How to Make Your Own Year of Dates Gift

Creating a Year of Dates gift is one of my favorite gifts to give to my husband for occasions like Valentine’s Day, our Anniversary, or for Christmas.

May I suggest if you want a killer gift to give to your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend, then you should give them a year of dates all pre-planned ahead of time so that you can spend an incredible year dating each other both on dates out and date nights at home.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift or awesome unique gifts, the whole year is planned for you below! You can even make a year of dates binder to stay organized so that you’re able to keep track of all these fun date night ideas! These are also a lot of fun for the first year of marriage or a homemade wedding present, too! 

A Year of Dates Gift

I suggest planning twenty-four dates, twelve date nights at home, and twelve date nights out, one of each for every month of the year.  Planning out dates eliminates the ever annoying question of “What do you want to do?” and encourages more quality time with the one you love!

Personally, I like going on dates that are more than just dinner and a movie.

While I love movies and especially eating out, I don’t think they promote as much of a bonding experience or memory as doing something new and different!  Plus, unique dates are fun! Creative date ideas are typically fun ideas that introduce a new activity! (and most times, they don’t cost much money, either!)

So, I suggest designating at least a few of your date nights (whether at home or out) to trying something new to both of you.

Maybe that’s a cooking class, doing stand-up, rock climbing, eating sushi, or taking a dance lesson. Perhaps it’s as simple as going to Open Houses and envisioning your future home together or going to a local attraction.

Whatever they are, be sure to include some in your gift along with your favorite go-to date ideas.

Below you’ll find some great date night idea suggestions. If you need more, be sure to check out all the great ideas on my Marriage: Date Night Ideas board on Pinterest.

Here are some general date night out ideas:

• Go bowling, go-karting, golfing, to batting cages, or laser-tagging.
• Play a sport together – cycling, Frisbee, catch, running, racquetball, basketball, rock climbing etc.
• Go to a sporting event, concert, or play.
• Check out the local bookstore and make up a scavenger hunt.
• Volunteer at a nursing home, soup kitchen, or other local charity together.
• Go camping or hiking or to a shooting range.
• Dinner and a movie. Learn how to save money when dining out!

To many of these ideas, I like to Seasonal Date Night Out Ideas:

• Gardening, garage sales, swimming, or a picnic.
• Ride a hot air balloon.
• State or county fairs or baseball games.
• Watch and light fireworks; have a bonfire; go fishing; grill out with friends or eat ice cream.
• Visit an apple orchard; go on a hayride or to a haunted house.
• Go Christmas caroling; visit a Nativity; go ice skating; build a snowman; go skiing or sledding.

You can find a lot of great deals on local outings by hitting up Groupon! It’s one of my favorite ways to save on date nights (and come up with ideas!).

At Home Date Nights

Try to make your date nights at home different and special.

When you plan ahead of time, and designate a specific night for your date night at home, it makes it stand out from your regular, normal evenings together.

Formally invite your spouse out for that night, even though you won’t be leaving your home.  Anticipation will increase the romance as you look forward to a special night together.

I’ve been surprised at how much fun you can have at home (after the kids are asleep) if you just put a little effort into it.  Below you will find some suggestions for date night-ins.

Some general date night in ideas:

• Slumber Party – Pillows, blankets, fort,  popcorn (complete with adorable printable popcorn boxes), movie, treats.
• Comedy Night – Mad Libs, comedian’s Youtube clips, joke books.
• Game night – video, computer, board, or card.
• Paint a picture together.
• Write (and illustrate) a simple story (this book can help you easily do that!) or read books out loud to each other.
• Have a dance party, or sing/rock out to your favorite songs.
• Do a jigsaw or Crossword Puzzles together.
• Cook or bake together or have a cooking challenge (like on TV).
• Have an indoor picnic.
• Make paper airplanes.
• Plan a future trip (even if FAR in the future).
• Manipulate and edit photos in Picmonkey.
• Take artistic pictures of things around your home.
• Take a course together! 

Romantic date night in ideas:

• Watch a romantic movie.
• Put on your favorite loves songs, serenade each other, and slow dance.
• Reminisce about meeting, dating, or your wedding by looking at old photos/videos.
• Have a runway show and photo shoot.
• Get super dolled up for each other, and pretend like it’s your first date.
• Spa Treatments! Pamper yourselves and each other.
• Have a candlelight dinner.
• Use the 5 Senses Bedroom Kit
• Play the Ultimate Intimacy App and Game

Be sure to also check out my list of romantic gift ideas for him too.

Seasonal date night in ideas:

• Decorate eggs, make an Easter bunny cake, or start a garden together.
• Tell spooky stories, watch scary movies, and turn off all the lights.
• Carve pumpkins, make hot apple cider or hot chocolate.
• Bake Christmas cookies, write Christmas cards, or make paper snowflakes

If none of these ideas strike your fancy, or you aren’t seeing quite what you are looking for, check out my post with 72 unique at home date night ideas! You may also like these special perfect anniversary date ideas too!

Otherwise, do a Google search, check out my Marriage: Date Night Ideas board on Pinterest, or just buy 175 Best Date Ideas: The Ultimate Bucket List of Dates for Couples by Alida Quittschreiber of The Realistic Mama for $12.99 (and not have to spend hours searching and planning!).

The important thing is to just find twenty-four dates that you and your significant other would like to do together for the next year and to plan them out!  Be creative and have fun!

What I did for my Year of Dates gift for my husband:

A Year of Dates – Month One Date Nights (Art Themed)
A Year of Dates – Month Two Date Nights (Paris Themed)
A Year of Dates – Month Three Date NightsA Year of Dates – Month Four Date Nights (Bookstore Challenge)
A Year of Dates – Month Five Date Nights (Comedy Night In)
A Year of Dates – Month Six Date Nights (You’re My Superman!)
A Year of Dates – Month Seven Date Nights
A Year of Dates – Month Eight Date Nights (Bowling)
A Year of Dates – Month Nine Date Nights
A Year of Dates – Month Ten Date Nights (Game Night)
A Year of Dates – Month Eleven Date Nights (Spin the Bottle)

How to present your Year of Dates Gift:

• Color coordinated pieces of paper or Popsicle sticks in a Mason jar (i.e. pink=at home; red=out).
• Manila envelopes for each month (with ideas and any necessary items for the dates inside).
• A small notebook.
• Make a personalized Romantic Love Coupons book from LoveCoups.com (see my review)
• Cards ringed together in the corner.
• A credit card case – Insert paper card stock with the date idea, description, and a little picture on it, like this:

Dating your spouse or boyfriend or girlfriend is one of the BEST gifts you can give, because it’s like giving them the gift of your love.  I hope your year of dates gift will keep your flame burning bright!

Be sure to Follow my Marriage Board on Pinterest for marriage advice and my Marriage: Date Night Ideas board too!

You may also like these great posts!

8 Perfectly Romantic Gift Ideas for Him

 7 Hacks for Easy and Incredible Date Nights