Do you miss going out on date night with your spouse? Have the candlelit dinners and long flirtatious talks into late nights been replaced by discussions of bills and errands?

Getting married is not an excuse to stop dating your spouse and get comfortable. To have a happy marriage, you need to keep the fire burning with regular date nights.  On these days, you avoid talking about grocery shopping and just delight in each other’s company.  This keeps you from growing apart and losing sight of why you got together as a couple in the first place.

Why date your wife or husband?

There are many reasons why marriage counselors recommend that couples keep dating even after the marriage ceremony.

First of all, it helps the two of you maintain a strong marriage even after you become parents – if that’s what you choose to do.  Kids need massive amounts of attention and can put a strain on the marriage. It helps to keep in mind that your spouse deserves your attention just as much as the kids; this goes for both men and women.

Although balancing your responsibilities as a spouse and parent may sound difficult, taking time away from your familial responsibilities to enjoy a date night with your wife or husband is a good place to get started.

Secondly, a date night provides the perfect opportunity for you to communicate with your partner.  As we have all heard, communication is the key to a successful marriage. There’s no better time to talk about stressful situations in your relationship than when you are having a nice candlelit dinner.

Fun date night ideas

Whatever you choose to do on your date nights, make sure that it is something that you both enjoy.  For instance, if you are looking to buy a new home or redecorating, you can take an open house tour of homes for sale in your area. This and other cheap date night ideas may be unconventional but it’s a great way to get work done and have fun at the same time.

A tour of your favorite restaurants is another great activity for couples who love to explore and unwind at the same time.  You can have different courses in different restaurants. This way if you love the appetizer from one restaurant and the main course from another, you can have all your favorite things in one night.

What special moments come to mind when you think back to your earliest dates with your partner?  You can relive these fun moments and the happiness they brought you by recreating those dates.

Lastly, if you are looking for at home date night ideas, you could try watching a movie. Call your spouse at work and invite him or her to watch a movie with you. It will make the date night experience feel more special.