You don’t need to go to a restaurant in order to have a romantic dinner with your partner. Romantic date nights are something that can be done perfectly at home. You’ll be able to save some money, get comfortable, and have the whole space for you both. You don’t need to have a chef’s touch to make a grand meal.
Sure, the idea of having to plan out a luxurious and delicious meal may sound very intimidating. But you simply don’t need to go all out or be extravagant to achieve a mouthwatering successful dinner. These tips will help you in treating yourself, and your significant other to a delicious, memorable, and romantic meal.
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Start by checking your schedule
Before you begin looking into recipes, purchasing ingredients from a meal delivery service, or even planning out the meal, you’ll first want to see where you want this romantic dinner to take place. There are plenty of fun date night ideas for the winter months, so would you want to have a whole date night where the meal is incorporated? Is there a special occasion coming up? It’s best to get an idea of when this can happen and then mark it on the calendar. Sure, scheduling this romantic dinner sounds quite forced but it’s the best way to ensure that it will go well and no conflicts or unexpected plans can interfere.
Start working on the menu
Creating and planning the menu is one of the best parts of working towards having a romantic dinner at home. Think about the season you’re in and be mindful about what ingredients are and are not available. Figure out whether it will be you cooking or you and your partner will be cooking together. You should also keep in mind some of the meals that you both love. It doesn’t automatically mean that you need to make those, but it does give you an idea of some of the flavors you can incorporate into your menu.
But there’s nothing wrong with trying to keep it as simple as possible. Food can be gone within a matter of minutes, so there’s no need to try and create a Michelin restaurant experience. Something such as Mississippi chicken is a wonderful example of a delicious dish that is simple to make (since you use a slow cooker) but it’s simply fantastic for any occasion. Just don’t overthink the menu for the dinner, and don’t forget about the sweets and drinks either. If there is a wine that you both enjoy, then be sure to pick that up ahead of time.
Don’t worry about perfection
You’re not a chef, so don’t worry about the food being perfect. You don’t need to make your food look presentable, and it’s not a big deal if some of the food is a little burnt. It’s all about the intention and the thought that counts. Regardless of how the food turns out, your partner will still have a lovely time eating as they know it was made with love.
Set the atmosphere
Creating a romantic ambiance is something that fortunately doesn’t take too much work. It’s all around the décor surrounding the dining table, what’s on the table, and the lighting. Just doing something simple as throwing a new table cloth on the table and creating a nice centerpiece of fresh flowers can truly do wonders. Even the dishes you use can truly help set the atmosphere. Some households will have dinnerware that is only used on special occasions, so this romantic meal could be the perfect time to get them out.
The lighting is also something that can really help in setting the right mood for the space and meal. If you have something like Philips Hue or other smart light bulbs, then you can take advantage of this and dim the lights. Candles are synonymous with romance and should not be looked over either. Place some pillar candles on the dining table and around the room as well for that extra romantic push.
Dress the part
One of the best parts about going out for a romantic date with your partner is getting to dress up. Just because you both are going to be at home doesn’t mean you can’t dress up. Just wear your favorite outfit or something that your partner loves on you. Encourage them to dress up nice as well. Just playing the part of dressing up helps in continuing the romantic mood and it also helps you forget that you’re at home instead of a faraway place.
