The Romantic Night In Do's And Don'ts
25th August 2010

Perhaps you’re just a few weeks into your relationship, or maybe you’ve been married for five years – however long you’ve been together the ‘romantic night in’ is something you’ll no doubt experience. Planning the perfect evening needn’t be stressful, either – read our guide on creating a romantic experience that doesn’t break the bank.

Photo by DrJohn2005 on Flickr

Do set a date in advance. This is vital, as it’s important you have enough time to organise everything that we’ll go through in the rest of this guide! Although spontaneity is romantic in itself, it doesn’t allow you to be best prepared, and that can cause a whole host of problems...

Do make it personal to your loved one. The clichés are still romantic, yes – you can’t go wrong with candles and soft music – but it’s important to do much more than this, to tailor the evening according to your beloved’s tastes. Does he adore steak? Then cook a beautiful sirloin. Does she love surprises? Give her some romantic gifts as soon as she comes in the door.

Do make sure you’re not disturbed. This means turning that mobile phone off, or at least putting it on silent. Now’s also the time to hang out that ‘no salesman’ sign on your front door – a romantic night in needs to be just the two of you, with no disturbances or distractions.

Do dress up. This is a special night, so dress for the occasion. If you’re a man, why not buy a brand new shirt, or put on the tux that’s been gathering dust in the wardrobe. If you’re a woman, how about buying a gorgeous new dress and earrings. It’ll make you both feel sexier, and more in the mood for romance.

Do make a real effort. Takeaway pizzas are a real no-no. It doesn’t matter if you’re a rubbish cook – as long as you have made the effort, then that’s all that matters. Simple recipes can be found easily on the internet, and even if you do manage to do something wrong, at least you’ll both have something to talk and smile about for the rest of the night...

Photo by A R Glasgow on Flickr

Don’t talk about work. You do this every day anyway, so avoid ‘talking shop’ – instead, talk about all those things you don’t normally talk about: how much you love her, what you think is so amazing about him.

Don’t get stressed. If he’s a few minutes late turning up, don’t worry – he’ll be here soon. If the lamb has got a distinct ‘almost-burnt’ smell to it, it doesn’t matter – relax. Getting worked up about things will only ruin the night and get you in the wrong frame of mind for romance – so, take a chill pill, sit back , and just enjoy what the night brings.

Don’t switch the TV on. Even if your beloved football team is in the cup final, it still doesn’t mean you’re allowed to check the score. (You shouldn’t have arranged the romantic night for this particular date, anyway!)

Don’t end the night early. Unless you’re retiring to the bedroom – and, in that case, the night’s obviously been a success already – don’t finish your meal and then wonder what to do next; don’t go back to the TV. Go through some photo albums together, play a romantic board game, relax in the bath - there are lots of romantic things you can do together.