7 Fall Date Night Ideas to Rekindle the Romance in Your Marriage
- Whitney Hopler Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
- Updated Sep 17, 2024
As fall ushers in cooler weather and a tapestry of vibrant colors, it’s an ideal season to rekindle the romance in your marriage. Just as the leaves transform, the relationship between you and your spouse can change for the better when you invest in it through fall date nights. God designed marriage to be a lifelong journey of love and spiritual growth together. This fall, plan some date nights that can help you enjoy both romance and spiritual connection. Here are 7 fall date night ideas to rekindle romance in your marriage. While you enjoy dates during this beautiful fall season, you and your spouse can grow closer to God and each other.
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1. Cook a Fall-Inspired Meal Together
Slide 1 of 7There’s something special about creating a meal together, especially when it’s infused with fall flavors. Plan a cooking date night where you choose seasonal ingredients to prepare a delicious meal. Consider making dishes from the fall harvest of fresh vegetables and fruit, such as butternut squash soup, roasted root vegetables, or an apple crisp. As you cook, talk about the importance of nourishment – both physical and spiritual – in your marriage and how you can rely on God to nourish your relationship. Cooking together requires teamwork, communication, and a shared goal, which are all essential parts of a strong marriage. As you chop, stir, and bake, reflect on how God provides for your needs and how you can provide for each other emotionally, spiritually, and physically. When the meal is ready, set a beautiful table, light some candles, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Psalm 34:8 declares: “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” The creative abundance of food that God generously provides can help you literally taste and see that God is good as you eat. Consider how God made it possible for you to enjoy your meal. This date reminds you and your spouse that just as God nourishes your souls, you are called to nourish each other with loving care.
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2. Take a Prayer Walk in a Park
Slide 2 of 7You and your spouse can enjoy a fall prayer walk together with Jesus, who says in Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Start your date with a devotional, choosing a Bible passage that speaks to both of you. Reflect on the verses together, discussing how they apply to your marriage and individual lives. Then, take a leisurely walk through a nearby park, using the time to pray together for your marriage, your family, and your future. Walking together in prayer can deepen the spiritual connection between you as you invite Jesus to be a part of your journey. The act of praying as a couple strengthens your bond and aligns your hearts with God’s heart. As you walk, allow the natural beauty around you to inspire your prayers, and let the peaceful setting encourage open and honest conversation. The simplicity of this date, combined with the power of prayer, will create a meaningful experience that will help God’s love flow through your lives in powerful ways.
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3. Enjoy a Walk through the Woods to Discover God’s Wonder
Slide 3 of 7Walking through woods with colorful fall leaves is a wonderful way to discover and experience God’s wonder together. Choose a nearby forest trail for a day of hiking. The rustling leaves, cool breeze, and vibrant colors of fall create a peaceful environment that’s ideal for reflection and connection. The more you immerse yourselves in peaceful surroundings and intentionally focus on God, the more you can see the reality that Psalm 24:1 describes: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Bring along a small Bible or a devotional book to read together during a rest stop, and use the time to talk about what you’re learning and how it applies to your lives. Walking through the woods reminds you of God’s creative power and loving care for all living things. It’s a time to marvel at God’s handiwork and to feel awe that helps you trust God’s caring power over your life and marriage. As you hike, talk about the paths you’ve walked together in your relationship – the challenges you’ve faced, the victories you’ve celebrated, and how God has led you. This date allows you to reconnect with nature and reaffirm your commitment to walking life’s journey side by side, with God as your guide.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Polina Lebed
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4. Drive through the Country and Have a Picnic
Slide 4 of 7There’s something undeniably romantic about a scenic drive through the countryside, especially when the leaves are lit up with the bright colors of fall. Choose a route known for its beautiful views and set out on a leisurely drive. As you drive down winding roads, take time to admire the changing scenery, listening to worship music as you go. When you find a picturesque spot (such as near a lake or in a peaceful meadow), unpack a picnic basket filled with your favorite fall treats – like apple cider, cheese, and homemade bread. As you share a meal, discuss the blessings of your marriage and the ways you’ve seen God at work in your relationship. This date offers a blend of relaxation and spiritual reflection. The natural beauty surrounding you will remind you of God’s creativity and attention to detail. As Romans 1:20 points out, creation reflects the Creator’s qualities: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
It’s an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and thank God for the journey you’ve shared together. By focusing on God’s work in your lives while you’re enjoying God’s creation, you can reinforce the importance of keeping God at the center of your marriage.
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5. Stargaze on a Clear Fall Night
Slide 5 of 7One of the simplest yet most awe-inspiring ways to connect with your spouse and God is by spending an evening under the stars. Find a quiet, open area away from city lights, such as a rural park, a field, or even your backyard. Bring along a blanket, some hot tea or hot chocolate, and binoculars or a telescope if you have them. Lie back and gaze at the night sky, letting the beauty and vastness of the universe fill you with awe. As you watch the night sky, discuss these Bible verses together: Psalm 19:1 (“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”) and Psalm 8:3-4 (“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”). Stargazing naturally leads to conversations about life’s bigger questions, encouraging you both to reflect on God’s majesty and your places in God’s creation. As you look up at the stars, talk about the dreams and goals you share as a couple, and how you can trust God to guide your future. This date is a beautiful way to deepen your connection with each other and the Creator, who holds the universe and your marriage together with his powerful love.
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6. Volunteer Together for a Charitable Cause
Slide 6 of 7As the fall season – which includes Thanksgiving – brings a spirit of gratitude, it’s a great time to reflect on the blessings God has given you and to thank God by giving back to those in need. Volunteering together as a couple is a powerful way to grow both spiritually and emotionally. It not only strengthens your bond but also pleases God as you follow God’s command to help people in need. The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” Whether it’s helping at a local food bank, participating in a community clean-up, or serving meals at a homeless shelter, these acts of service offer an opportunity to live out your faith in a tangible way. When you volunteer together, you’re not only sharing your time and talents but also stewarding God’s grace by extending compassion to those who are especially in need of it. This type of date is a beautiful reminder that your marriage is not just about the two of you – it’s also about how you, as a team, can impact the world around you. Start by discussing what causes are close to your hearts. Is there a particular group of people or a type of service that resonates with both of you? Before heading out, spend some time together in prayer, asking God to use you as his hands and feet. Pray for the people you will be serving, that your efforts will positively impact their lives, and that through your service, they might experience God’s love. As you serve, work side by side, supporting each other and those you’re helping. This shared experience can bring you closer as a couple, as you witness the difference you can make together.
Serving others often puts your own challenges into perspective and deepens your gratitude for the blessings in your life. After your volunteer work is done, take time to reflect on the experience together. Talk about what touched your hearts, how it affected your perspective, and what you learned about yourselves and each other. This reflection can lead to a deeper understanding of how you can continue to serve God as a couple, both in your marriage and in your community.
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7. Attend a Fall Festival or Harvest Fair with a Purpose
Slide 7 of 7Fall festivals and harvest fairs are not only fun but also provide unique opportunities for couples to serve together. Look for a local festival that supports a cause or has a charitable aspect, such as a food drive, a craft fair supporting local artists, or a church-sponsored harvest event. Participate in the activities, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and find a way to give back – by donating, volunteering, or simply supporting the vendors. Philippians 2:4 says: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” As you enjoy the festivities, take time to pray for the community, the event organizers, and those in need. Serving together as a couple at fall events is a fun and powerful way to grow spiritually and strengthen your bond during the beautiful fall season.
Fall is a season of change and renewal, making it a wonderful time to invest in your marriage. Fall date nights are more than just fun activities – they’re opportunities to deepen your connection with each other and with God. Each date can strengthen your emotional, physical, and spiritual intimacy, helping you rediscover the joy of your relationship and the importance of keeping God at its center. By taking time to date each other during the fall, you’re building a foundation that will sustain you through all seasons of life. So, aim to renew your romance and deepen your faith this fall!
Related Resource: How to Make Your Marriage Fun Again
Do you and your spouse have fun together? As couples, sometimes we can get in a rut and feel like life — and marriage — are all work and no play. In this episode of The Team Us Podcast, we’re exploring how we can make marriage fun again. If this episode helps you plan a great date night, be sure to subscribe to Team Us on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
Photo credit: © Getty Images/dimetradimWhitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.