How To Use Your Love Language on Date Night

If you’re not already aware of your love language, there are books or online tests to help you determine which one you most align with. The five love languages are words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time, physical touch and receiving gifts.

Once you know your partner’s love language, you can create a date that is a good fit for how he or she prefers to be loved. Below are some date ideas for each love language.

Words of Affirmation

• Write love letters to one another. Use pretty stationary or cards and schedule time to sit down and write a heartfelt love letter to one another.
• Word games. Many companies sell conversation starter cards or you can make your own. Over dinner, pull them out and take turns answering the questions and truly listening.
• Visit a bookstore or record store. Make a date out of going book or music shopping. Split up and peruse the shelves for a piece of art that reminds you of your partner.
• Attend a concert, poetry reading or play. People who relate to words of affirmation often have a deep admiration for words and how they are used. Attend an event that is word-and-meaning focused.

Acts of Service

• Make them a homemade meal. Get out your cookbooks and whip up a three course meal. Extra points if you pair it with beverages. Breakfast in bed is always a welcome surprise.
• Volunteer together. Those who relate to this love language are often natural caretakers. It’s likely they already have a host of organizations they volunteer with. Offer to attend with them or find a new organization you both care about.
• Plan a full date. Take logistics out of their equation by fully planning the date. Decide on times, make reservations, plan activities, hire transportation, pick out the outfits and more. All they have to do is show up and enjoy themselves.
• Tackle all their tasks. Let them relax while you do their regular chores for the day then reconvene for dinner.

Quality Time

• A weekend getaway. You often go on a date for two hours then life returns to normal. It’s back to screens and daily tasks. Get away for the weekend and forget everything but each other.
• Take a class. Whether it’s cooking, art, pottery, fitness or dance, taking a class puts you in focus mode.
• Attend an event. A sporting event, a play, a concert, a museum, a farmer’s market – choose an activity that fully engages the senses and keeps you in the moment.
• Plan a picnic. Stroll to the perfect spot, set up a picnic with all your favorite foods, take in the scenery and chat with one another. Make it a no-phone zone.

Physical Touch

• Do an at-home spa night. Get out the essential oils, candles and lotions. Take turns giving each other massages, facials, manicures and pedicures.
• Do a physical activity. Choose dancing or yoga or a sport such as iceskating, basketball or soccer.
• Do a hands-on project together. Build a birdhouse, plant a garden, paint together, finish that home project you’ve been meaning to get to.
• Create the ultimate at-home movie night. Create a movie den complete with cozy pajamas, plush pillows and blankets, favorite snacks and drinks. The perfect setting to cuddle close.

Receiving Gifts

• Treasure hunt. Leave clues all over the house, a park or a series of locations. At each one, place a small gift, token or surprise.
• A gift you can enjoy together. Purchase a new game for the gaming console or a board game. Buy that fire pit and ingredients for s’mores. Purchase sporting goods for one-on-one games in the backyard.
• Make them a present. Knit a sweater, put together a scrapbook, paint a piece of pottery, make a photo book or anything that’s in your wheelhouse of creativity. Show your partner that you care enough to take time to create for them.
• Go on a mini shopping spree. Stop into stores and surprise your partner by buying something you think he or she would like.

Photography courtesy of LV Photography