Come on fellas, let’s mix it up a bit and do something different then just dinner and movie.
Tired of reliving the same two or three dates over and over again? Yep, me too. So, I’ve told myself this year that I refuse to just do the ordinary, I want to make plans that people will actually be excited for. So! Do you also want to stop going on the same awkward dinners and coffee park strolls? (nothing wrong with these but variety never hurts!). Then take a look below at some ways we can try to make our first dates, or five hundredths, feel fresh.
Book Hunt
Kicking off with a first date that is a great way to be cheeky, get to know someone through what they love to read and what topics interest them and it keeps you both moving. Add a coffee or an ice cream to the mix and you’ve got a nice casual fun way to get to know your date. To make it more fun or interesting you can go in to the bookstore with the goal of selecting two books for each other as well. Select one based on a book you love and think they’d connect with to share your interests more, then pick one you think they’d love based on what you’ve learned from them to show you both listen and care. It seems small scale but can be insanely intimate if executed right. Maybe even sneak off for a cheeky lunch or dinner afterwards to discuss why you selected each book!
Charcuterie Board Contest
This could be a nice stay at home date one after you’ve gotten to know each other better, or a more elaborate second date out in a park. The plan is to set up ahead of time that you both are going to create your own mini charcuterie board with the goal being to create the best one out of the two. Doesn’t matter who wins. You can do it just to make two awesome boards to then share, or, go next level and make a board for each other to enjoy based on what you’ve learned from what they like. Perhaps you could make it a learning experience and just make a board of your favourite foods and snacks to then share with your date and explain why you selected each item.
Nostalgic Picnic
Not too dissimilar from the charcuterie board idea, but after a couple dates you can do a fun picnic at home or out in a park but you’re both tasked with brining a couple of things from your childhood that make you feel nostalgic. A toy or item you were fond of, old photos you can find, food items you adored growing up, and some of your favourite media you would watch or listen to.
Random Sport Truth or Drink Game
If you’re sport fans (you don’t have to be but is a touch more fun if you are) then this is the one for you. Sit down for meal or drink somewhere and find a TEAM sport to watch (if it’s a sport you passionately follow maybe make sure it’s not your team playing, we want to keep it fun and carefree) and set some stupid rules for you two to follow. Pick a team each and then set some self imposed rules that when reach or broken the other must answer and or take a drink. For example: the Storm and Raiders are playing, pick a side each. When your team scores the other person has to either take a drink or answer a personal question of your choosing. Same with whatever team is winning at half/quarter time. Feel free to add more rules but the purpose is to have fun, get competitive in a light hearted way and get to know your date.
Baking Competition
Exactly what it sounds like. Go to someone’s house and have some chaotic fun in the kitchen. Set yourselves a budget to bake something with the goal to see who does best. Bake in the same room together, see what each other makes and maybe even sabotage each other. If you’re feeling extra spicy set a timer for how long you have to finish your bakes. Enjoy some music, some food, some friendly contest, and when it’s all done you hopefully have some (hopefully not too sabotaged) baked goods to share.
Dinner Crawl
If you want to do a dinner night out but make it a touch more adventurous than this could be the plan for you. You can plan ahead or just wing it, but the goal for this is that you’re going to eat three-four meals together. Appetiser, main, secondary main, and dessert. But each meal must be eaten at a different restaurant. It’s a unique way to see what cuisine types you both like, get up and walk around to break up the date, and it adds this little layer of fun and adventure. Get creative with your restaurants! Do your appetiser at an asian venue, then your main at an Indian joint, your secondary at a Mexican place, to then finally conclude with dessert.
Superhero Training Competition
This won’t be for everyone, but for those who do like to stay fit and get active might find some fun in some friendly physical competition in an environment that might see some level playing fields. Head to a ninja warrior/spartan training and get competitive with the obstacles available there. Who can climb the rope and get back down fastest, who can swing across these bars fastest. It’s a lot more physical than any of the other options here but for the active lot this is a must try.
Pop Some Tags
Let’s go thrift shopping! Head to your nearest thrift store or vinnies and see who can create the best outfit on a budget. Find some goodies and have some fun being silly with the less than amazing items you find. Plus hey, if you’re confident and it all goes well you should wear your outfits out to lunch or dinner later.
Listener Party
This one can be done at home or out and about, your choice. If you’re still getting to know each other and want to learn more about your music tastes, then try this out. Together, select your favourite seven-ten songs each and put them in a playlist together, alternating choices. Then listen to them, share the reason you love them so much and discuss history. This can be done on a couch, at a picnic, or even on a walk with an ear bud each.
