We are less than one week from Valentine’s Day! I kind of view this as a “Hallmark Holiday” but it’s a great excuse to get out and do something fun with the Mister (and a great excuse to get a new date night outfit!). Before we had Dean, getting out to do something fun was pretty easy but now… well, it takes some planning, and a good babysitter. Sometimes life just gets busy, or maybe you’re in a rut with date night ideas. That happens to us frequently and we always just end up doing the same old song and dance… or going to a dinner and then heading home early (still nothing wrong with that). So, I’m writing this to – hopefully – spark some inspiration for your next date night (and mine!).
Budget-Friendly Date Night: If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to spend some quality time with your date, here are my budget-friendly ideas:
- Movie Night In with a Living Room Picnic. Okay, how fun does this sound, and why haven’t we done this yet?! Just get on your favorite streaming app or go pick up a RedBox and some takeout and there’s your date night! Lay out your picnic blanket (don’t just eat at the coffee table), because this is supposed to be DIFFERENT than most nights at home! And my best piece of advice: use paper plates so you don’t have to do dishes! Inexpensive, thoughtful, and fun!
- Ice Cream Date. The first time Dean stayed the night at my parents’ house (he was 8 weeks old), we were so tired that all we did was go get ice cream at Braum’s, and then go home. It was so fun to have time alone, and we didn’t have to shell out the big bucks, or sacrifice our precious sleep! Sometimes simplicity is so nice.
- Cook together. I don’t cook (although I’m getting better), but there’s something about spending time in the kitchen (alone) with my husband that feels so simple and romantic! Just make your own pizza, or some yummy pasta and salad. Then, have your living room picnic, or make it fancy at the dining room table with some candles!
Date Night for the Couple who likes Activities: Here are my best ideas for couples who like to DO things. There’s one I haven’t tried yet (but want to) and one that might surprise you!
- Top Golf (Flying Tee if you live in Tulsa). This is one of our favorites. You don’t have to have your own clubs or even be remotely good at golf. Just show up, order a drink or two and some food, and have fun hitting some balls, or at least, swinging at them!
- Axe Throwing. I have not tried this yet, but I think it looks so fun. I have seen a lot of people doing this lately. It seems to be a lot of fun without requiring too much of a skill set, although it looks like it’s probably a great arm/upper body workout!
- Pinot’s Pallette. This one might sound like a strange date night idea. It’s slightly less athletic, but I promise you guys still like it (my husband did!). You don’t have to be artistic or know how to paint. Just order a glass of wine or three, and let the instructor tell you step-by-step how to create a work of art! Even if you don’t end up keeping your painting afterward, you will have so much fun doing this together. We laughed the entire time and I have secretly been dying to do this again as a date night.
- Brewery Tour. With all the unique breweries and brewpubs popping up all over town, how fun would this be (if you like beer)? There is a company in Tulsa (Pearl Brewery Tours) that will drive you if you have a larger group, but I would even enjoy doing this as a couple. Just make sure you use an Uber.
Splurge Date Nights: These require a little more cash but are perfect if you’re celebrating something special like an anniversary or birthday.
- Staycation at local boutique hotel or B&B. This one is my favorite. Go out for dinner and get a room at the Mayo or Campbell Hotel (if you’re local). There’s something about spending the night “away” and not having to go far that makes this date idea so stress-free. It can also feel sort of like hitting the “refresh” button! Sometimes we take our staycation a teeny bit further away (like OKC) and that is still so easy and fun.
- Make reservations for a fancy dinner. Getting fancy is something that we don’t do very often, but when we do it is so fun. There are SO many good date night restaurants in town to choose from. Get a bottle of wine to split. Make sure to order dessert while you’re at it! If getting fancy isn’t you or your husband’s cup of tea, doing this could be uncomfortable and awkward, so don’t force it! Be true to who you are as a couple.
- Couples’ Massage. Guys like this one a lot more than they’re usually willing to admit, but Dale likes it so much he even suggests it as a date idea! We have done this a couple of times and it is always enjoyable. We always feel so refreshed and renewed afterward, which is good for us as individuals and as a couple!
- Sporting event. If you can make a professional ball game of some sort, do it! It’s such a fun atmosphere even if you aren’t a huge sports fan, and you can always pregame with dinner and some drinks!
Date nights are SO important no matter the stage of your relationship. We have always valued date nights and so we appreciate them even more now that they are fewer and farther between post-baby. Making time for each other and reconnecting is beneficial to the health of the relationship as a couple, but it usually me a happier individual as well. Sometimes it’s important to try date night ideas you wouldn’t normally do, if it’s something you know your spouse will love. If you aren’t the athletic type, but your husband loves to get outdoors, you may need to indulge him every once in a while to show that you care about who HE is. Just make sure you choose a date that is true to who you are as a couple! Even if you are on a budget, there are so many ways you can make time together, and a little bit of effort can go a long way. I hope at the very least this will inspire you to take some time with your spouse/boyfriend/fiancé to reconnect and grow together as a couple! Happy Dating!
