Date Night Ideas
Whether you’re looking to spice things up in your relationship, trying to reconnect after five years of dating or just want a few fun dates in your back pocket for when you meet someone worth impressing, trying something new and different is never a bad plan. Anyone can make a dinner reservation at the little Italian place down the street, but it takes a true dating whiz to turn an ordinary evening into a magical one. The difference between a date night that your partner will soon forget and one they’ll remember fondly forever is just a little bit of effort and creative thinking. And isn’t that worth it?
Game Night
Get yourself one of the classic board games like Monopoly or Trouble, or download Heads Up on your phone! Card games like Uno are always fun to flex your competitive side, and there are even newer card games like We’re Not Really Strangers that allow you to connect on a deeper level while still having fun.
Mini Movie Night
Get a mini projector, some movie theater candy, popcorn and a blanket. Host a cozy movie night in your own home. This is way better than going to an actual theatre for a million reasons. You can pause the film to go to the bathroom, use your phone, and of course, make out stare-free if things get steamy.
Scrapbook Your Personal History
Whether your partner has a ton of baby pictures they want organized or you end up printing out the best of your college years from a Facebook album, you’ll have tons of fun scrapbooking together as you relive old memories and exchanged funny stories. It’s an intimate task, but also a great way to get to know someone a little bit deeper.
Fantasy Vacation Planning
This is one for the long-time couples, y’all. Take some time to research your dream vacation, and lock in where you’d go, where you’d stay and all the activities you’d do. Then, put on your best salesperson face and try to “sell” the other person on your idea. Maybe it’ll just be for fun, maybe you two will end up booking your next trip!
DIY Portrait Time
Hang up a sheet, get some props from a dollar store, and have a little fun in your homemade photo booth! Get a disposable camera (or, better yet, an instant camera for an aesthetically pleasing throwback vibe) and make an afternoon out of it.
Chef It Up
Pick a family favorite dinner or dessert recipe and really try to nail it. Cooking together is an incredible bonding experience! Or, if you and your boo are more competitive, make the same dish separately and invite some friends over to decide who is the best chef, Chopped style. We’re rooting for you!
Spa Day
Pick up some fancy bath supplies or massage oils, light some candles and try to find a copy of that CD every massage place has that’s just bird noises over Mozart. Bonus points for plush robes, cozy slippers and face masks!
Get Crafty
Head out to a craft store and pick out the first kit that seems interesting. Spend a few hours painting models, making sand art, braiding friendship bracelets or trying your hand at sculpting. When you’re done, you’ll have a (probably bad-looking, but still sentimental) craft to remember your time!
Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Grab a pack of plastic Easter eggs (or any other small object) and label each with a compliment, secret or coupon for a service (You know the kind!). Hide them around your home and dare your date to find them all.
Blind Taste Test
Pick a category—water bottles, soda, fast food fries, chocolate bars, etc.—and buy multiple well-known versions. Then, have one partner try them all blindfolded and rate them or guess which is which. This might sound silly, but you’ll be surprised how into it you both get! Especially when you realize you actually hate the taste of your ~favorite water~ in comparison to the one you never buy.
Take A Hike
If you both love the great outdoors, grab your sneakers (or hiking boots, if you’re true pros) and set out for a day of adventure! Maybe you can even give one another massages later to soothe your tired muscles, wink wink.
Go On A Picnic
Head to Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or your local market before the date and get some cheeses, breads, fruits and whatever else your little heart desires. Package it all up in a cute picnic basket or cooler, bring a cozy blanket or some beach towels and plop down to enjoy your feast at a local park. Major photo app alert.
Take The Ferry
If you live on a coast or close to water, chances are there’s a ferry nearby. While plenty of people use these big boats to commute, they also serve as a little mini cruise around your hometown, so have you and your partner dress up and make a day out of it! Make a point to grab lunch wherever the ferry docks before taking it a second time back home.
Wake Up Early For Sunrise
If you live by a body of water (or anywhere else where you can guarantee a great view), set an alarm for a little before sunrise and plan to both wake up. Put on your comfiest sweats, hit up a coffee drive-through for something warm and energizing, and head to your special spot to watch the sunrise together. If you’re not early risers, you can try sunset instead!
Food Truck Lunch
Find out where the food trucks in your town gather and convince your date to try something new for lunch! Something about ordering your meal from a food truck feels so spontaneous and funky. Great date material!
Hit Up A Roller Or Ice Skating Rink
If it’s spring or summer, rent some skates and go to a local roller rink for tons of laughs (and, potentially, some athletic struggles). If it’s winter, Christmas-ify your date and go ice skating instead!
Literary Love
Go to a bookstore, locate one (or more) of your all-time favorites and swap them. Find some comfy chairs, hunker down, and enjoy an afternoon discussing your picks. This is also a great date idea if you’re about to spend time apart. That way you can take your boo’s fave book on your trip, read it and discuss it when you return. Two dates in one, y’all!
Fitness Sesh
Taking a workout class together can be a great bonding experience! Or, if you don’t want to shell out the coin, you can use online videos and do it from home! If you want a little more ~togetherness~, might we suggest some acroyoga? Laughs are guaranteed.
Museum Crawl
Look up obscure museums, or even popular ones you haven’t gotten around to yet. Try to fit as many as you can into an afternoon or just spend the day discussing one or two exhibits. Prepare to feel cultured as hell.
Volunteer Together
What could be better than doing some good with your boo? Volunteer at a local animal shelter or somewhere else you two decide on together and dedicate the day to helping others. You’ll feel so great after!
Support The Arts
Find a community theater production of something that sounds interesting. Even if you aren’t theatre buffs, you might end up having a great time! If you can’t bear the thought of sitting through a two-hour play, try an improv comedy show or something else light-hearted.
Go Back To School
Find a community class for something that sounds interesting to you both—flower pressing, hot yoga, or creative writing. Building a skill together is a beautiful thing! Plus, if the class requires multiple sessions, you have more than one reoccurring date night lined up to look forward to.