Photo Credit: Monet A Photography

First of all, I know what some of you are thinking…

We haven’t been on a date in forevvvvvver!

And then the excuses come rolling in…

1. We don’t have time for dates.
2. We don’t have the money for a babysitter.
3. We can never find a babysitter.

So I’m here to encourage you…

EXCUSE #1: We don’t have time for dates.

Is your marriage important?  People make time for things that are important to them.  Your marriage should be a priority.

Say “NO” to something else so you can say “YES” to date night.  Create time.

I know I’ve said this quote before on my blog… but instead of saying, “I don’t have time for that”… try replacing it with “that’s not a priority for me” and see how that feels.

If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll make an excuse.

EXCUSE #2: We don’t have the money for a babysitter.

The babysitter is always worth it because your marriage is worth it. 

A “date night budget” should be an ongoing cost that you budget for

every.

single.

month. 

This budget is more important than paying for a Netflix subscription or for Starbucks coffee runs or for that new pair of flip flops (don’t you already own four pairs of black flip flops?!?)  This is your MARRIAGE we’re talking about. You can’t flourish in your relationship if you don’t put effort into actually hanging out with each other.

EXCUSE #3: We can never find a babysitter.

It’s all about the trade out baby!  You must find another couple that you can trade out babysitting nights with!  You each get one night that month where you watch the others’ kids. BONUS if they’re ok with babysitting overnight! 

You’re not only getting FREE babysitting this way, but you’re also helping them get a date night every month also! Plus, you don’t have to feel awkward asking your family members to babysit for free.  Your friends will actually benefit from the deal! It’s a WIN-WIN!

I know that everybody’s situations are different and not all of the above might apply to you, but the point is to be intentional with you spouse and your marriage.

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I’ve compiled a list of date nights categorized by interest to hopefully take the work out of it for you!  Whatever date night you end up choosing, take lots of selfies and don’t spend the whole night talking about the kids!

For the ACTIVE:

• Charity walk/run (try a mud run or color run for extra wow!)
• Exercise video
• Float the river
• Ice skating
• Play tennis at the park
• Roller skating
• Run the track at your local high school
• Swimming
• Take a bike ride on the trails
• Trampoline park
• Scooters on a trendy street and stop wherever and do whatever!
• Workout class (Yoga? Cycling? Zumba? Some gyms even have daycares!)

For the ADVENTUROUS:

• Amusement park
• Axe throwing
• Bungy jumping
• Casino gambling
• Four wheeling
• Get tattoos
• Go hiking
• Gun range
• Hot air balloon ride
• Horseback riding
• Paintball
• Racecar driving
• Rock climbing
• Sky diving
• Tarot card reading
• Ziplining

Travel From Home Subscription Box

For the CREATIVE SOULS:

• Art gallery
• Dance lessons
• DIY project
• Painting studio
• Redecorate a room in your house

Try these CREATIVE Date Boxes from Amazon!

Not only do you NOT have to leave your house for this date,
but you simply click it and buy it and then POOF!
Your entire date is completely planned out!

Candle Making Kit

For the DRINKERS:

• Brew your own beer
• Brewery tour
• Learn how to make a new cocktail together (try The Ultimate Bar Book by Mittie Hellmich)
• Sports bar and try a new beer
• Winery tour

For the FOODIES: 

• Brunch date
• Cook a new recipe together
• Go to a new restaurant neither of you has been to before
• Do a cooking class
• Farmers market
• Fondu
• Food trucks
• Gourmet grocery store
• Traveling date
  • Appetizer at one restaurant
  • Dinner at another restaurant
  • Dessert at another restaurant
• Try a dessert you’ve never had before
• Watch a cooking tutorial
• Watch a documentary about a food-related topic

For FREE:

• Bonfire
• Marriage church events (they often have free daycare services available!)
• Picnic in the park
• Uversion app – have a quick bible study in bed!  It’s free, easy, and you can grow spiritually closer together.
• Volunteer Together (food bank, community activity, donate blood)
• Watch the sunrise or sunset

For INDOORS:

• Aquarium
• Bowling
• Bed and breakfast
• Couples massage
• Dinner and movie
• Facial
• Fireplace
• Glamping (stay at a fancy hotel!)
• Indoor picnic
• Pedicure or manicure
• Rent a movie the old school way…
  • Like actually go into a movie rental store together, browse the shelves, and handpick a video!
• Shopping
• Try a brand new restaurant that neither of you has eaten before.

For the INTELLECTUALS:

• Bookstore
• Documentary on Netflix
• Escape room
• Learn something new together (watch a Youtube video or find a local community college course you’re both interested in)
• Museum
• Puzzle
• Read together!
  • Try Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman!
• Trivia night at a restaurant
• Watch CNN

For KIDS AT HEART:

• Arcade games
• Fair
• Laser tag
• Nerf gunfight
• Play games (card games, board games, video games, etc.)
• Waterpark

Try these GAME Date Boxes from Amazon!

Not only do you NOT have to leave your house for this date,
but you simply click it and buy it and then POOF!
Your entire date is completely planned out!

For LAUGHTER: 

• Comedy club
• Funny youtube videos together
• Get your caricatures drawn
• Download and play a FUN App on your phones
  • Heads Up App – fun and hilarious game from Ellen DeGeneres
  • SnapChat App – take fun and hilarious selfies with all kinds of filters
  • Tik Tok App – take fun and hilarious short video clips
• Stand up comedy on Netflix
• Thrift shopping together (pick out an outfit for your spouse that they have to wear on the date!)

For MUSIC LOVERS:

• Concert
• Dance club
• Download some new music on iTunes together
• Karaoke
• Line dancing
• Live music at a bar or restaurant
• Music Festival
• Musical instrument lessons
• Opera

For the OUTDOORS:

• Beach
• Berry picking
• Boat ride
• Botanical garden
• Camping
• Drive-In
• Fair
• Fishing
• Park (frisbee, kite, walk dogs)
• Picnic in backyard
• Stargaze
• Take a walk
• Zoo

For SPORTS LOVERS:

• Bowling
• Cornhole
• Go to a local sports game
• Golf
• Mini golf
• Play pool
• Play darts
• Watch ESPN kid-free!

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As if this list didn’t make it easy enough, there’s still MORE!

I have included some fun options below that could be just what you need to help foster your relationship!

Take a look and find something that will make your next date night absolutely unforgettable!

Date Night Jar

If you like the idea of a date box being delivered to your door, Crated With Love is a company that lets you sign up for a month-to-month subscription!  How easy is that?!? Check it out below!

→ DateBox Club is also a great option for monthly subscription date box options!

ATTENTION: This is the most important part!!!!!  So pleeeeease listen to this part.

Here’s what I don’t want to happen. I don’t want to blink and suddenly my kids are at college… and the house is quiet… and I look across the room at my husband… except that we barely know each other because we weren’t intentional about DATING each other and spending time together.  I want us to have fun no matter what stage of life we’re in.

Our marriage is worth it.  And so is yours.

BONUS:

Check out THIS LINK for a few summer date night OUTFIT ideas!

Check out THIS LINK to shop all of my favorite OUTFITS!

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