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Are you bored and tired of the plain old “dinner and a movie” for date night? Want to spice things up and give your S.O. something to look forward to and remember fondly? With fall just around the corner, we all want new ideas to surprise our loved one and remind them of why we love them. Here are 9 amazing and inexpensive fall date ideas that are easy on your wallet, and your relationship!
Picnic in the Park
This one may be a bit of a cliché but is always a classic. It’s a wonderful way to get out and enjoy the weather, when it’s nice out, and share some fresh air and a home-cooked meal. Plus, how often do you see someone having a picnic in the park? Hardly anyone does this anymore, and it’s a lost art!
Everyone loves a good home-cooked meal, and who better to share it with than your S.O.? A picnic in the park is cheap, easy, and an excellent way to get away from the noise of your everyday life. So, discuss with your partner what they might like to have for a picnic, and plan together who is bringing what. Plus, this is a great time to talk about the future and ideas that you both are excited about. Take this opportunity to work together, plan together, and enjoy something you can both look forward to!
Scary Movie Marathon with Friends
While this is still the typical “movie night” theme, it is something you get to do with friends. This is your chance to have a double date with your besties and for your date to also get to know your friends better. Plus, there is the bonus that you promised to bring your famous dessert dish for everyone. The only cost is the ingredients to make your dessert!
Take this chance to have your partner learn more about your friends and their interests. This is also a golden opportunity for your friends get a feel for whether your date could “be the one”. Good luck and have fun!
Game Night with the Family
This is an excellent idea for you and your date to also get to know each other’s family a bit better too. If you haven’t met your date’s family, or they haven’t met yours, offer up the idea of a game night to amend that. How else are you going to learn that your date’s little sister is excellent at Jenga, or that their parents play dirty when it comes to monopoly? Take advantage of this time to also show off your new partner, or simply catch up and reconnect with your loved ones. What better way to bond than by a little friendly competition?
Plus, if you enjoy playing more adult games, toss in some drinks, Cards Against Humanity, and watch the games begin! Who knew your date’s parents could let loose so quickly?
Volunteer at the place of your choice
Now here is a neat idea that can really bring you closer, while also benefitting your community. For this idea, make a list of places you’d both like to volunteer, pick a few you both agree on, and draw from a hat. Figure out a time that works well for you both and sign up to volunteer your time! If you decide you really enjoyed this date idea, do it again on a routine basis, and continue to help out your favorite charity or non-profit.
Roasting Smore’s and Drinking Hot Cider
I have to say that this has got to be my top favorite! I go absolutely nuts for smores. And who doesn’t enjoy some hot apple cider during the fall?
Roasting smores is a great way to say goodbye to summer, and drinking cider is the best way to say Hello, Fall!
Invite a couple friends over for a double date, or even for some drinks around the fire while you roast mallows. Catch up on each other’s lives, tell funny stories, and maybe play a little truth and dare if everyone is feeling playful!
Go on a Hike
This idea is completely free! Unless you live very far from good hiking trails and drive a long way. But fall is a great time to go on a hike since most of the bothersome bugs are dead, the air a bit cooler, and the scenery gorgeous.
Also, this can be a great time to get some amazing couples’ photos. If you have a special event where you might need some professional photos taken, such as an engagement, wedding, Christmas cards, or even upcoming graduations, this is your chance! Take advantage of this opportunity to lather yourself in the crisp autumn air. Plus you get to mark off a task on your to-do list. Plus, you get to take in some fresh air and get away from all the noise of life.
Pumpkin Carving Contest
What says fall more than carving pumpkins? Making a contest out of it perhaps!
Another great way to get closer to your S.O. is to introduce a little friendly competition. However, if your partner is a bit scary when it comes to competitions, maybe leave this idea at the door. But don’t let that stop you from having fun! You can still carve pumpkins. Just leave the competition out of it.
If you want to increase the fun, go on a hayride. Go pick out your pumpkins together, and bring them back home to carve. The only limit… is your imagination, and the versatility of your carving knives!
Go to a Haunted House
If you, and your date, enjoy the scary side of fall, which is Halloween, this is a great way to satiate your hunger for fright! Here is an opportunity to hold hands with your loved one as you tour the terrifying halls of the haunted mansion together.
Learn more about what spooks your partner. And be there to console them when they shiver from terror as you both crawl out of the horrifying cursed doorways!
A bonus of haunted houses is that they are often hosted by youths or charities to fundraise for future projects and events. What a spooky way to support your community!
Bake Some Goodies Together
One of my favorite parts of fall is that I finally get an excuse to bake like a madwoman. I adore baking, and I love doing so in mass quantities. One fall I baked tons of pumpkin bread for a farmer’s market. Then brought the leftovers to my now boyfriend of 4+ years.
He continues to remind me that my pumpkin bread is one of the first things he remembers about me. Apparently, he had pumpkin bread for breakfast for an entire week, and possibly for other meals as well.
And what better way to warm up your home than with your oven, and the scent of delicious desserts?
Discuss with your S.O. what treat they’d like to make with you and decide how you’ll accomplish this fun and tasty task! But remember, this is a date. You both need to work together, communicate well, and fairly and evenly distribute the task load.
This is also your chance to work on your collaboration skills.
By the time you’ve made all your goodies, you get to decide what you want to do with them!
Set some out to enjoy for yourselves. Then, set aside some for your friends and family. Maybe a little bit for your coworkers, or even some to donate to an event.
There are so many more great date ideas to take advantage of in the fall. I absolutely love all 9 of these and can’t wait to have more date nights with my wonderful boyfriend. Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you. And I can’t wait for you to enjoy these 9 amazing and inexpensive fall date ideas, for yourselves.
What’s your favorite type of fall date?
