Being engaged shouldn’t mean you forget to date each other. By “date”, we mean to intentionally continue building your relationship during your wedding planning. How you navigate your relationship as you move toward marriage, can impact the health of your relationship once you say, “I do.”
Amidst the whirlwind of preparation, time spent face to face may change. It may increase if you are planning together or decrease if one of you is doing the majority of your wedding planning. Regardless of how much you see each other, there’s always plenty to talk about. After all, you’ll be deciding wedding details, where you will live, how to handle finances, and more. Engagement offers the opportunity to learn how to reach an agreed upon decision and set up good problem solving strategies. However, remember also to continue investing in your relationship in fun and lighthearted ways.
Being purposeful while in the midst of wedding planning (and continuing to do so after you are married) helps keep your marriage a priority. Use various formats to touch base even for a few moments every week. Your relationship is worth it.
Creative Date Ideas During Wedding Planning
Stretched for time and need a little creativity? Use the following dates as they are or as a springboard for new ideas.
- A questions date. Whether talking on the phone, Skype, FaceTime, or face-to-face this is a great date to connect with each other. Ask each other things like, “What happened today that made you smile?”, “Have you heard a song lately that you really liked?”, “What new food have you tried recently that you liked?”.
- The love note date. Take turns texting or tucking a short love note where your fiance/fiancee will easily find it in the course of a day or week. Having a fun or touching note to look at during a rough day-or just because-can give a lift to the day. Examples: “The ___________ (funniest, silliest, craziest) thing that happened to me today/this week was…” “I admire ________ about you because __________.” “My favorite memory of you/us so far is…” “Something you do that makes me laugh or puts a smile on my face is…”
- A spur-of-the moment date. Steal away and meet at a favorite spot, even if it is for 15 minutes. Unexpectedly seeing each other in the middle of the day or in-between meetings may give you both that boost you need in the midst of a busy time.
- Design a date. Each of you plan a date. Schedule a specific time or use unexpected free time to go on one date and save the other for another day. Spontaneous dates which need little or no prep time or those which require time to prepare can both be rewarding since it has been planned with each other in mind. Some ideas are a picnic in the park, miniature golf, an outdoor movie night, or getting in a great workout together.
- Mystery date. Label individual envelopes or jars with the following topics: Food, Activity, Conversation Starters. On slips of paper write something for each category that you would enjoy, and put them in the corresponding envelope or jar. When you want to go do something and can’t figure out what to do, draw a slip from each envelope or jar and put them together for your date. For example, you might choose pizza; go out to (new or favorite restaurant); make a homemade meal of grilled chicken, salad, and roasted red potatoes for your food category. Dancing in the moonlight, white water rafting, going to an art museum may be your activities. Conversation starters could include “If you could have a dream job, what would it be?” “Where would you like to travel in the next 3 years?” “Something I would really like to do sometime in my life is…” Drawing one slip from each envelope could result in a date of take out pizza and talking about where you would like to travel after a day of white water rafting.
Investing in your relationship as you prepare for marriage is important to your wedding well-being. You’ll find that making a habit of intentionally spending time together while wedding planning is a very good practice for after the wedding day itself! Help keep the romance alive during and after your wedding through purposeful time with each other.
Happy Planning! It’s your occasion. Make it Always Yours!