So it’s your turn to plan date night, but you forgot to make a reservation at your favorite restaurant or you just don’t feel like getting out. Don’t worry! You don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant and spend a couple hundred dollars to have a romantic dinner date. With a little bit of thoughtful planning, you can have your own dinner date in the comfort of your own home.

Step 1: Plan Your Menu

Your dinner date menu can be as simple or as intricate as you want it to be, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. You can certainly plan a 5-course meal if cooking is your love language, but a simple entree-dessert combo can be just as special if prepared from the heart. Ideally you want to choose dishes that you are confident in making and both you and your partner love. If you are a master on the grill, prepare some steaks with your favorite sides. If the taste of romance is Italian to you, make a lasagna, carbonara, or cacio e pepe. However, if you and your partner just enjoy the simple things in life, there is nothing wrong with an artfully plated meal of chicken nuggets and curly fries. If you do decide to cook something new, perhaps as a fun activity to do with your partner, have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. A frozen pizza or your favorite takeout are better than a burnt beef wellington. For dessert, whip up your favorite recipe and try plating it like a professional chef. If you are not a baker, it’s okay to plate up a dessert that you’ve purchased from the store, like a premade cheesecake or brownie bites with ice cream, but you can also try your hand at making an icebox cake, no-bake pie, or dump cake, all of which require minimal ingredients and are very beginner friendly. 

Step 2: Set the Table

Setting the table for a romantic home dinner date takes very little time and effort, and it makes a big difference in setting this dinner date apart from every other weeknight dinner. Start by laying the foundation with a clean tablecloth, then break out the nice china and glassware. The specific pieces you need will depend on your menu, but, at the least, you will need dinner plates, dessert plates, silverware, and glasses for water and wine. When setting the table, place the fork to the left of the plate and the knife and spoon to the right. Glasses go above and to the right of the plate. For a more in-depth guide to proper table setting placements, check out our blog post on Setting Your Table Like a Pro. The best way to complete the setting is with a cloth napkin either neatly placed to the side or, if you’re feeling adventurous, intricately folded and placed on an empty plate or in an empty glass. 

Step 3: Add Ambiance

Go a step further in setting your home dinner date apart from an everyday home dinner by adding the right ambiance. Decorate the table with a stunning flower bouquet, or sprinkle petals across the tabletop. Dim the overhead lights (after you’ve finished cooking!) and light some scentless candles. You can use a candelabra or individual candlesticks if you want, but a few simple tea lights can look just as nice. You can set up a speaker to play some music to further set the mood but be sure to choose an instrumental playlist and keep the volume low to leave room for conversation. To finish setting up, get yourself ready. Dress up like you are going somewhere nice, because you are! You have created a nice space and a delicious dinner to share with the person you love. That’s something to celebrate!