Finding Time for Romance
In today’s busy world, many of us find little time to share a romantic getaway with our partners. So instead of finding time for something big, why find romantic things to do that aren’t time-consuming, that play with time to stretch it or enhance it, or that remind you time and time again of your love for one another?
Remember the Salvador Dali painting with the melting clock? Why not play on that iconic image and give a clock that actually looks like the painting, with an inscription saying that time melts (stops?) when you’re together. Each time they use the clock to look at the time, they’ll be reminded of your romantic gesture.
Grab a sand timer or what some folks call an egg timer, where you turn it upside down to let the sand fall onto the other side. Then get some sand – perhaps from a local beach, while out together, or maybe buy some at the dollar store – and package it with the timer. Attach a note, saying, “More time for you,” and give it to your partner.
Buy your love a watch, and have it inscribed, “I’ll always have time for you“.
Another way to play with time, and the concept of time in a romantic way, is to think about the things you did and shared at the start of your relationship. How long has it been since you made out all night? Went on a proper date? Have you recreated your first date, or the first time you met? Or, do the flip side and plan out a date that imitates what you think it’ll be like in 10, 20, 40 years together. Have fun with it!
Surprise Romantic Ideas
A great way to inject some levity and excitement into a relationship is to plan a good surprise for your partner. Plus, it doesn’t need to be racy or provocative to evoke some heat, which is great for those who are too young or still in the early stages of a relationship where sexual intimacy hasn’t come into the picture. So when you want to really wow your partner, try breaking out of your normal box and use one of the suggestions to surprise them silly (and romantically!).
While you’re out and about with your partner, ask a friend or family member to deck out your home with the full romantic experience: home cooked meal, flowers, dimmed lights, candles, mood music… the works. Of course, don’t make your friend do all the work! Just let them know when to drop in and what to set up, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Then when you and your partner return home, the surprise will be waiting for you.
Whisk your partner away to a spa after work, making sure to cancel any other engagements they may have. Then pamper them with a massage or sauna treatment for two.
Give your partner The Element of Surprise T-Shirt. A bit corny, but fun!
Buy tickets to an event far in advance that you know your partner will love, such as a sporting event, opening night at the movies, wrestling match, opera or concert. Let your partner know you have plans that evening and tell them to book it off – but don’t tell them what for. Like in the infamous Rocky Horror Picture show song, the antici-PA-tion will make the effort more than worth your while.
Go to a costume shop and rent some costumes, perhaps naughty just for the bedroom, or so nice that you can go out together for dinner in them. Package them up nicely and leave theirs on their pillow, with a note saying you’d like for them to change into it, and meet you in a certain location (another room in the house, favorite dinner spot, picnic area, the choice is up to you). Then, wear your matching costume (I strongly suggest something out of my Couples Costume Ideas list), meet them, and roleplay your night away. If you decide to wear your outfits in public, if anyone asks why you’re dressed up, say you’re celebrating, “John and Jessica Day“, (or whatever your names are), or make up a day that fits in with your costume choices, like Superhero Celebration Day.
Romantic Ideas to Foster Togetherness
When you’re in a romantic relationship, it’s easy to take your partner for granted, and forget all of the little (and big!) things that make sharing your lives together fun and exciting. So if you’re wanting to inject a bit of levity, romance or appreciation into your partnership, try out whichever of these suggestions that make you feel connected, two peas in a pod, or ready to tackle the world, together.
Get up early one Sunday morning, and explore the flea markets, rummage sales, yard sales and auctions in the area. Give yourselves a silly spending limit that reminds you of your partnership – perhaps $22.22 or the numbers representing the day you met – and see what kinds of loving trinkets or surprises you can find for one another.
Cook a romantic dinner together
Hijack a book and use it to tell your love story, leave notes for your partner to find solo, or take turns reading passages to one another to inspire and enchant one another.
Think about all of the things that come in twos, or that are made for only two people. Two-for-one specials, bicycles built for two, two-person kayaks, hand warmers for two people, two-seater vehicles, and tic tac toe (the X’s and O’s) all come to mind. Think of how you can use these pairings for a date idea or shared purchase that will help you share and share alike.
Starry Romantic Ideas
For me, there are few things as romantic as looking at the stars with a partner. Lying on a blanket on a warm summer night next to a loved one? Ah… bliss! But there’s a lot you can do beyond this kind of simple date idea to incorporate the sun, moon and stars, and here are some of my favorites.
Buy an astrology chart for your partner, or a compatibility chart for the two of you. Make a point of sharing with them what parts of the program you agree with, or use their personal chart to come up with daily or weekly ideas to pump up their life with romantic gestures.
Name a star after your partner
Find out when you’re the most likely to see falling stars in your area, and book off time for the two of you to watch them during a romantic evening together.
Meteoroids are merely stars that have fallen to the earth. Why not go to a local gift shop and see if you can purchase one for your partner to give to them, perhaps in tandem with the falling stars idea from the item above?
If you live in a climate where you can’t get outside often to look at the stars, or if you can’t see the stars from your apartment, then create your own planetarium anytime with a smaller, motorized version of what you see at the planetarium light shows, and invite your love over for a midnight picnic to enjoy it together.
Get your partner a sun and star dial, and learn together how to use it.
