12 Date Night Ideas to Try

If you and your sweetie are looking to go on a date night this weekend why not try something low-key. As parents and partners, working and getting through the day-to-day it can be chappelnging to fit in time to have a proper date with your spouse or significant other. However, it's so important to keep dating your spouse or SO no matter how long you have been together. So, whatever stage of life you are at with your partner in love and life, you can still carve out some space for romance. Here are some ideas.

Indoor Picnic. Spread out a blanket in your living room, rec. room, bedroom, where ever there is room to spread out. Pack your favourite snacks and eats, chocolates, candies, treats in a nice wicker basket. Then, spread it all out on the blanket, cop a squat with some pillows, pour some wine, light candles (do not put them on the blanket), play some love songs and romantic music and nosh the night away.

Outdoor Picnic. Head out to a nice park or cozy cabin area with a picnic table. Pack a bag full of goodies, yummy eats, spiked hot chocolate or mulled wine. Bring some blankets to bundle up in and dress warm, if you are in colder climates. Cuddle to keep warm, sit and nosh on your picnic eats and goodies, while sipping warm hot chocolate.

Movie Night. Pick your favourite movie or your date's favourite movie, get one of those little projector screens, use a blank wall in your house or hang up a white sheet and get ready for big screen viewing in your house. Make popcorn and load it with butter, get lots of blankets and pillows and cozy up with candles and wine while watching a delightful rom com or super hero movie. You guys decide. But, if you're looking for a good one. Wonder Woman was a great movie about a powerful woman who loves big. Definitely a must see.

Dinner Date. Plan a killer menu. My go to is prime rib with horseradish, mini roasted potatoes with sour cream and chives, roasted asparagus, a spinach and berry side salad and to finish off the meal a sumptuous dessert like chocolate cake with chocolate covered strawberries on top and ice cream. Sounds amazing doesn't it? Because it is. Now get your apron on and Pinterest at the ready to look up some recipes and get cooking. Don't forget the wine. Alternatively you can pick something really fun and challenging that neither you or your sweets have attempted before and make it from scratch together. Sushi is always a fun time, but I'll leave that part up to the two of you.

Wine/Beer Tasting. This one also involves planning a menu. Pick some really nice wines, try vintage or on the higher end of wines you would normally pick. Then research what the best pairings are for that type of wine food wise is. You can also research the country the wine is from and make food dishes that are from that area, such as southern Italy. You can also stick to a theme for the food such as seafood dishes. You can make the dishes together or separately and wow each other with what you learned about the wine and country/region it is from. The dinner conversation will be as sparkling as perhaps the wine. This also works great with beer. You can try out some the smaller craft breweries and learn about their process.

Dance Party. This is fun one if you are on the extroverted side, as it involves inviting other couples. Set up a zoom meeting or google hang out with your friends, family and other couples. Get some drinks, put out some snacks, key up a party music playlist (we recommend a 90's throwback), crank the tunes and start the party. Chat, drink and dance the night away. You can even do a Soul Train throw back and each couple can take a turn showing off their dance moves. If you wanna get people limbered up and feel loose write some dance move names in a hat and pick some out for people to try out. You can all laugh and try new moves in your little online thumbnail cube.

PJ Party. Nothing is better than lying in bed with your love in a beautifully made bed watching movies, eating popcorn, candy and take out. Enough said. Enjoy the party!

Winter Walking/Snowshoe. If you live somewhere with great picturesque trails or a big open frozen lake, load up your gear and get out there and enjoy the day and scenery with your love.

Skating Fun. Lace up those skates and get out on the ice. If you can, of course. It helps a lot if you live somewhere more remote and near a lake. If you are in a city make sure it the local rink is open to the public and take the proper precautions, masks, sanitizer, physical distance, except from your date.

Snow Machine Ride. This one is a good idea if you have a snow machine or can borrow one from a family member or friend. It also, helps if you live near an area with trails and lakes where you can go for a ride and explore the wilderness. If not, you can grab some warm drinks and head out for a nice long drive up a country road in your car, listening to good tunes. If you do have a snow machine, bundle up warm, pack a lunch and go for a ride. When you find a nice spot in the wilds, build a small fire and enjoy the day on the lake with your love cuddling up to keep warm.

Game Night for Two. Break out the Twister, Jenga, Pictionary, Cards Against Humanity, even the playing cards for a round of poker, strip or vanilla, your choice. This one can be great fun if you or your date have a bit of a fun, competitive nature. These games will have you laughing and joking the night away. Just don't play monopoly. Don't ever play monopoly on a date. That's how fights break out. Just kidding. Enjoy game night.

Staycation. Book a room for a night in a nice hotel room or an Airbnb, in your city or hometown, pretend you are in another location, order room service or take out and watch a movie. If you can't or don't want to stay at your local hotels or Airbnbs, because you live in a small town where options are limited, stay in a guest room or alternate room in your house. It's not quite the same as a hotel or Airbnb but sometimes a switch in location in your own house can infuse some new energy into your PJ party or Movie Night.

Whatever you choose to do with your love, sweetie, hubby, honey make sure you have plenty of time to catch up and talk about something besides work, the kids, the daily grind. Remember what attracted you to your SO to begin with and try to talk about things that interest you or get to know the person they have become after all the changes, ups and downs you have been through. It's never too late to start dating your spouse or SO again. So, give it a go no matter how long it's been.