While the “dinner and a movie” date is classic, we like to change things up. If you’re tired of the same old thing and need some ideas to get out of a dating rut, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to reinvent the dating scene, ladies, by taking a few ideas from movies. The best part? Most of them fit into a collegiette’s budget!
Date Idea #1: Dance on bubble wrap.
We got this idea from a scene in Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, which stars the lovely Natalie Portman as Molly Mahoney and Dustin Hoffman as the eccentric Mr. Magorium. As Mr. Magorium nears the end of his 200-year-long life, Molly tries to cheer him up by taking him through New York City for a day of innocent, childish fun. One of the activities involves dancing on bubble wrap in Central Park.
Directions
You’ll need a mat of bubble wrap and plenty of dance music. Place the bubble wrap on the ground or floor. Take off your shoes to feel the popping bubbles tickle your toes! Let your date choose the first song, and dance the night away. Impress him with your bubble wrap breakdancing!
The date is memorable, if only for its strangeness. We like it because really, who doesn’t secretly want to dance on bubble wrap?
Date Idea #2: Eat dinner in the dark.
Remember how much you loved seeing Kristen Bell’s character Beth get chased by all those goofy guys in When In Rome? In one scene, she meets Nicholas (Josh Duhamel) for a date at a dark dining restaurant. The server is a tad creepy, so we’ve come up with a do-it-yourself guide to dining in the dark.
Directions
Make sure that your dining area is safe. Clear the floor of anything that you could trip on. Choose reusable plastic plates and dining utensils. You can find fancy plastic flatware at party stores and some grocery stores. Prepare your meal with safety in mind. Meals that require using a knife are a bad idea. Unless you have impressive night vision, avoid serving steak. You can cut the steak into smaller pieces before turning off the lights, though. Realize that you and your date are going to spill food on yourselves, so dress accordingly. Laugh about it! It’s expected and you’re supposed to be having fun! Extra tip? Try dining in black light for a glow-in-the-dark effect.
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Date Idea #3: Go salsa dancing!
In Along Came Polly, Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) meets former high school crush Polly Prince (Jennifer Aniston) when he visits an art gallery with one of his friends after being cheated on by his new wife. Reuben is afraid of taking risks, so Polly teaches him how to let loose. They go to a dance club, and Reuben tries to impress Polly with his nonexistent salsa dancing skills.
Directions
If you don’t want to head to the nearest dance club, you can do this date in the privacy of your apartment. Clear enough space for dancing. Wear your sexiest salsa dress, grab your date by the hand and turn up the music. The best part is that knowing how to salsa dance is not required, just to have fun with it. If you want to learn how to salsa dance, you can put on an instructional video and copy their moves. Salsa dancing is high energy and sexy. This date will turn up the heat in your relationship.
Date Idea #4: Take a cooking class together.
Learning something new with your date can be a rewarding experience. In Hitch, Alex Hitchens (Will Smith) takes Sara Melas (Eva Mendes) on a double date with two of their friends. They attend a cooking class. Unfortunately, Hitch is allergic to seafood and well… you saw what happened.
Directions
Learn from Hitch’s mistake and be aware of any food allergies before signing up for a cooking class. You can find cooking classes on campus or in the surrounding area. Churches, schools and libraries sometimes offer cooking classes as well. Cost will depend on what dish you’ll be making and what the class requires you to bring, if anything. Depending on the venue, you may be able to sit down and have a romantic dinner afterward.
Date Idea #5: Row, row, row your boat.
Most of us know the love story in The Notebook between Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) falls in love with Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams). She’s wealthy, and he’s not. Their romance seems doomed from the beginning because of class restrictions and her parents’ insistence that she marry someone who comes from a wealthy family just like hers. Noah doesn’t give up, though. In one scene, he takes Allie on a row boat ride along the river. Then it starts raining. The scene ends with one of the hottest kisses in movie history.
Directions
A quick online search will let you know where the nearest lake, river or water park is located. Some places offer private row boat rides, which will allow you and your date to whisper sweet nothings to each other and talk about your dreams. The rowboat date is an old-fashioned classic that we think needs a revival. And if it rains? Even better! Lock lips with your hottie and see where the night takes you!
If you want a movie-style romance, taking a few cues from Hollywood will get you on the right track. Grab your honey and do something new!