustrated that the flowers I got her were tacky. (They’re what I usually get her.)

We had a dinner reservation at a trendy restaurant that was recommended to us by friends. We got inside, started eating, and she really hated the food.

I’m not a picky eater by any means, but the food really was pretty bad. Food is the most important thing to my girlfriend, so this REALLY soured the mood even more.

We get out, and it’s about 8 PM on a weeknight. I ask her if she wants to do any activities after, she says no. She’s upset that I didn’t plan anything other than dinner that she hated.

We get home and I cautiously present the ring I got her. She’s excited at first, but hates the ring because it’s meant for wearing alongside other pairs of rings at once. So now she doesn’t like her gift.

She loses it, tells me that I can’t do anything normal, and I always get just the wrong thing every time. She says she wishes she was like all the other people online and her friends who get to celebrate the normal way: big bouquet, classy gift, delicious food, picturesque view.

For one night, she wanted to feel like she was in a movie. For OUR night.

My heart broke, but she kept telling me that she wished I was “normal” and that I should “just know” without her telling me any of the things she expects, because “everyone does it.”

Eventually, I lost it and we got in a heated argument that I’m most certainly not proud of. After hours of dealing with yelling, I started to yell at her about how it’s hard to try and figure things out alone for a very picky person.

I suggested that we go out again this weekend, when I have more free time, and we can do all the things she wants. She said that the actual anniversary date is ruined, so this consolation date doesn’t really make her feel better.

So, what can I do at this point? I’ve tried to console her, reason with her, negotiate a nice date over the weekend… she still isn’t happy. What options are there?

TL:DR; GF was expecting an anniversary date with a big bouquet, fancy dinner, nice view, and a cute activity with a nice present. I tried, but failed to make her feel special with my choices in everything. How can I make her feel better?