Well, ladies and gents, I cannot believe how fast time has gone. As of June 14, 2013, I became Mrs. Kendra Colón!! After a year and a half of hard work, we have crossed the finish line! This has been an incredible journey, one I will never forget. Through the ups and downs of deployment and wedding planning, I’ve held this date in my heart. No matter what was happening, I was one day closer to our wedding.

Kendra and her HUSBAND! Antonio

I have a question. How many of you do date nights?

Not “oh, let’s go out to dinner, I don’t want to cook tonight” but actual date nights - nights that you plan in advance, get dressed up for, and look forward to. I, for one, am so excited for date nights. Antonio and I are hoping to have date night twice a month, once where I plan the date and once where he plans the date. Sure, it’s pretty cliché and has the possibility of getting expensive, but to me it’s worth every penny. There have been countless studies of how important date nights can be in a relationship. With all of the technology out there these days, we are at a serious advantage in comparison to couples back in the day. We can look up cute date night ideas, find restaurants, purchase discount coupons…the possibilities are endless. At the same time, our society is so caught up in technology and ‘go, go, go’ that we forget to make time for one another. The trick is getting into the routine and stepping away from life’s chaos for a bit to focus on your relationship.

I have to admit, I’m a terrible person to take on a date.

I’m not big into mini-golf, bowling, amusement parks, fairs...gosh, don’t I sound like fun? At the end of the day, though, as long as I am spending quality time with my man, I’m golden. No matter how simple or extravagant date nights may be, you’re making memories and making that time for one another.

Here are just a few date night ideas that I am hoping to do in the future:

• Roadtrip to a bed and breakfast
• Watch the sunset on the beach in North Carolina
• Go to a drive-in movie theatre
• Snuggle in bed all day watching cheesy movies
• Wine tasting

Obviously, budget is a big thing for most newlyweds. These days, there are so many dates that you can go on that require little to no money, whether it’s in your backyard or on a hike. Be adventurous, try new things, and make time for one another.  It’ll be well-worth it.   If you like Kendra's advice, check out her other posts:

• Winter Proposal Story
• Work It Out for the Wedding with a Bridal Workout!
• How to Succeed in a Long-Distance Military Relationship
• Figuring Out Your Wedding Budget