When was the last time you and your spouse went on a date?
No, I don’t mean sitting in the living room watching Netflix together.
I mean a real date.
Something fun and exciting.
Something that shows that glimmer of the old you before you became mom and dad.
According to research done by the Marriage Foundation, married couples that go out at least once a month had a more successful marriage than couples that went out more frequently or less often(2016).
And who doesn’t want a successful marriage?
I know this gal does!
And I want your marriage to be fun and successful as well!
So I’ve put together this list of fun and unique date night ideas for married couples.
23 Date Night Ideas for Married Couples
Free Date Night Ideas
When your a parent finding the extra money to go out on a high-class date might not be in the budge. So here a few free or at least more frugal date night ideas.
1.Indoor Candlelit Picnic
I’ve always wanted to go on a picnic, but I don’t like bugs.
So having a candlelit picnic indoors is right up my alley.
Find a nice blanket, prepare your favorite dish, turn on the sweet tunes and just enjoy each other’s company.
2.Interview Each Other
When is the last time you really sat down and talked to your spouse?
What are their hopes, dreams, aspirations?
My husband and I have been together for 15 years and I’m still learning new things about him or his childhood.
Come up with 10 or so questions that you would like to ask your spouse and interview each other during your indoor picnic!
3. Go Back to The Beginning
What better way to rekindle your love for each other by going back to where it all started.
My husband and I live a few miles from our college alma mater where we met.
Every now and then we’ll drive on campus and just remember all the good times we had with each other there.
4. Visit a Farmers Market
If you like the outdoors visiting a farmers market can be a great date night idea.
It’s fun looking at all the fresh produce and handmade crafts.
Sometimes you even get to taste free samples of homemade jams, jellies, etc.
For our last anniversary, we went to a farmers market and we discovered the joy of flavored honey! (peach flavored honey anyone?)
5. Explore a Gourmet Grocery Store
Visit your local gourmet grocery store.
You can usually find various herbs, spices, and other delicacies that you wouldn’t find in your usual ethnic food aisle in the grocery store.
6.Volunteer
If you like giving back to the community volunteer at a local shelter or food bank together.
There is nothing better than helping out your fellow man.
7.Create a Vision Board
Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write the vision and make it plain…”
Do you have a vision or goal for your marriage?
When is that last time you and your spouse sat down and discussed your vision or plan for your marriage and family?
Sit down together and create a vision board for your marriage.
Always remember that you guys are a team!
Creating a shared vision can help to draw you closer together.
8. Be a Tourist
My husband and I have lived in the same area for a long time, but there are still many parts of it that we have not seen.
Do a search of your local area and visit some of the local tourist attractions for a fun night out on the town.
9. Amateur Photoshoot
You don’t need an expensive camera for this one.
Your smartphone will work just fine.
Get all dressed up (or dressed down) and have an amateur photoshoot with each other.
Find a nice location and snap away.
Creative Date Night Ideas
If you have a little more money to spend on date night you might like some of these fun and creative ideas.
10.Escape Room
If you and your spouse are into puzzles try going to an Escape Room.
You and your spouse will have to work together to find all of the clues hidden in the room to get out of it.
11.Break Room
This is one is a bit new and you might not have it in your area.
However, I encourage you to go if you can.
Everybody likes to relieve stress in different ways and a break room (or destruction room) allows you to take out those frustrations by breakings things!
Yes, mom and dad. You get to have a fit and break things just like your toddler, but you don’t have to clean up the mess!
12.Paint Night
We went to a paint night for our 10th anniversary and I loved it!
My husband, who doesn’t usually like that sort of thing, had a good time as well.
They even have couples pictures where you each draw one half of the painting.
13. Make Candles Together
Maybe candles are more of your thing.
Then try going to a candle making class. (You can do this with the Paint Nite people as well.)
Create your own scents and styles of candles.
You’ll have a permanent reminder of your night on the town.
14.Scavenger Hunt
You can either make up your own scavenger hunt or you can participate in a city scavenger hunt.
These are a fun way to get to explore your city or a neighboring area.
15. Build Something Together
For this date night activity, the choice is yours.
Try putting together a 3D puzzle or a Lego kit.
Make a cake or go to the beach and build a sandcastle.
The point is that it’s something that you can build together.
16. Thrift Store Shopping
Set a spending limit and shop for an outfit for your spouse.
You can be as crazy or as tame as you want.
Wear your outfit out later that evening or for your next date night.
17.Dress Fancy
When is the last time you and your spouse got all dressed up? If you’re like me and you have kids, then the answer is probably not since before kids.
Get fancy for your date with your spouse. Even if you’re just going window shopping.
More Date Night Ideas You Might Not Have Considered
Just in case you need a little more inspiration here are a few more date night ideas for you and your spouse to try.
18.Run a 5K
My husband and I did a tough mudder together and we really enjoyed it.
We had to jump over obstacles and trudge through muddy water.
He had to help me over several obstacles. It was a great bonding experience for us.
19. Go to a Cat Cafe
If your spouse is an avid cat lover take them out to a Cat Cafe.
What’s a cat cafe?
It’s a restaurant that has a sperate place for you to watch and/or pet cats.
So you get dinner and fuzzy kitties all in once place.
20. Try a New Food
Be a little adventurous and try something new.
Instead of going to your usual pizza place, go out to an Ethiopian or Japanese restaurant.
Who knows it might be your new favorite hang-out.
21. Go Stargazing
When is the last time you looked up and just took in the beauty of the night sky?
Download a star map on your phone and see how many constellations you can find together.
22. Go to a Live Event
Go to a local sports game, comedy show, or karaoke event.
Find something that you will both enjoy and just hang out like you did when you were dating.
23. Go Paddle Boating
Venture out to your local park and rent a paddle boat or a canoe.
Spending the evening enjoying the peace of the lake and the surrounding forest.
Maybe even have an outdoor picnic at one of the shelters.
Final Thoughts
Well, I hope I’ve given you a little inspiration for your next date night with your spouse.
If you want to keep these ideas handy print out a copy of my free date-night bucket list pdf.
Oh yea, let me lay down a few date night rules before you go.
1. Don’t talk about pressing issues on date night.
2. Don’t worry about the kids. Trust me they will be fine without you for a few hours.
3. Keep your cell phone off or out of sight.
4. Be fully engaged and present.
5. Have fun!
Now it’s your turn.
What is the best date night you and your spouse have been on? Share it with me in the comments section.
Don’t forget to like and share this list on social media!
Until Next Time,
EJ
What fun ideas! My sister just gave me a gift card to go out painting with my husband. I can’t wait!
It is so much fun! We’ve done it twice! On our anniversary and then again with a couple from our church. You guys will have so much fun.
I love these ideas. Especially now in the winter I sometimes find it harder to find fun things to do. I will definitely plan a few of those, especially with Valentine’s day coming up!
Hi Britta! I’m glad you found a few of them that you could do! I wouldn’t mind stargazing in the winter as long as I had a nice cup of coco to go with it.
Love these date night ideas, EJ! This is an area that I need to be more consistent in. Thanks so much for sharing =)
Dating is something that my husband and I need to work on. We are completely absorbed in our son and work lives. I saw some great ideas like being tourists and interviewing each other that I can’t wait to suggest.
Hi Kimberlie! It’s so easy to get caught up in the kids and life in general. Having regular date nights can definitely help you two stay connected.
This is such a creative list! I love some of these suggestions (the interview one? What a unique idea!) and look forward to enjoying some of these with my husband. Thanks!
Hi! Thank you for commenting ? Yes, the interview idea is one of my favorites!
One of the things my husband and I always enjoyed doing (and have started doing again) is going for a long drive – not to any place in particular. We just go and drive around without a destination in mind.
Take snacks!
Hi Kathryn! That sounds like fun. A nice long trip in the car with no kids asking, ” Are we there yet?”. We haven’t done that in ages. Thanks for sharing!
Love these date night ideas, EJ! This is an area that I need to be more consistent in. Thank you for sharing =)
Hi Tabatha! Thanks for commenting! This is one of my areas of focus for this year. To go out together atleast once a month.
Yes, date nights are the best! I find that once a month works well for us.
About a year ago my husband and I started dating again. We usually go out once per month. I do enjoy it, it’s so nice to get out of the house and away from kids for a while. Usually I want to go out to eat… something I don’t have to cook or clean up after!
Yes! Who wants to have to clean up dishes later. Let somebody else do it. We usually go out to eat and do something else depending on if the kids are staying the night with their grandparents or if we have to pick them up.
Sounds great. We hire a babysitter. I have come to really look forward to those evenings out. You forget sometimes what it was like to hang out, just the two of you. Date nights can be costly but I figure hey – it’s probably cheaper than the marriage counseling we would need otherwise! ?
Lol, yes I agree! ?