Learn how to make a meal together: Find something you both have never tried cooking. Smooth music and a bottle of your favorite wine would be great to add spice to the night. Try your hands at baking a decadent treat––from scratch. That’s right, get your hands dirty. Turn on some music and bustle around the kitchen together, then end with a bottle of desert wine to enjoy your spoils once you’re done.
Be a kid again: School and work stresses can sometimes make us forget our inner child and the fun people we once were. Watch silly movies, grab your nieces coloring book, play with Play-Doh, build a Lego castle or play hide-and-seek in and around the house and just be a kid again.
S’mores and camping INSIDE: Now don’t go getting wood and lighting campfires inside. I’m sure a real fire is not the one you intend to put out - and it’s not too romantic either. Keep it safe, simple and sensible.
Mystery feed dinner: Enjoy exotic foods? Think you have a rather smart palate? Well, test it by feeding each other foods and seeing if the other can guess what they taste.
All French everything: French movie. French cuisine. Fondue feast. And French-kiss all night. Bon appétit. *Or substitute the country of your choice and make the necessary adjustments.*
Alternative: A night in Italy. Homemade pizza. Bottle of Chianti. Gelato. Add an Italian themed movie such as Life is Beautiful, The Talented Mr. Ripley or The Italian Job.
Finger Food Feeding: Make a finger-foods-only dinner and feed each other. Add wine.
Private pamper party: Buy some massage oils. Light some candles. Play some soft music. Now take turns giving each other a body massage. Make sure you do not rush. If all goes right, this will probably lead to other activities.
Sophisticated carpet picnic: Spread a white tablecloth on the floor and have a carpet picnic. Add candles, fancy cheese, chocolate and voilà: something like five-star fun... And don’t forget to add wine.
Share sugar with your sugar: Got an ice-cream maker or a bread maker or a mixer? Well, invest in one. Invent your own homemade treats and give them cutesy names.
Sexy s’mores: Make s’mores over candlelight. Add wine.
Creative lover: Write a poem together - even about each other. Set up a table easel with opposing canvases. Sit opposite each other and paint each other’s portraits. Be creative and HAVE FUN.
Mini-tasting night at home: Pick a poison of choice and set up shop. Tequila, whisky, vodka, wines. You’ll need variety, glasses, room temperature spring water and unsalted crackers. Make it beer if that’s your thing.
Make a running date: Pick a movie series or TV show and get a season's worth on DVD and make a running date to watch it.
Game night: Play a board game. A little lighthearted competition can make for a very playful date night, indeed. Live a little. Play for something, put a little something on the line... use your imagination.
Snap - It’s a photo shoot: Have a nice camera? Take the goofiest to the most adorable pictures of each other. Get dressed up ...or not.
Play a song for me: Make playlists for one another. Spend time listening to your favorite romantic songs. Throw in a few memory-jogging selections.
Learn a dance together: Check your local library or bookstore for an instructional DVD on a dance. Hoping you already have some idea how to “dougie” go for salsa, tango or something like that. Push back the couch and prepare to cut a rug. You don’t have to be a pro, just have fun with it.
Crash course in cocktails: Try your hand at making your own tasty elixirs. You’ll need bartending equipment like a shaker, a strainer, a shot measure and ice. Choose one favorite alcohol as the base for your cocktails. Get some mixers and exotic fruits. Drink up!
Chocolate night: Everyone likes some form of chocolate right? Make a night of it whether it’s dark chocolate, milk, hazelnut or white chocolate. Why not get it all? Pair with strawberries or whatever is pleasing to your palate.
Kissing challenge: 100 kisses in three hours. *Can accompany any of the aforementioned ideas. Wink, wink.*
Happy date night IN!
Photography by GMO Photo Editor Billy Montgomery