My engagement story involves a box of chocolate truffles. My then-boyfriend and I had just finished dinner when he pulled out a pretty green box. “Let’s see,” he said, slowly lifting the lid. “Why don’t you pick first?” I peered into the box, curious about the chocolate selection, but noticed one truffle missing. In its place sat a sparkling diamond ring. Better than chocolate! And what a romantic thing to do.
A pleasant surprise can ignite—or reignite—romance in a relationship. For those of us who’ve been married for some time now, it might be fun to unpack some of those old romantic tricks that once seemed so current. To help you get started, here are 9 romantic things to do to bring back the romance of yore.
1. The Love Letter
There’s something really special about holding a piece of paper that your husband touched while he crafted his thoughts to you. You can almost see in the ink where he paused to think.
Update it: If writing on lined paper brings back classroom anxiety, transfer your loving thoughts to an email. It takes longer than a text—and that’s the point. Think about your words and read them over before hitting send.
2. The Scrapbook
In my 20s, a boyfriend gave me a scrapbook for my birthday. I think he imagined I’d fill it with pictures and mementos of us. We broke up before I started, but hey, it’s not a bad idea if you like being crafty.
Update it: Use an online photo company to create a photo book. If you’re good at planning, start taking pictures and selfies of the two of you now, specifically for this project.
3. The Mixtape or CD
For our anniversary this past year, my husband dug out the mix CD I made him when we were dating. Playing those songs brought back all the feelings from that time.
Update it: Create a playlist of your life together right now. Name the playlist something sweet or goofy. Play it the next time the kids are in bed.
4. The Paper Tickets
Please tell me I’m not the only one with a shoebox full of concert tickets, plane tickets, movie stubs, and other random tickets that are so faded but that you can’t throw away.
Update it: Text your husband a link to a place you want to take him for your next date night. Maybe it’s a restaurant you haven’t tried, a comedy club, or an arcade.
5. The Coupon Book
For our first anniversary, I made my husband a coupon book out of construction paper, glitter, and glue. I just found it the other day. There are coupons for a massage, for dinner, and more. He never cashed them in! Groan.
Update it: A romantic thing to do could be to give him an experience he’d enjoy. Let him open a new sleeping bag and tell him you have camping reservations. Or give him a wrapped baseball cap and say you have tickets to the next home game.
6. The Framed Photos
Do you remember when all the frames in your home were filled with just you and your husband? And then your first child came along, and hubby got booted? (Please say yes.) Well, it might be time to update the photos again.
Update it: Take a selfie and stick it in a new frame for his nightstand or desk at work.
7. The Magazine Cuttings Collage
The old-school version involved a lot of glossy magazines spread across the floor and Elmer’s glue. I remember cutting out words and pictures that represented my relationship with my then-boyfriend (now husband.). Side note: He still has it.
Update it: Create a word cloud online with words that describe your husband (loving, faithful, handsome, funny, etc.). Print it out for some quick, frameable artwork that proclaims your love in a fun, modern way.
8. The Map With Pushpins
When we got married, my husband introduced me to his huge world map filled with pushpins. The pins were color coded to show where he’d traveled or lived before meeting me.
Update it: Pick somewhere you and your husband have never been and go for a night or a weekend. Take pictures. See the sights. Start marking new terrain together and creating memories only the two of you share.
9. The Love Lock on a Bridge
In Paris, a tradition started over two decades ago where newlyweds place a lock on a bridge and toss the key into the river.
Update it: How about locking yourself in an escape room on date night? You’ll have to work together to escape, but it could be a fun way to add some sparks to your relationship.
For fun, try our our 30 Day Marriage Challenge and watch your relationship grow stronger and happier each day.
What are some more romantic things to do with your husband this year?
