How to Celebrate Date Your Mate Month: 31 Dates
By Jimmy Sliwa
If I had once piece of advice for making a marriage last it would be, “never stop dating your spouse.”
This is why we are so excited that May is officially recognized as “Date Your Mate Month.”
There is a whole month that is dedicated to pursuing your spouse. This is great news!
Of course, date your mate month is only good if you …..well….actually date your spouse.
But dating your wife can be challenging after you get married. Kids, careers, and life in general make taking time for your marriage difficult. Don’t give your wife your leftovers this May.
Celebrate Date Your Month by being intentional about taking her out.
Because we are big fans of husbands continuing to date their spouse, we have created 31 custom date ideas for Date Your Mate Month – May.
1. Bury a Time Capsule
What better way to store memories than to bury a time capsule this May. All you need is a mason jar and some of your most memorable possessions. Spend the day collecting memorabilia to encapsulate and try writing a letter to your future selves. Last but not least, choose a sentimental location to bury the capsule.
2. Attend a Wedding Together
May is the start of wedding seasons and chances are, your wife enjoys getting dressed up. Take this opportunity to date your wife and attend a wedding together. Make it special by dressing up nicely and making sure you cut loose on the dance floor.
3. Plant a Garden
If you have not started the garden yet, what are you waiting for? Head to the local greenhouse and pick out garden plants or choose to start from seed. Designate an area and plant a garden with your love. The best part of this date is that you reap what you sow; both the memories and the vegetables.
4. Picnic at the City Garden
The city gardens should be in full bloom. Get outside and enjoy the warming sunshine. Make it special by packing along a blanket and a picnic basket. This is a romantic and classic way to spend date your mate month.
5. Cherry Blossom Viewing
Visit a local park or botanical garden to enjoy the stunning cherry blossoms in full bloom. Don’t be afraid to take a few selfies kissing by the cherry blossoms. 😉
6. Spring Farmer Market Scavenger Hunt
Spend the morning browsing fresh produce, local products, and handmade crafts. Make it even more fun with a lighthearted scavenger hunt. Each of you can choose items for the other to find, like the weirdest vegetables or the most colorful flower.
7.Tandem Bike Ride Exploration
What’s more fun than a bike ride? A Tandem Bike with your love. Rent a tandem bike and embark on a scenic ride through parks or along a waterfront. There is no better way to get in sync with your partner.
8. Renew Your Vows
The purpose of a vow renewal is to honor the commitment you made to your spouse years ago. It’s like checking the map to reorient your marriage. A mature marriage should be celebrated. If you and your wife are looking to celebrate or recommit your love then maybe a vow renewal ceremony may be for you this May. That’s what I did in summer of 2021 and I am so thankful for all the memories.
Are Wedding Vow Renewals for You? – The Husband’s Club (thehusbandsclub.com)
9. Nature Scavenger Hunt
It’s getting warm outside so why not spend the day in nature. Create a fun list of items to find in nature and spend the day exploring. (i.e. – babbling creek, mountain view, skip rocks by water, sound off an echo, blooming flowers etc…)
10. Nature Photography Day
If you are having fun being outside, capture the moment on camera. Spend the day exploring and capture the beauty of spring around you.
11. Duck Feeding
Head to a pond or lake with a bag of breadcrumbs and have a duck feeding extravaganza. See which one of you is a duck whisperer and can make the most come to you, or perhaps see who has the best duck call. Quack Quack!
12. Bookstore Scavenger Hunt
Visit a bookstore and create a list of obscure titles or themes. Then, go on a scavenger hunt to find them, together. Bonus points for finding any classic novels. Moby Dick anyone?
13. DIY Birdhouse Building
Get creative by building birdhouses together. Decorate them, with fun designs and paint them, vibrant spring colors. Hang the, in your backyard or garden.
14. Nature Sketching
Bring sketchbooks and pencils to a picturesque outdoor location like a botanical garden or lakeside. Try your hand at drawing the scenery or each other. Even if you are not an artist, you can have fun with this activity.
15. DIY Tie-Dye
Peace and love! Get in touch with your hippie side and tie dye some old clothes. For a step-by-step process check out: Tie-Dye Tutorial
16. Back Seat Picnic
Sometimes the best views are from the back of a vehicle. A little offroad and a little picnic is a sure winner! Create a nice charcuterie to enjoy from the back of your vehicle.
18. Spring Cleaning Pranks
Make spring cleaning more fun by turning spring cleaning into a prank war. Hide funny notes or small surprises in each other’s cleaning tasks. Examples: hide hearts under the couch, write a note on the mirror, hide her underwear in the refridgerator.
19. Check Out Open Houses
In the spring time many towns will have a parade of homes. Dress up and pretend that you are in the market for some really expensive homes. It’s fun, free, and give you great inspiration for your future dream home.
20. Frisbee Golf
This is the first date that my wife and I ever did! Find a local frisbee golf course this May and enjoy a fun and lighthearted game of frolf. Make it a competition or simply go and enjoy the company.
21. Wine and Paint Night
If it’s a rainy spring day, spending the evening with wine and a Youtube paint night is a wonderful way to cozy up. Get all the fixing for painting a canvas and pick a unique painting tutorial from youtube.
22. Tennis Ball Golf at the Park
Buy If you are looking for a budget friendly way to get outside this Spring, tennis ball golf ‘May’ be your answer. All you need is two clubs and two tennis balls.
Go to a park and choose objects off in the distance to be the target. See who can hit the target in the fewest tries. Take turns choosing the next whole.
23. Run a Spring 5k
Time to shake off that winter weight. Try running a 5k together. Just google search for local 5ks in your area and get one on the books. This is a great way to get outside and get back in shape after a long winter.
24. Geocache Together
Join in on the largest treasure hunt in the world! Simply download the geocache app and get to exploring your area and find hidden treasures. The best part is you can do this date over and over again.
25. Outdoor Yoga
If the cold winter weather has gotten you uptight, maybe you should get together with your wife and try some outdoor yoga. It’s fun and a different way to get outside and get active.
26. Horseback Riding
This is a classic date that can be both romantic and adventurous. go for a horseback riding adventure together through scenic trails. Google search for horseback riding in your area.
27. Go for a Boat Ride
Buy If you are near a lake or river, rent a paddleboat, rowboat, or even a canoe for a romantic boat ride. Enjoy the tranquility and each other’s company while out on the water.
28. Catch a Sunset
Catching a sunset can be a romantic way to spend a warm May night. Plan to go for a walk or simply sit out by a lake and catch the sunset with your love.
29. Celebrate May Day with a Flower Crown
May Day is May 1st and marks halfway between spring equinox and summer solstice. Celebrate May Day by creating a flower crown for your bride. Traditionally May Day is celebrated by collecting flowers and greenery. Go out and collect flowers and other spring greenery and create a flower crown. For a tutorial check out: DIY Flower Crown
30. Hidden Gem Restaurant
Buy Find a hidden gem restaurant that your wife has never tried before and make reservations. Discovering a charming, out-or-the-way spot can make for a memorable Spring evening.
31. Renovate or Redecorate
If spring cleaning has got you bored, try redecorating your space. Rearrange the furniture and reorganize the artwork. It’s amazing how reorganizing your space can give your home a completely different feel.
Want More Date Ideas?
Check out our growing list of date ideas in our date library.
