Top 10 amazing romantic sunset date ideas you have to try
Inspirational ideas and solutions to help create a memorable and magical romantic sunset date with that special someone…
If you’re looking for some super simple to extravagant ideas and solutions for setting the perfect sunset scene, for food and drink ideas, or what to do to avoid those awkward silences, where to go, and how to plan for a uniquely memorable occasion? Then get ready to scroll!
10+ 15+ amazing ideas for setting the scene for your romantic sunset date
Go big, go small, go loud, go quietly, just go and add some style to the moment. It’s the details that make it memorable that takes a date from fake to fabulous. Here is a list I keep adding to…
1. Assorted pillows
Cushions and pillows, steal them from the couch and go.
2. Ottoman pouf for seating
Instead of fold-up chairs, like the love seat below, but you can also try an Ottoman, they make amazing footrests too.
3. Or do the bean bag!!
Retro the moment in style where there are so many to choose from these days.
4. Rugs
Large rugs, long rugs, skinny and furry rugs, or a group of rugs for that homely outdoors feel. Yes, rugs. Why not, eh?
5. Blankets
In case you don’t have a spare throw rug lying around, why not use a blanket. The simple blanket can be used in more than one way from cuddling in cooler weather to making a tepee canopy. Or you can just pinch the outback swag.
6. Candles
For fragrance to mood lighting, with the bonus of some candles bug-freeing your environment, you have to include candles to truly enhance the occasion.
7. Flowers
Nothing says romance than flowers! So why not spoil yourself by plucking a few daisies for the table setting, or sprinkling rose petals to truly upping your romantic moment. Or, it can simply be that fragrant frangipani flower you’ve tucked in your hair…
8. Personalized Chalkboard
Why a chalkboard, you may ask? You can put down the time and place for that keepsake photo you can scrapbook later or simply capture as a screensaver for your phone. Sometimes the little things really do add up to the bigger picture.
9. Bluetooth Speaker
Music is a must for the background ambience. Hey, why not try these playlists for something new.
10. Balloons
Balloons do have the power to boost a mood and shouldn’t be kept just for that party, not when they come in an amazing assortment of lush pastel colours to really make the décor pop!
11. Fairy lights
These can be easily strung around the trees, over your car, the umbrella (see below) or anywhere really. Perfect for when the sun goes down and not too distracting when the stars come out.
12. The Hammock
Yes, the hammock to tie between the trees and swing together is summer romance you can have all year round.
13. Build a Tepee
How cosy would that be! With a pile of pillows to make your own fort that you can make from the blanket or a simple sheet from home.
14. Erect that Cabana
Boost the tropical oasis feel by going all out with this shade. Perfect for tables and chairs sets for an elaborate dining experience.
15. Give it the Boot
Boot, trunk or tailgate it, by clearing out the back of the car and load it with cushions to sit in style.
16. Row-row and float that boat
In a rowboat on the lake or build a raft or take that blow-up bed and make it float. Alternatively, you can use any boat, anywhere, even if it’s a friend’s boat that’s sitting in the far corner of their yard, you can still commandeer to play pirate for the sunset.
17. Umbrella it in style
Wait for it… Think beyond the beach umbrella when you can create a cosy scene with the brolly. Gather a stack of colours for that rainbow effect, poke them in the sand as the backdrop, weave fairy lights between them, and voila… A unique, colourful, and creative setting for your sunset date. Perfect for grey cloud days, (that’ll probably hide the sun – but hey you’re outside) and they’re great for just dancing in the rain.
10+ food or drink ideas for your romantic sunset date
1. Fancy meat and cheese platters
Always a win with platters. Even easier when you can order online to collect them from your local supermarket.
2. Dips and chips
They can be homemade or choose your favourite party food for two.
3. Dipping chocolate and strawberries
What about a chocolate fondue! Got an Aunt who might have one in her cupboard, along with a spare beanbag she’s not using?
4. Fish and chips
Gold ol’ Fish & Chips (she says with an accent!) wrapped in traditional paper, purchased by the sea, nothing sets the scene for the sunset better! And you’ll have something to share with the seagull’s eyeing off your delicacies…
5. Popcorn! And your shades
Why not act like you’re going to the cinema, but to watch the sunset. Just picture it the same way, chairs, sunglasses, popcorn and drinks, front row seats somewhere for that uninterrupted view and watch the show.
Did you know, it’s only 7 minutes for the sun to actually set? But it’s an average of 70 minutes for the entire sunset show to go dark, which is about the same length as the average movie.
6. Pizza and beer
A classic combination that’s always a win, just a shift of location from the couch to the great outdoors.
7. Your favourite ice cream
Who can go past ice cream and a sunset? So make it a date for dessert somewhere. Or you could make an impromptu Spider.
8. A full-on Mexican meal
You can make any meal a fine-dining delight to truly create an incredibly impressionable first date. Or wedding anniversary. Or proposal…
People do cater for these events and will create a menu to suit the style or occasion. It’s just something to consider.
9. Market treats
Have you ever considered supporting your local night markets or local farmer’s market by choosing a few items you’ve never tasted before? It’s a great opportunity to create your own smorgasbord of local delicacies to enjoy at leisure. (see below for more ideas on this topic…)
10. Cocktails
Cocktails at sunset is an absolute classic date idea. So vintage and common they had cocktail cases to cart around just for purposes like a sunset date.
Make your own cocktail case.
All you need is a suitcase, ingredients and tools you’ll need to take with you anywhere. Or you can invest in a bartender’s travel kit for future cocktail sunset moments.
11. Dessert jars
Make your dessert in a jar at home and take it on the road. They’re simple, flavoursome and have so many possibilities to try, you can’t go wrong.
10 + 15+ amazing ideas on what to do on your romantic sunset date
If you’ve gathered the basics of what I’ve mentioned earlier to set the mood. You’ve got it all happening, but now you’re suffering from a case it’s first date jitters and other dating syndromes, or you’re searching for a way to break through the awkward silences, here are some more ideas to get that conversation going…
1. Talk
Or say nothing. But if you put the phones away and just sit side by side without any distractions the conversation should flow. But sometimes you don’t need to say anything to just watch the show.
2. Listen to music
If you’ve over the silent treatment, what about boosting the mood and create your own lip-sync rock concert with your favourite songs.
If you’re really fancy you can tape yourselves – or not. Sometimes the best moments are kept to yourselves.
3. Play board games
The old-fashioned board games where you can stop and stare at the sunset while waiting to use your candles or fairy lights long into the night. There are couple’s games you can play to get to learn more about your partner or borrow a scrabble set from that aunt (we mentioned earlier) who probably has one sitting at the bottom of the cupboard, next to the retro fold-out chairs, brollies, and other goodies you could raid.
4. Play I spy
I know, it’s old school, but think about it…
You’ll truly be scouring the scenery for ideas for this one. It beats staring at the phone.
5. Name that memory or name that movie but by charades or…
You can use paper and markers to draw a moment you two shared in the past. Like how you met? That failed holiday, the cake you baked for their birthday, how you survived living with renovations, or that amazing song you both sang while on a random roadtrip. You’d be surprised at how amazingly beneficial is it to bring up those past memories you shared. It triggers those feelings to help boost the moment that can help with your future.
And if you brought that small chalkboard, I mentioned earlier, it’s perfect for this stick figure hangman style game. Remember that one? Or is that considered not cool?
6. Dance like no one is watching
Dancing helps bring your heart rate up with blood-pumping moments to that slow dance touch of a deeper connection. It is a romantic date, and if you have the music with you, why not. You can dance in front of your headlights as the sun sets for that epic Instagram moment, or just kicking the sand by the bonfire as the sun sinks below the sea… (sigh)
7. Draw, paint the moment – stick figure style.
Doesn’t have to be perfect, but if you go out somewhere, capture an image of the moment ( as mentioned with the chalkboard in the beginning) for the background of a collage. Then collect some leaves, pebbles, or shells or even a handwritten note on a napkin, to put together as a keepsake of this memorable moment. Or, just cut sic* and make a mess on a board for the hell of it with a messy food-fingerpaint! Why not, it allows you to get in touch with your inner child. After all, you are there for fun, right?
8. Blindfolded food tasting
Even though you are there to watch the sunset, but if you’d scored assorted delicacies from the local markets (as mentioned earlier) this is a great way to eat them. But it’ll truly awaken all the feels from tastes, sounds, to touch – not just sight, bringing intimacy to a whole new level while clothed. So slip on the blindfold and try something new.
9. Write a poem
It can be romantic, funny, silly – special. Make up the words between yourselves and have fun with it. Then when you get home you can stylise it, frame it or put it on the fridge to remember what you did.
10. Have an outdoor tub filled with bubbles!
I know a bit of effort may be needed on this one, but I’ve done it, and loved it! Granted it was on a tropical island where the waves lapped the white sandy beaches as a cool sea breeze filtered through the palm fronds… But I’ve also done it by dragging the tub to sit by a campfire, using an old-fashioned copper to heat the water I’d syphoned by the riverside. It was so simple, yet so incredible I can’t wait to do it again. And probably why I’ve had my characters indulge!
So, yes, the effort is worth it that if you ever get a chance to do it, because nothing that beats an outdoor tub. You can create one in the back corner of your yard or balcony to really get the neighbours talking.
But if it’s summer, what about investing in one of those portable pools with inflatable sides, to accompany a round of cocktails as you chill watching the sunset. Now we’re talking!
11. Read poetry, or a book together
Nothing says romance better than romantic poetry. There’s a reason this form of art has lived through the eons, and the perfect opportunity to find a poem, you both love.
Or you can really spice it up, by finding your favourite hottest romantic book moment and read that aloud or get your partner to read it aloud for you!! Spicy.
12. Ride your bikes
It can be as simple as riding your bikes along the paths to find a great place to watch the sunset together and enjoy a night picnic. Even better if you’re a bike enthusiast.
13. Star Gaze
Once the sun is set, there’s an app to help you work out the constellations, or you can just make up some names for stars yourself where you can create your own fortune-telling story of the stars.
14. Fight!
Not what you think, but how about a chalk or flour fight to really get messy. It can be simple as filling flour into some old socks to throw at the other, even better blindfolded to really make it challenging. It won’t matter how you look in the end, but nothing shines brighter than a smile shared with someone you love.
15. Make a Romantic Love Jar
This is the best idea, and we recommend this one as you can connect with your loved one by making your own amazingly Romantic Love Jar as the ultimate date idea! It doesn’t cost much, but you’ll soon discover how priceless this is for your love life. Do give this one a try, you’ll see how easy it is, here.
16. Hike it.
Be it the finale of your hiking date to spot some local wildlife in your region. The sun plays a big factor in this sunset date, so why not see it on the trails.
10+ ideas on where to go on your romantic sunset date
So you have the tools and equipment for food, seating, and entertainment, now it’s all about the setting. Yes, setting. Where to go can be a deal-breaker, so here are a few ideas to help inspire you…
1. The park
You can explore hundreds of local parks in your region from an app, making it an adventure to find your newest favourite park by bike.
2. The beach
Who doesn’t love the beach?
3. Side of a lake
Water and sunsets do seem to marry up so well.
4. Find a hill to drive to the top
What a great reason to belt out some tunes and go on a road trip to find a hill. It’s just being together for that time out that’s what matters.
5. That hiking trail
I’ve mentioned hiking before, but it’s perfect to see a sunset. Just imagine the teamwork, and connection of holding each other’s hands just to walk back to the car in the dark.
6. A bridge
Again, water and sunsets are powerful things, and watching it on a bridge, while suspended over water is something so simple, yet even more enriching if it’s a quiet country bridge too.
7. Go Rural
For those in need of some rural romance, how about finding a spot in the middle of a paddock. You can ask a farmer, or a neighbour, or a friendly neighbouring farmer (Yeah, I know I’m repeating myself) to visit this spot, and sit back and enjoy all of that country space.
But how about….
8. The roof
Yes, the roof of your apartment building to watch the stars and lights come on in a dazzling display if you live in the city. Don’t have a roof well…
9. Rooftop car park
I know, but if you get to the top of the car park and find a cosy corner in your local hardware store’s car park, where you can have the whole space to yourself to dance under lights.
10. On the pier, or wharf
There’s plenty of places for seaside entertainment, to dine at the restaurants, stroll arm and arm past fishermen, or to eat that ice cream with a view. Again, it’s that water and sunset combination all over again.
11. The Backyard.
Don’t underestimate the amazing backyard, it’s your home to make it whatever you want it to be, so take over a corner and remodel it for the night to make it truly special. Make it a surprise for your partner to enjoy while you then plan a permanent makeover of your backyard to make sunset date’s a regular thing.
12. The roof of your car
Your car is an amazing invention, so how about trying a vacant parking lot (as mentioned before) where you can turn on the headlights and dance with the music up.
Or just pull over to the side of the road in the county, put a blanket over the roof, and watch it together, if you have a sturdy roof rack or own a van.
13. A balcony will do!
Just dress it up. And it doesn’t have to be your balcony either! Read on, my friend…
14. Secret spots at work.
Yes, at work. Stay with me, you’ve made it this far…
A friend of mine recently took advantage of having to work late for a deadline, where her partner usually met her at the office to escort her home. So on the night she’d finished her project, beating that deadline, she got the keys to the roof of her workplace and surprised her partner by creating a spot to watch the sunset together. They loved it, and plan to do it again in the near future.
Another friend uses her work’s unused balcony just for this very thing.
Think of that car park space, all empty from everyone fleeing for the 5 o’clock rush. It’s a great space to grab your skates to make your own car park party as the sun sets.
So really, it can be anywhere, you just have to be open to ideas.
10 fun ideas on what to wear on your amazing romantic sunset date
I put this in because you can be wearing your normal attire or you can let your imagination run wild by:
1. Wear your wedding outfits
Perfect for that anniversary event.
2. Your pyjamas!!
The make it a slumber date for grownups, snuggled up in your tepee or pillow forts!
3 Scuba gear in the desert!
Flippers anyone? Can you imagine it?
4. Go tropical
Wear your bathers over your winter woollies. Got a grass skirt lying around, why not make it a Hawaiian luau for two.
5. What about tiara and tutus
If you’ve read my rural romance series, you’ll get the joke. But why not raid the children’s section in the supermarket for dollar dress up ideas, those fake glasses, a wig, the clown’s nose. Buy each other an outfit for the night
Set a budget and then off you go, grab a new shirt you have to wear for the occasion.
7. Op-Shop Style
Find your local preloved store, and with a set budget, buy up big. Be it pre-loved ballgowns or tacky flares and psychedelic nylon shirts, the imagination has no limits. But dressing up for the moment truly adds to the occasion.
8. Design your own shirts
Grab some plain t-shirts that you can paint to then wear while chalk bombing each other or just get showered in glitter! Fun, huh.
9. Swap wardrobes
You read that right, raid each other’s wardrobe for a few hours. Yes, you’ll probably laugh at your partner all night. But why not have fun with it.
10. Dress up in a costume
I mean can you imagine a couple of Aussie Yobbos (those Aussie Bogans that love their barbie) trying to have a romantic night? What about those full-body mascots like a chipmunk suit? Or just take your snow skis to the beach coz you could or sit on your surfboard on a hill while wearing a bowtie, sipping on some bubbles.
Let your imagination run wild.
How to plan an amazing romantic sunset date
Time!
Time is the number one factor on so many levels.
First, it’s knowing when the sunset is happening. It’s easy to find out online as to the when, ensuring you’ll have plenty of time to get to your destination. Be sure to include the time it may take to set up your spot before you can sit back and enjoy the show.
Then there is making the time to actually go on a date which you can do by simply marking it on a calendar and making it a proper date night.
Planning can be as simple as tossing the blanket and cushions in the car as you tap on your smartphone to order Chinese.
Or you can prepare and pack a Sunset Date Crate.
The benefits of a romantic sunset date
Why bother with all of this effort?
I’m glad you asked because there are plenty of benefits for having a sunset date, but here are a few…
By simply going outside to watch the sunset, be it at the beach, on a bridge, or sitting on the roof of your car on the side of the road in the country, it allows you to connect with nature which is great for destressing. More importantly, it allows you to reconnect with the one you love by simply switching off your phone which in turn allows you to switch on to what’s around you. So yes, this simple act of a sunset date is known to strengthen relationships too.
You might not be able to afford much, I get it, which is why I’ve offered some cheap alternatives. You might not be able to go far, I get that too, which is why I also offered simple solutions. It’s just making the effort and the time to do it.
Why the infatuation with the romantic Sunset Date?
I live and write in the Northern Territory that boasts some of the most spectacular sunsets in Australia. I kid you not. And it’s any wonder the romantic sunset scenes end up in my stories …
In the bestselling Football Whisperer, the hero pulls out all the stops to impress the lady on a romantic sunset date … But does she approve?
Then we have another bestseller, Diamond in the Dust, where an aunt and her adult niece indulge in champagne and strawberries on the back of a ute, overlooking an outback sunset. It’s a sunset date for a family that really hooked in the readers.
What I’m trying to say is that if your partner is busy or you’re single you still enjoy the sunset with family, friends, or just you. So go on make a date this coming sunset because you deserve some romance in your life.
**All still images relating to this post’s topic are via CANVA.com
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