| Let us suppose that you want to take your | | | | in the bathroom, wash their back gently, play soft |
| partner on a romantic date. | | | | music, serve a glass of wine or hot mulled cider. |
| Whether you are just starting to date and really | | | | After the bath, serve a home cooked or take |
| want to make a good impression, or you have | | | | out meal as you choose, complete with candles |
| been dating for a long time, are engaged OR | | | | on the table and special music in the background. |
| married, a romantic date is a great way to let | | | | Push the furniture back against the walls and |
| your partner know just how special they are to | | | | create your own dance floor, perhaps even |
| you. | | | | decorating the living room like a romantic |
| I think you'll find it easy to come up with your | | | | ‘dance club’. |
| own, once your mind gets on the track and your | | | | Dance the night away and see where the mood |
| creative juices start flowing. | | | | takes you. |
| As with the other ideas I've given you, some are | | | | Involve your partner’s co-workers in your |
| more elaborate and some cost just a little money | | | | scheme and have them plan a working dinner |
| to execute, while others are totally free except | | | | either at a restaurant or calling for takeout to |
| for your effort! | | | | work on a project. |
| So, feel free to pick one or more of these ideas, | | | | Then arrive with flowers, music playing on a |
| or change them a little to make them more | | | | portable CD and an outstretched hand to whisk |
| personal for you and your partner. | | | | your partner away from what they expected to |
| Remember you have the answers to your | | | | be a hard evening of work. |
| questions about your partner to give you clues so | | | | Go to a little, out of the way restaurant – if |
| you can decide which idea(s) will work best for | | | | you can find a new one that everyone thinks is |
| your. | | | | great, so much the better. |
| Once you get started, you will come up with all | | | | Have the dinner ordered and ready to serve, so |
| kinds of ideas of your own! | | | | that your wine is poured and your dinner is |
| Rent a limousine and show up at your | | | | served as if by magic with no orders placed and |
| partner’s door, dressed in your finest to take | | | | no waiting. |
| her/him out for a surprise evening. If you can't | | | | Fill your living room with dozens of candles and |
| afford the limousine, ask a friend to drive you in a | | | | spread a blanket on the floor in front of the |
| rental car OR pay for them to have their car | | | | fireplace or the TV. |
| washed and have them drive you around | | | | Light the candles and, when your partner arrives |
| throughout the evening date. | | | | home, have a favorite romantic movie starting, |
| Bring a camera and take pictures of the places | | | | the room lit with only candles and a fire burning, if |
| you go and of the two of you in the limousine or | | | | you have a fireplace. |
| ‘rented car’. Bring a bottle of wine or | | | | A bottle of wine or champagne and a small |
| champagne along as well. | | | | basket of flowers in the middle of the picnic |
| If you live in a city that has commuter trains, you | | | | blanket can add the finishing touches. |
| can buy two tickets on the train during off peak | | | | Many hotels have great weekend ‘romantic |
| hours when it isn't crowded and bring along a | | | | getaway’ rates. Rent a hotel room in a nice |
| picnic lunch. | | | | area of town where you can walk around and |
| Plan to stop at one or two interesting towns to | | | | shop, go to the theater or browse in museums or |
| go shopping, or share a cup of coffee in a nice | | | | just walk through the park. |
| coffee shop. | | | | Don't tell your partner where you are going, just |
| Engage some of your friends (preferably those | | | | tell them to meet you in the hotel lobby at a |
| your partner likes) and have them meet you in a | | | | certain time (make it after check-in, so you can |
| street side deli or a public table in the mall to | | | | get checked in and bring all of your ‘tools’ |
| serve your food and drinks and act like waiters. | | | | up to dress up the hotel room). |
| OR, have them come along to serenade your | | | | Go to the hotel early, check in and place candles |
| partner in the evening when you know he/she will | | | | in the bathroom, and run a hot bath with bubble |
| be home. | | | | bath or bath oil. Bring a CD player and play some |
| You can print up booklets with love songs and | | | | romantic music. |
| everyone can sing them. If you want to get | | | | Light candles and place them around the bedroom |
| elaborate, you can assign parts for each person | | | | as well. Now turn down the bed in the hotel |
| to sing. Just be sure your friends have good | | | | bedroom and spread rose petals or other flower |
| voices. | | | | petals across the sheets. |
| Create an entire evening of charades using | | | | Bring some massage oil and do it up right. After a |
| sayings or statements you've written, or chosen | | | | relaxing afternoon in the hotel room, you can go |
| from love poems or movies. As each charade is | | | | out for dinner, walk in the park or go to a |
| solved, your partner will get to hear the | | | | museum or play, as you wish. |
| statement or line of love you created for him/her. | | | | Plan a day to pretend you are millionaires. Visit |
| Take your partner on an old-fashioned date, ice | | | | and tour homes you could never afford, test |
| skating, roller skating or going to a county fair. | | | | drive a Mercedes or Masserati and go to shops to |
| You can really do it up right by bringing an | | | | try on clothes or jewelry you would never buy. |
| old-fashioned box lunch or picnic basket for a local | | | | End the day with appetizers and drinks or just |
| restaurant or caterer and buying flowers from a | | | | Tiramisu and coffee with Grand Marnier and stay |
| street side vendor. | | | | in that millionaire frame of mind as you try to |
| Take your partner on a hot air balloon ride OR a | | | | imagine just how the rich people treat their lovers |
| helicopter tour of a lovely area. Pick him/her up in | | | | and partners. |
| a car and insist that they wear a blindfold. | | | | Stop at your favorite romantic restaurant or a |
| Bring a bottle of wine for the journey and don't | | | | new one you'd like to try and pick up a |
| reveal the special surprise until they are on board | | | | matchbook with their name on the front. |
| or as close to the craft as possible. | | | | In a brightly colored ink, write a romantic |
| If you are in a city with horse drawn carriages or | | | | message, asking your partner to meet you at the |
| hansom cabs, plan to take a leisurely walk one | | | | restaurant at a certain date and time and then |
| evening after dinner, and grab a carriage to take | | | | leave it where you know they will find it. |
| you around the beautifully lit city or countryside. | | | | Be sure to leave the cover of the matchbook |
| Hayrides are also very romantic. Bring a blanket | | | | open so your partner will notice the brightly |
| to lie on and one to cover you and a little bottle | | | | colored message peeking out at them. |
| of cognac or schnapps to keep you warm! | | | | Then get to the restaurant early and bring a |
| Schedule a secret evening – don't tell your | | | | flower, order a bottle of wine and get ready for |
| partner what you have in mind, and give her/him | | | | some romance! |
| a ‘spa night’ to remember. From the | | | | Now that you have some ideas for dates, you |
| moment they walk in the door, don’t let | | | | can continue with more of your own, using these |
| them lift a finger. | | | | ideas every week, or every few weeks, to |
| Draw a bath with lovely scented oils and candles | | | | surprise your partner. |