Every year I see people asking around for ideas of what to give their spouse for Christmas. Some of the most popular articles right now are gift guides and stocking stuffer ideas for spouses. I’m struggling myself to come up with a meaningful Christmas gift for Joe this year. I have a lot of random little things in mind that I know he’ll love. But I’m still looking for the perfect main gift to put under the tree.
No matter the occasion, I always love giving and receiving the gift of date night. I think date night is the perfect present because it’s a gift of quality time, connection, and memories! As I figure out the perfect way to gift date night to my husband this Christmas, I thought I would share some of my ideas with all of you!
For more date night ideas like these ones, check out the book, Prioritizing Date Night in Your Marriage, with 300+ date night ideas.
Giving a gift card is the easiest way to gift your spouse with a date night. Every Christmas, I get a gift card for one of our favorite dinner date night locations and put it in Joe’s stocking. But you don’t have to just get gift cards for eating out! Pick an activity that the two of you like to do together; live theater, movies, a local fun center, etc., and give your spouse a gift card for those things as well. You could also think of something that the two of you have been talking about doing for date night but haven’t yet done and got a gift card for that as well.
Thinking about what kind of gift cards I’d get for Joe to gift date night; I would go for things like Top Golf, movie theater tickets, Redbox codes, Last Course (a dessert studio near us), etc.
If there is a concert, live theater performance, or other events that you know the two of you would enjoy for date night. You could purchase those tickets up front and wrap them up for your gift. I love this method because then you have a set date night and not a gift card or promise of a date that sits in a drawer for the next year until you remember it’s there. My only tip is to check both of your calendars and schedules carefully to avoid conflicts. So you don’t have to exchange or resell your tickets because you find out after they open them that you aren’t able to go.
A couple of years ago for Christmas, my mom gifted us tickets to see one of my favorite musicals. And she wrote a note that let us know to babysit while we went on our date was included. It’s still one of my favorite gifts I’ve been given. Because it was something I would love, involved quality time with my husband and I didn’t have to worry about finding someone to watch our kids so we could go. We used a gift card we’d been given by someone else to cover dinner that night as well.
Related: A Date Night At Home Cookbook
This is probably my favorite way to gift date night! I first saw the idea when my friend Camille of Friday We’re in Love shared this cute binder she made her husband for Christmas one year. I also loved the file folder version she gave him the next year. If you plan ahead and budget well, you can purchase tickets, gift cards, or pull out cash to put with each of the date nights that you have planned.
Camille recently released an amazing free download to go with her year of dates idea. And it’s perfect for Christmas, a birthday or an anniversary! She does all of the design work for you. Then you can download the gift in a monthly format (Jan, Feb, Mar) or numerical format (date one, date two, date three). Click here to grab your copy. It’s amazing and I can’t wait to make this a tradition for gifting to my husband each year!
For our anniversary a couple of years ago, I put together a year of dates binder and gave it to Joe. I purchased tickets for Joe and I to see Jim Gaffigan live when he comes to our area. The rest of the dates were planned but the dates we were going on weren’t set in stone and I hadn’t purchased gift cards or tickets for any of them. We did things like enjoy brunch and play a game at Top Golf, go on a full moon lift ride, and go to see a movie that came out that we wanted to see.
The Adventure Challenge is a book filled with 50 scratch-off adventures that will encourage you to create new memories together. Scratch off a new adventure each time you need a date! Use the category, cost, and time guides provided next to each challenge. You and your spouse will love this date night resource!
Related: Date Night Movies You’ll Both Enjoy
Groupon is one of my favorite places to look for date night experiences. You can grab deals for things that you love to do and restaurants that the two of you frequent. Or you can find a new adventure to enjoy together. We’ve used Groupon to discover a new dinner theater experience near us. Get a discount on a local event that we’ve been wanting to go to. Or just save a little money on our next dinner date. Groupons make great date night gifting!
Related: Our Favorite Date Night Resources
One of my other favorite resources for date night is date night subscription boxes. It’s a date night planned for you and delivered right to your front door. Most date boxes are put together by a husband and wife team who have a passion for date night and how it can strengthen relationships. I’ve found that the majority of date box companies are founded by at least one relationship professional. Not only will your box be fun, but your box will also make your date night time together more intentional. Click here for a list of all of the subscription services out there and a few discounts.
Related: Date Box Subscription Boxes for Married Couples
A couple of years ago, I purchased myself a cookbook called Date Night In! It is filled with menus for date night meals any time of year and to fit any taste. We’ve really loved cooking from it and enjoying a meal together when we do. A couple of other cookbooks that are on my wishlist and perfect for date night are Spicing Up Married Life. And the second book from the author of Date Night In, Let’s Stay In! Click here for a list of great cookbooks for couples.
In addition to cooking at home, you could purchase a gift certificate or reserve seats at a local cooking class. These can often be found at higher-end grocery stores or kitchen supply stores. I know a few people who have attended these types of classes together and had a lot of fun!
As you’re doing your holiday shopping, consider wrapping up a gift of date night for your spouse. It won’t be a gift just for them, it will be a gift for you and your marriage as well!
Have you ever been gifted or gifted date night? What do you love about gifting date night in your marriage?
