Check out this easy DIY anniversary gift – a year of dates!
In May, Kyle and I celebrated our two-year anniversary. I’m all about DIY’ing gifts because it adds a little something extra and makes it even more special. So far, Kyle has liked all the gifts I’ve given him, and his favorites are the ones that keep on giving, like the 365 jar I made him with paper showing our favorite memories from our first year together and some of my favorite things about him.
For our two-year anniversary, I decided to give Kyle a year of dates! I pre-planned twelve dates for the upcoming year – one for each month. Some of them are more elaborate, but there are also some that are simple, stay-at-home dates. This is such a fun gift for anyone in your life and the perfect way to spend some much needed quality time together. Even though Kyle and I are pretty good about getting out of the house and having some fun experiences in the area and places surrounding, having a pre-planned date each month has guaranteed an extra special date night at least once a month.
There are many ways for you to put this together. I chose to make a small binder, but you can find lots of different ideas on Pinterest.
Here are the date ideas that I put together for Kyle! I started with June since our anniversary was in May.
JUNE: HORSEBACK RIDING
If your significant other loves the outdoors, this is a super fun day date to go on together. I had only gone horseback riding once and Kyle did a few times when he was younger, but neither of us were seasoned veterans. I found a place in Cincinnati that did trail rides, and we ended up having so much fun.
More June Ideas:
– Go to the farmers market
– See a drive-in movie
– Have a fondue night at home
– Go on a dinner cruise
JULY: CANOEING
During the summer, I like to get outdoors and spend as much time in the water as possible. I had never been canoeing before, but Kyle grew up on a lake, so I thought going on a canoe ride would be a super fun way to relive some of his time when he lived by the water. This was such a fun day date, and we agreed that it was one of our favorite days that we spent in Dayton.
More July Ideas:
– Have a bonfire
– Go to a wine and paint class
– Watch fireworks together
– Order food in and do dinner and a movie at home
AUGUST: THE BOOK OF MORMON
Neither of us had ever gone to see The Book of Mormon, but we talked about going to see it ever since we heard that it was coming to our local theatre. I decided to put it in his book to guarantee that we’d go to the show. Even though I thought a lot of it was inappropriate, tasteless, and outdated, we ended up having a fun date night because we honestly just love going to see shows together.
More August Ideas:
– Do a ‘make your own ice cream sundae’ bar at home
– Go stargazing
– Go to a local zoo or aquarium
– Rent a room at a local hotel and have a staycation
SEPTEMBER: COOKING CLASS
I selfishly put this one in here because I’ve been wanting to take a cooking class for years. Luckily, it ended up being a fun time for both of us. If you want to include one thing to splurge on in your Year of Dates gift, let it be a cooking class. Not only do you learn a lot, you get to eat the food you make, meet friendly people, and it’s just a really good time.
More September Ideas:
– Go to Oktoberfest
– Brew your own beer
– Visit an apple orchard
– Bake cookies
OCTOBER: BREWERY HOP
Kyle’s birthday is in October, and he enjoys craft beer, but we haven’t spent enough time at the local breweries. I figured his birthday would be the perfect excuse for us to go out and explore them a little more. There are several breweries in the area, and I plan to make a little map for us to follow as we explore some new breweries.
More October Ideas:
– Go on a hayride
– Go to a football game
– Have a scary movie marathon
– Go to the local fair
NOVEMBER: HARRY POTTER WEEKEND
This is a super affordable date night that adds a theme and a fun twist. Even if you don’t like Harry Potter, there are many other themed dates nights you can do that center around the things your significant other loves. Luckily, Kyle and I are both fans of Harry Potter. For this date night, I thought it’d be fun for us to watch the first Harry Potter movie while eating something that we cooked together out of the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook.
More November Ideas:
– Make a homemade pie
– Make a list of reasons you’re thankful for each other and read them out loud
– Go ice-skating
– Take a skiing lesson
DECEMBER: CLIFTON MILL
Kyle and I love Christmas, but we didn’t spend enough time doing local Christmas things, so I decided that for the upcoming holiday, we’d do one of the things that everyone in the Dayton area talks about during the holiday season, and that’s Clifton Mill. Look up some of the festivals and things going on in your area for ideas of things to include for a festive December date.
More December Ideas:
– Make ugly Christmas sweaters
– Have a Christmas movie marathon
– Volunteer at a local shelter or food bank
– Put together boxes and gifts for charities
JANUARY: PAINT NIGHT AT HOME
I thought this would be a fun thing for Kyle and I to do at home to spend some quality time together and also get creative. Bob Ross is, of course, a legend, so I figured we could find a tutorial online and get our creative juices flowing with a wine and paint night.
More January Ideas:
– Go bowling
– Go axe throwing
– Visit an arcade
– Have a spa night at home and give each other massages
FEBRUARY: DECOY ART
Decoy Art is a local company where you can purchase different items and paint them in-store, such as plates, pots, and other things. You can look up similar companies in your area if you think this sounds like a fun idea. I originally wanted to do a pottery class, but it was a bit too pricey, so I went with this instead, and I think it will be just as fun.
More February Ideas:
– Go to a bookstore and pick out a book for each other
– Do a Chopped-style cooking challenge
– Take a local food tour
– Go to the skating rink
MARCH: PROGRESSIVE DINNER
Kyle is graduating from grad school in January, so I figured it would be the perfect occasion to celebrate. A progressive dinner is when you eat appetizers, dinner, and dessert at three different places. This would give us the opportunity to try new places or revisit some of our favorites.
More March Ideas:
– Make an indoor fort and watch a movie
– Have a game night
– Do a photoshoot
– Get tickets to a concert or music festival
APRIL: HIKING & A PICNIC
This is an easy and affordable date to put together. Find a local hiking trail and pack a picnic with snacks and sandwiches. We have a dog, so of course he’s invited on our date too.
More April Ideas:
– Go camping
– Go to a local baseball game
– Go kayaking
– Plant an herb garden
MAY: ANNIVERSARY DATE
Kyle and I are moving in April, so since we’ll be living in a new place, I thought it’d be perfect to have a date night where we consciously go out and explore our new home.
More May Ideas:
– Visit a winery
– Rent bikes and go for a bike ride
– Do an escape room
– Movie marathon weekend
What’s the best anniversary gift you’ve ever received?
