Date Night Checklist
By Jimmy Sliwa
Date night should be a special night.
It’s a chance for you and your bride to reconnect and rekindle the romance. Smart married couples don’t take date night lightly because they know how valuable it can be to a healthy relationship.
There is tons of research to show that a properly planned date night can do wonders for any marriage. On the other hand, a date night that lacks preparation can turn out to be a disaster. Like the time my wife and I had to choose a different restaurant because the wait at her favorite spot was too long. (I guess I should have made reservations….oops!)
In order to help you make date night special, we have created a checklist for busy husbands so that you can plan a date effortlessly. To make date night flawless, follow these 7 steps.
1. Brainstorm
The first step to planning a date night is to brainstorm. You need to come up with ideas on what you and your wife should do. This is the fun part. You can aim for classic ideas such as dinner and a movie or opt for something more adventurous like rock climbing.
The important part is that you have your wife’s interest in mind. Don’t plan something that she will not enjoy.
If you are looking to be more creative, then we have your back. We have created a date idea library for busy husbands so that you can impress your wife with your creativity and thoughtfulness come date night.
Check out the list….it makes date night planning so much easier.
The Ultimate Date Idea List [Always Growing] – The Husband’s Club (thehusbandsclub.com)
2. Invite Her Out
When you have established what you will do on date night, now it’s time to invite her out. Inviting her out helps to build anticipation and lets her know that you have put some planning into the evening. There are many ways you can ask her out. You can ask her face to face or even text her a question asking if she has the availability for a date night.
One of my favorite ways to ask my wife out is to invite her with a formal invite. I print off an invite and leave it in a place she will see. The formal invite is very thoughtful and I guarantee your wife will appreciate it.
Free Date Night Invites [Printable] – The Husband’s Club (thehusbandsclub.com)
3. Arrange Childcare
Don’t forget about the children! They need to be taken care of so that you and your wife can have a relaxing night away. Arrange for a babysitter in advance so that you can check that off the list. Grandparents are a go to for us, but having a list of a few babysitters is a great thing to keep in your phone.
4. Reserve a Spot
Making reservations is critical to help the night go smoothly. I remember one time that I did not make reservations and the restaurant was full. We had to go to a hole in the wall Chinese restaurant instead of my wife’s favorite Thai spot. She was disappointed that I hadn’t planned the date night like I said I would.
Don’t make that mistake. Instead, call ahead and make reservations. If anything, this shows that you have given thought to the date. Your wife will appreciate it.
5. Build Suspense
Anticipation is important on date night. Creating anticipation by building up the date will create an atmosphere of romance. There are many ways that a husband can create anticipation. You can text your wife telling her how excited you are for date night. You could pick up flowers or perhaps a small gift that she could wear for the evening. The point is to create anticipation. Your wife wants to know that she is desirable. Let her know how you feel about her and be sure to compliment her beauty.
6. Look Sharp
When you were dating your wife, you got a little fancy on date night didn’t you?
Don’t go out looking like a bum. After all the preparations have been made, be sure to make yourself look nice. Pick out a nice outfit, spritz some cologne, and maybe clean out your car. It’s important to look attractive. Date night in marriage is about putting your best foot forward just like in the early days of dating.
Be a provocateur. Make it your goal to attract your wife by putting on the moves.
7. Be Genuine
The last step is to be genuine on date night. Show a genuine interest in the evening and keep focused on the beauty in front of you. If you have too, have all your business settled before hand. You don’t want to have distractions on date night; you want to be totally focused on your bride.
Some of the best ways to be genuine toward your wife are to open her door, ask her questions about herself, and compliment her physical qualities.
Don’t rush through date night, but squeeze all the love and romance out of the night as you can. Your marriage will be better for prioritizing date night.
