Relationships
The Best Date Ideas Based On Your Love Language
Photo by Zoran Zeremski/Adobe Stock
Relationships
The Best Date Ideas Based On Your Love Language
Show your partner you care by planning a date specially curated to their style of love.
Love looks a little different for everyone. For some, feeling close to your partner means spending quality time together. Others need to hear words of appreciation to know how much they mean to their loved ones.
According to Gary Chapman’s bestselling book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, we all appreciate certain styles of love more than others. In Chapman’s eyes, love can be divided into five categories: acts of service, physical touch, quality time, words of affirmation, and receiving gifts. These languages are thought to be the key to a healthy, love-lasting relationship.
Knowing your partner’s primary love language is a great way to prioritize and fulfill their romantic needs. Next time you’re planning a date, consider one of these ideas curated for each language.
Acts of Service
This love language is all about actions speaking louder than words. When it comes to romance, you feel more taken care of when your partner does something for you, rather than with you, or takes something off your plate. Think, your partner getting the kids ready for school in the morning so you can sleep in or planning a vacation for you.
Date ideas:
- Plan a romantic dinner—cooking and cleaning included—at home.
- Go on a date you know they would enjoy. Maybe it’s a dance class they’ve been talking about, or a movie they want to see.
- Make them breakfast for the week (prep their overnight oats!).
- Treat them to a staycation at a local hotel.
Receiving Gifts
Contrary to popular belief, those who have love languages grounded in receiving gifts aren’t materialistic. It’s not about getting a present, it’s about the thought behind a physical object. A gift can be as small as a postcard that makes you think of the person, or something handmade that shows them how well you know them.
Date ideas:
- Give them a scrapbook filled with sweet memories you have together.
- Create a gift scavenger hunt. Hide small, meaningful gifts around memorable spots, then lead them to a surprise at the end.
- Gift them concert tickets to see a band or musician they love.
Quality Time
If spending dedicated, uninterrupted time together is how you feel most connected to your partner, your love language may be quality time. These moments provide ample opportunity for emotional connection and engagement, and are best curated intentionally. As the name suggests, it’s about quality over quantity.
Date ideas:
- Plan an afternoon hike where you can spend time outdoors.
- Try a new hobby together. Take a weekly cooking or art class, or pick up a new sport, like tennis.
- Go for a sunset picnic with a pretty view.
- Organize a romantic candlelit dinner at home. Intentionally put away your devices and focus on the time spent together.
Physical Touch
For many, physical closeness is what you need to feel connected to your partner. From a hand on the back to simply being near each other, touching your partner brings you closer to them.
Date ideas:
- Movie night at home. Set up some cozy blankets, put out your partner’s favourite snacks, and cuddle up for a movie night in.
- Sign up for a dance class together. From salsa to ballroom dancing, there are plenty of opportunities for closeness!
- Go for a couples massage or spa day.
Words of affirmation
To feel close to your partner, you need to hear words of appreciation or praise from them. This can be in the form of compliments, little notes left around the house, or gentle reminders of why they love you.
Date ideas:
- Write each other a love letter.
- Fill a jar with handwritten compliments. Include memories, affirmations, and inside jokes for each other to read.
- Go for star gazing. Take this romantic time to talk about the things you love about one another.
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