What is a Date Night?
What is date night? We’re breaking down the literal date night definition with tips for making the most of date night no matter your phase of life!
We’re a couple who has been making a weekly date night happen for over 14 years! With thousands of date nights under our belt, here’s a lived experience of the definition of date night!
Date Night Definition from an Established Couple
So many people go through strange phases of relationships where you’re trying to figure out how to spend time together, and whether you’re dating or not. This is not only true for new couples who are just talking and not quite official, but for established couples too!
What constitutes a date, is it a date, and are you making date nights happen are topics many couples have to ask. So here’s a litmus test to check if it’s a date.
What is a Date Night?
This moment in time, when relationships have become more casual, has left many people are left asking, what is a date night? It’s been an exceptionally challenging time to carve out that intentional time together. We’re all trying hard to do so many jobs and adjust to new norms right now!
We applaud those we’ve seen getting creative and still making a regular intentional night together happen. But even for those of intentionally making it happen, you may be asking what a date night looks like these days?
Date Night Definition
I wanted to give the official date night definition to anyone wondering about the formal definition. According to dictionary.com, a date night is defined as:
Date Night
Noun
1. an evening social date on which a married or long-term couple go out together: I enjoy a regular date night with my husband.
2. a night of the week on which it is usual or customary for couples to go out on a date: Friday night is date night.
We are clearly people who believe in regular intentional time together! It’s been our mission and project for over a decade now. I feel like we’ve nailed that night of the week part, hello Friday (sometimes Saturday). And I love that it’s formally defined as a social event where married or long-term couples intentionally go out together.
How do we make date night happen at home?
If you’re a new parent, you may feel forced into a lot of at-home date ideas to take place. And we’re completely team stay-home make date night happen if can’t find a babysitter or have other circumstances! But if you’re someone who is feeling like another night streaming a show or movie isn’t cutting it, we want you to know you aren’t alone. So many couples can’t wait for their next time to go out together.
So while you plan your activity out that fits the textbook date night definition, we wanted to offer a few date-your-mate tips to help you feel a bit more like dating is taking place.
Date Your Mate Tips
Get out and enjoy time together away from your house. Take a long drive. Go get takeout. Go for a hike. If it’s doable in your area and you don’t have young kids, go ahead and get out. Just please, do it safely and responsibly.
Change up the environment! Even if you’re tethered to your house, find a place that makes the intentional social time together really count. Maybe your front porch, maybe it’s in a backyard or side yard. Or, perhaps, just a room you’ve never had a date night in before. Mix things up so you get the thrill of a new place.
Dress up. I’m almost always a you-do-you kind of person. Dress and wear makeup as you please and do what makes you happy. But I think date night is a good time to put in a little effort so you feel like it’s a special night. I know our nights on the couch in pajamas never feel the same as the nights we dress up and have a candlelight dinner. Make a little effort (or a lot), it goes a long way.
Now’s the time to Get Creative!
– Find a new activity you’ve never done before. Even if you’re at home, we have a list of 52 at-home dates you’ve never done before. I promise they’ll shake things up and make it feel like a real date night!
– Plan ahead! If all else fails, take the time to get some get nights on the town on your calendar. Decide what you want to do. Plan for a few months out. Make an intentional date night bucket list together. Buy the ticket. Find those intentional social times and activities you just can’t wait to do! The anticipation will help the current feelings of being trapped.
And best of all, know a lot of it is your mentality. I wrote a whole post about having a date night mentality finding dates wherever we go here. We’ve learned to fit in dates on lunch breaks when times our busy. We’ve lived apart for a few months and had to make long-distance dates happen. Also, we’ve survived the newborn colic phase and overcome that feeling that we were trapped at home without a real night out together.
Believe me when I say, these moments pass. Your attitude and plans for the future will make all the difference. And before you know it you’ll be back to dictionary-defined date nights again!
Date Night Out
I love that the textbook definition literally is just a time for couples to go out together. That doesn’t mean it has to been a fancy dinner or a stereotypical movie. Literally, any activity together counts as a date night!
Look for free date ideas if you’re on a budget. Find simple date ideas if you are short on time. But just find something to do so you can spend a little time together and be together.
And if you spent time together, it’s always fair to call it a date!
Loved this post! It’s a great reminder of how important it is to carve out time for each other amidst our busy schedules. The tips are practical and fun—definitely inspired to plan my next date night!
I loved this post! The definition of date night really resonates with me, and I appreciate the tips you shared. It’s so important to prioritize quality time together, especially with our busy lives. I can’t wait to try some of your ideas for our next date night!