Lunch dates are one of my favorite types of dates to go on in my marriage. In our current stage of life, lunch dates are especially awesome for a few different reasons. Both of our kids are in school all day which makes it easier to meet up during the lunch hour without having to worry about them or pay for childcare so we can have uninterrupted time together. I often have more energy in the middle of the day than I do in the evening or on the weekends after a week full of places to be and things to get done. Many restaurants have lunch menus or specials which makes eating out less expensive than it would be during our normal date night time.
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We have used lunch dates as connecting opportunities throughout our entire marriage, not just in our current season of life. I recognize that lunchtime isn’t the ideal time for a date for many couples, whether it’s due to work schedules or having young kids at home. Because I love lunchtime dates so much, I want to share ways you can make those mid-day dates work for your marriage, regardless of your current season or circumstances in life.
Below you will find a myriad of ideas for making your lunch date happen now. And I hope it will help you find ways to connect in the future seasons of life you might find yourselves in. Not only do these ideas work for a mid-week lunch date, but they work for the weekend as well! You can have more lunchtime dates in your marriage, regardless of your time availability or your budget. Pick one of these ideas and put a day date on the calendar this coming month. Then do it again and again until it becomes a regular part of your date night routine.
For more date night ideas like these, check out the book, Prioritizing Date Night in Your Marriage, with 300+ date night ideas.
This is the way that we currently do a lot of our dates because of the ease of making it happen in our current season of life. I pick a day I know works for both of us based on our work schedule, add a calendar event, and invite my husband so our lunchtime date is on both of our calendars. Then we pick a place to meet up, usually near his work, and enjoy our hour together while eating delicious food.
You can do the same and meet in the middle, close to one spouse’s workplace, or travel somewhere you wouldn’t go on a weekend because it might be busier, cost more money, or not work with your situation for weekend date nights. Take advantage of restaurants that offer lunch specials to save a little money. We add lunchtime dates to our calendar during the school year, but you could bring the kids along or see if they can stay with a neighbor for an hour.
Early on in our parenting journey, my husband would come home mid-day, after the baby was down for a nap and I would have lunch ready for us to sit and enjoy together. Recently I watched my mom make lunch for my dad and herself, while he was out working in the yard, then take both plates outside and eat with him while he took a break.
Whether you’re home on the weekend or can meet up at home on your lunch break, your kitchen table is a great place to connect for a date. Grab your favorite takeout, make your meal together, or even reheat leftovers. What you have to eat and where your date takes place doesn’t matter as much as your intention and the connection you create during your date. The kids could be at school, taking a nap, playing in the other room, or even grown and gone.
This lunch date option is for you if one of you doesn’t have a long lunch break, but still wants to get together. We’ve done this with our kids in the past and it’s been a lot of fun. One spouse picks up lunch or you each have something you’ve packed, and meet at the other spouse’s place of work, in the parking lot. You can roll down the windows if it’s warm outside, eat with the hatch open in the back of your car, or stay cozy inside if the weather isn’t super great. If you bring the kids along, let them hang out in the back and listen to an audiobook or watch a show while they eat their lunch. Then the two of you can connect and enjoy your meal in the front seat.
We have never done a date via video call, but I know this option for a lunch date would be great for a lot of couples. Maybe you’re long distance for a season or aren’t able to make a meet-up for lunch work for one reason or another. Find somewhere private you each can eat on your lunch break, coordinate that time, and eat while you talk over video. While in-person dates are often ideal, you can connect and make memories together through video as well.
If you have young kids at home or want to have a mid-day date during school breaks, this is the date option for you. Let the kids have a picnic before heading off to play on the playground or run around the park. While they’re playing, settle in for your lunch and enjoy your time together, while keeping an eye on the little ones having fun. This is a fun way to enjoy beautiful weather, even when you aren’t bringing the kids along with you. We grab our favorite takeout, a pizza, or pack a picnic lunch from home. Bring along a blanket to sit on and a frisbee or soccer ball to play together after you finish eating before you have to head back to real life.
Meet for lunch and connect this way at least once each month. Even when life circumstances don’t make this the “easy” date option, be creative and make it work. You’ll love the time together and I don’t think you’ll regret making lunch dates a regular thing in your marriage. Lunchtime is also a great time for a little afternoon delight if you’re looking to add more intimacy to your dates. Just be sure you are not in a public place where you could be spotted. While that can add to the thrill of the moment, it’s not worth the risk.
Happy lunch dating!