Autumn is such a romantic season to me, and even though I wish I enjoy it with my partner in person, we still have the best virtual date nights together!
Long-distance couples might not be able to stroll through a pumpkin patch together, but there are still so many ways to feel close during the fall season. Date nights with your partner can still be romantic and cozy!
Here are a 10 Romantic Long-Distance Dates that you can enjoy this Autumn.
1. Bake a pie together
Nothing says “Autumn” more to me than a warm pie on a fall day. It’s a lot of fun to bake together as a couple, and you get a delicious reward at the end! My partner and I love to do “Bake-offs” where we both make the same recipe and compete to see who has the best result.
Pumpkin pies and apple pies are my personal fall favorites, but choose whatever you and your partner love most!
2. Make warm drinks together
There’s a reason why all the best Starbucks drinks are reserved until Autumn. Cooler weather means that we get to enjoy all of the best warm drinks! Pumpkin Spice Lattes, Egg-Nog Lattes, Crème-Brule Cappuccinos and whatever else your heart desires.
Set aside an afternoon with your partner to try making your favorite warm drinks. I’m not a big coffee person, but I love making mochas at home with hot chocolate mix and a little bit of instant coffee, and topped with some whipped cream. If you have a Keurig you can buy all sorts of specialty drinks with caramel flavoring or even make your drink extra fancy with some foamed milk.
A nice cup of tea is also great to warm your heart when you feel lonely, and sharing it with the person you love makes it even more special.
3. Have a movie night
Dave and I aren’t big romantic movie people, but sometimes we feel the need for a little extra warm & fuzzy feelings. Watching a romantic movie can remind you of your own love story and what makes it so special.
We also like to watch scary movies together in fall; which of course should be accompanied by some good candy and snack foods. Watch with caution; if you’re like me, watching a thriller while alone can be scarier than you’d think! I always come prepared with big fluffy blankets.
There are lots of programs to watch movies online together on Netflix or other streaming services, and Disney+ even has a group session option available so you can watch simultaneously. We’ve found that hitting play at the same time works best for us but we’re always on the watch for the best solution.
4. Virtual paint night
Paint nights are definitely in our top favorite long distance dates: they are fun, interactive, and creative!
Pick up a special drink for the evening and some simple paint supplies. Unless you’re both professional artists, there’s no reason to get too fancy with this step: I usually pick up my small canvases at the dollar-store along with any snacks for the evening, and a cheap tablecloth that will prevent you getting any paint on your furniture.
Now you just have to choose what to paint! Try painting the same scene and compare how you both gave it your own artistic impression. Landscapes are always a good place to start. We like to set a “theme” for our paint nights (space, city, picnic, stained glass) and surprise each other with our choices. You could also follow a painting tutorial on YouTube or Netflix (like Bob Ross with “The Joy of Painting!”)
5. Listen to music together
Music is something that brings us together and helps us feel what someone else is going through. Sharing your favourite songs with your partner is a great bonding activity. I love to listen to cozy playlists with my partner and feel like we’re close.
Listening to music over a video call can be challenging due to feedback and echoing, but we’ve found ways to make it work.
- Use Spotify to set-up a ‘group session’ where you can both listen to the same songs at the same time. You could use this while you’re at the office, working out, or just listen to the same songs while you both hang around the house
- Creating playlists for each other is the modern day “mix-tape” and is a great way to share songs and feelings together. I use Spotify, but you could use YouTube or even just write down some songs that remind you of your loved one.
- While on a video call, you could listen to music together with headphones on to combat the sound echoing back through your microphone. Another way around this is to share your screen & sound playing from your computer so you both can enjoy the music together simultaneously.
5. Make blanket forts together
If you’re a goofy couple like us, this is a great idea to have some fun and embrace the coziness of the Autumn season.
Act like kids again and take apart the couch, set-up some blankets and chairs and make your ultimate forts to snuggle up in. Add a few twinkle lights or battery operated candles to complete your new video call location. I personally think this would be a great time to make some popcorn and watch a Disney movie together.
6. Do holiday shopping online
So many of us love retail therapy, and shopping online with your partner can be a lot of fun! The holiday season is a great time to look at getting your partner something special as a gift.
You could share your screen during a video call so you can both look over gift ideas for your families. Or maybe you want to both buy each other a gift online. Many LDR couples like to do “Amazon dates” where they set a price & time limit for buying their partner a quick gift on amazon.
Getting a surprise gift picked special for you by your partner in the mail is a way to feel closer together and show you care.
8. Long-distance wine & cheese tasting
You don’t need to be a sommelier to enjoy a romantic wine evening with your partner. Pick up a bottle of wine and a variety of cheese to enjoy for an evening together. You can even order virtual wine tasting kits online that come with samples of different wines and instructions.
Set the mood for a romantic video call with some candlelight and get dressed up to make it extra special. Let each other know what you think about the different flavors; what you don’t like and what you love. This is a great date night for couples who value quality time together and love to share conversation and experiences.
9. Play an online game together
Even if you’re new to video games, there are some great options to spend some virtual time together with your partner. You could play a game where you can create personal avatars and go on virtual dates, or maybe you both work towards a goal together! There are games for adventuring in new lands together, and interactive puzzle games. You could even enjoy an evening with some classic card games online. Here are a few of our tried and tested favourites:
- Stardew Valley: An adorable farming based game with changing seasons, relationship building, and adventures. Multiplayer is available for you to work together in caring for your farm and discovering new things. You can give each other gifts and even get married in the game!
- Portal 2: Test your brain and your ability to work as a team in this fun problem solving game. Every level is full of interactive puzzles, and two player solutions.
- Uno: Simple, classic, fun to play, and even more fun to win. This is an excellent choice for competitive couples. You can play Uno for free online at https://play.unofreak.com/create
- Final Fantasy XIV: Adventure together, explore new worlds, complete quests and conquer dungeons. This is a fantastic game to be together with your partner virtually. Available free up to level 60!
- Don’t Starve Together: This game requires some skill and definitely a lot of team work as you set upon your main goal: don’t starve. Work together and collect food and build tools to survive as long as you can! We definitely have spent a lot of time trying to beat our record in this game; it sounds easier than it is!
10. Plan a fall picnic with a video call
This will require a little extra planning but could be a great way to mix up your usual long-distance date nights.
Set up a blanket area to bring your laptop or take your phone. Make sure to time your date well and to take weather into account. It’s also important to have a strong internet connection and enough battery life for the duration of your picnic. I’d consider bringing a battery pack and a charger to prevent your date from ending prematurely. A backyard picnic video call could be the perfect way to switch up your usual scenery and make some memories together.
Picnic food doesn’t need to be anything too fancy; a sandwich and a soda are enough to enjoy the outdoors with the one you love. Try matching your meals to feel even closer! A small dessert always makes a special date feel more complete. Always pack napkins just in case!
I hope you enjoyed these suggestions! Let us know how your Romantic Autumn Long Distance Date went if you tried any of these ideas.
What’s your favorite way to connect in Autumn?