These last minute date ideas for valentine’s day will save your relationship if you’re scrambling to plan a date night. You can do most of these at home so there’s no need find a reservation. Plus a cozy night in can be so relaxing and sometimes it’s just what you need. These 14 last minute date ideas for valentine’s day will give you a wide range to pick from for valentine’s day, or any date night.
This post is all about last minute date ideas for Valentine’s Day.
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So, it’s almost valentine’s day and you’re scrambling to figure out what to do with your boo. Don’t worry, I’ve got a few last minute date ideas for you.
1. Fancy Date Night At Home
Well, if you’re reading this, it may be too late to make a reservation at fancy restaurant. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a fancy night. A lot of nice restaurants will do carryout orders, but I would call a few days ahead just incase you end up needing a backup plan! I don’t know if it’s common sense that even nice restaurants do carry out, but I had always assumed they didn’t.
Anyways, so you order some food from a boujee restaurant, pick it up, and bring it home. But, the key is how you set up your home/apartment/wherever you’re eating. Set out a blanket and eat picnic style or set your table like you’re actually at the restaurant, you choose whichever fits your vibe. Light some candles, dim the lights, and end your fancy night with a movie or even better, watch one while you eat.
2. Cook A Nice Meal Together
I’ve never been a huge fan of cooking, but cooking with your boyfriend is super romantic. Open a bottle of wine while you’re cooking and turn on some music or your favorite TV show to really level up the experience. Here are a couple easy recipes that won’t disappoint.
3. Create Your Own Wine Tasting
If you can’t go out for a wine tasting, create your own! I tend to go for several mini bottles of wine so that we can try as many kinds as possible. I mostly drink red wine, so I normally go for a few different types of red, but it’s always fun to mix in some white and rosé. You could even do one set of reds and then another round of tasting for white and rosé!
And don’t forget the charcuterie board. This date night is basically some grown up Lunchables and adult grape juice, and that’s why it’s my favorite. Here’s what you need: crackers, summer sausage, maybe some salami, a few different types of cheese, choice of nuts and fruit, and a cute board to put it all on. You can make it as simple or elaborate as you want.
4. Become Your Own Bartender
Experimenting and making new drinks is a great way to have some fun in the kitchen. But if you’re like me, you rarely make any exciting drinks at home. It can be really overwhelming looking for cocktail recipes and finding that you need to go buy 10 different things. So if you’re just getting started, I recommend finding a simple cocktail recipe book that can help you build the basics of your bartending skills!
5. Go To The Movies
A true staple of going to the movie theater is what you bring into the theater. I love to bring in the little Wine Cube wines… the red blend is my favorite. They have a cap that screws on nicely to avoid any spilling, especially in a dark theater! Plus each one is only about $5 for 3 glasses!
Bring snacks. Snacks are vital to the movie watching experience. I tend to get one thing with chocolate and another that’s sour, you know, for balance. And since you’re actually at the theater, you might as well get some movie theater popcorn. Nothing compares to fresh, hot, buttery movie theater popcorn. Right?! My boyfriend always gives me a hard time for how much butter I put on my popcorn, but then admits that it’s the perfect amount. SMH.
BTW, find Wine Cube at Target!
6. Movie Theater Experience At Home
For your movie theater experience at home, you’re going to need blankets and pillows, and lots of them. We’re building a fort. You know, the kind of fort you built as a kid to watch movies under. Ah, the nostalgia. Once you have your fort built, you can decide whether you want to watch your movie on a laptop, TV, or a projector – it really just depends on what kind of set up you have! Get whatever snacks, drinks, etc. you want and make it the perfect cozy night in.
7. Classic Cheese Fondue
Cheese fondue and chocolate fondue are both a pretty expensive date night if you go out for it. If you make it at home, it’s pretty dang budget friendly. Plus it’s delicious and an experience itself.
For cheese fondue I prefer to go the traditional route with a Swiss cheese fondue. Don’t worry if you don’t like Swiss cheese! When I first had cheese fondue I had no idea it had Swiss cheese in it and it was literally one of the best things I’ve ever tasted in my life. Bread is a classic pairing to dip into the fondue, but I also really like to dip apples in it.
Check out this recipe!
8. Chocolate Fondue
If you’re not a fan of cheese, but still want to make fondue, make it with chocolate! And if you don’t like chocolate… I don’t know what to tell you. There are so many things you can choose to dip into the fondue based on what you’re feeling. Some of my favorites are pound cake, bananas, and raspberries. Chocolate fondue pairs nicely with a glass of red wine.
Check out this recipe!
9. Turn Your Home Into A Spa
Take turns giving each other the treatment you both deserve and turn your home into a spa. Light some candles and pour your wine, it’s about to get relaxing up in here. First you’ll soak your feet in soapy warm water, sit back, and close your eyes. After five minutes or so, have your partner use a pumice stone around the parts of your feet that are usually rough. Once you’re done with that, get the lotion and have them work a few pumps into your feet. I love a good calf massage during this part! Don’t forget to switch. 😉
10. Take A Bath Together
I can’t wait until the day that I have a house with a bathtub in it. My absolute favorite thing to do is fill up a bathtub, light candles, turn off the lights, and play music. If you have a big enough bathtub, get in there together! Any kind of bubble bath (or even just a mix of body wash and conditioner) will work, and I also like to use lavender epsom salts. Dr. Teal’s has a really nice product that combines both – they have a few different scents but my favorite is lavender by far!
{Related post: gift basket ideas to pamper your girlfriend}
11. Go Bowling
Bowling is really good date night idea if you’re in the awkward stage of dating. Most of the times the older bowling alleys don’t require reservations, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead just incase! Also I swear there are always specials going on, so be sure to check out what your local bowling alley is offering.
12. At-Home Paint & Sip
An at-home paint & sip is one of the best date nights in you’ll ever have. Old episodes of Bob Ross make the perfect painting tutorial and he really makes it so easy to follow along. You can also just search for paint & sip videos on YouTube if you’re looking for a different vibe.
13. Go Stargazing
I honestly think winter is the best time to go stargazing… mostly because I hate how buggy it is at night in the summer. BUT that makes valentine’s day the perfect time to stargaze. Make sure you’re far enough from city lights that you minimize the light pollution, and bring blankets and hot chocolate to keep you nice and warm!
14. Decorate Valentine’s Day Desserts
Turn on some dancing music and bake your favorite dessert. Whether it’s cookies, cake, or brownies, you can decorate it. I like to make the Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownies and buy decorating frosting. But I can’t go without cream cheese frosting, so I have to get that too. Whatever you choose to decorate, make sure to turn on a super cheesy valentine’s day movie!
This post was all about 14 date ideas for valentine’s day.
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- First Valentine Gift For Your Long Distance Boyfriend
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