Looking for a simply romantic idea? Below is a list of romantic ideas submitted by people visiting FamilyLife.com.

We got married on the 6th of June. On the 6th of every month, no matter what day it falls on, I don't have to cook! We simply go out or get take out and sit back and celebrate our marriage. It gives us an excuse to go on a date at least once a month.

Several years ago, I started a tradition around Valentine's Day.  Every day starting February 1st until the 14th, I do a little special something for my husband—a special note on the steering wheel of his car, his favorite candy bar, a romantic card on his pillow, a 'coupon' for a massage, etc.  It's fun and doesn't have to be expensive, and gives me a chance to express to him, once again, how much he means to me.

My wonderful husband of 24 years went to a craft store and bought several dozen small red glass hearts.  He gives one to me every so often.  He may put one on my pillow, slip one into my hand with a love note. He's had one beside the bathtub when he ran me a hot bubble bath after a long day, or he may hide it somewhere for me to find.  When I do get one, I put it someplace where I will see it often (like on my computer at work, in the car, etc.)  That way, whenever I see my red heart I think of my husband and say a prayer for him.  I may call and ask if there's anything he needs prayer for that day.  He's a minister, so he usually has something.  He also drives me to work in the mornings after we drop off our children at school.  We get there about 15 minutes early so that is when we park and have our daily devotions and prayer time.  He is truly a wonderful, romantic husband!

My husband and I have these jars that we call love jars. One is marked with his name and one is marked with my name. His jar is filled with things that he would like for me to do for him, and my jar is filled with things that I would like him to do for me. The rules are I can't make him go in the jar to pick out something for me and neither can he. And we can't use it against each other. ("When was the last time you even went into the love jar for me?") But when we do pick out a wish from the Love Jar we must perform the wish exactly as it is written. It's a lot of fun, and it has added another level of romance to our marriage.

Leave a love note where you know your spouse will find it—in a lunch bag, briefcase, car, refrigerator, etc. Give a hint of another surprise that is coming, i.e., if you plan to surprise your spouse with dinner out, tell him or her to be ready & dressed at a specific time.  Anticipation is an important part of the fun in this idea. Looking forward to a surprise can be half the fun!  Plus, you are adding a bit of fun unpredictability to your marriage. I know of one couple where the wife left a note in his car while he was in an evening class telling him that she was looking forward to him coming home that night!  He made a beeline home that night.

In this world of hectic schedules, it is so important to find time just to be with your spouse.  Couples that I speak with claim they are just too tired or busy and cannot find time to just be with their mate.  Realizing that my wife and I were growing too far apart, I decided to make time for her.  Now there are many ways to make time but I felt it was important to establish a routine for being together, not just one evening a week or twice a month, but everyday.  I realized that I get up everyday during the week at the same time to go to work, so why couldn't I just change my schedule and get up an hour early everyday to be with my wife.  If work is important enough to get up early for, how much more important is your relationship with your wife?  You do not have to have a plan or an agenda. Sometimes we wake up and just lay there together, holding each other. It is so refreshing to start the day in the loving arms of my wife.  We take this time to pray together as well.  I can not believe we have been married for 10 years, and just by making this little change we are growing closer together daily.

My husband and I are very busy so we have to be creative. We have a camp trailer that I have set up as a getaway. That doesn't mean it leaves the yard; we just set it up for us to use. I will light several candles and set a vase with flowers on the counter.  I will make sure there is a special treat like cheesecake or ice cream in the fridge.  I also find the act of washing feet a very special way of showing oneness in our marriage.  Sometimes water isn't available so I use lotions, and as I rub his feet I cover him in prayer, special prayer.  This has become like a date night for us and it doesn't cost a lot of money.  It gives us a chance to pray, talk, have special treats, and have time for a whole evening together.  There isn't any phone, TV, or people. It's just my husband, me, and God!

For men: For nights when you do not have a baby sitter, after the kids have gone to bed, (you have to prepare her to be free that night), turn the lights down low, or off, and light candles.  If it's warm, go out on the porch with candles and a blanket.  Bring a children's book that is meaningful like Guess How Much I Love You, or The Giving Tree. Keep her close to you and read quietly.  Once you've read, you do not need to say much more, unless you want to elaborate just a little. (Remember, guys, sometimes we can stick our feet in our mouths.)  It's simple and meaningful.

A few years ago I started out my husband's morning by putting red/pink hearts with sentiments on them, in places he would find them. I put them in places like his dresser, the bathroom mirror, his lunchbox, inside his coat sleeve, on the dashboard of his truck.  During the day, I had helium balloons blown, delivered them, and tied them to his truck at work. I left another heart with written directions to meet me at a parking lot and look for another heart on my car, with further instructions.  It was so exciting for me to be doing this for my husband.  When he got to my car, he was in the parking lot of a nice hotel near where he worked.  The heart said to meet me in a room where I had a romantic evening planned with dinner, etc.  My husband later told me it was such an exicting, special day that he will always remember.  I had so much joy in doing this, and it really brightened up our marriage of 17 plus years.

It was my husband's romantic idea actually...I was just the recipient. On our tenth wedding anniversary I woke up to a single red rose on the bathroom counter with a clue attached. The clue went to a crossword puzzle my husband had written for me (I am a puzzle-holic). There was another rose and clue, as well as the crossword puzzle itself, at the breakfast counter. I would receive clues throughout the day, accompanied by single roses, a dried flower arrangement (which I still have), a balloon bouquet, and others. In the early afternoon, he called me to tell me his car broke down, and he was going to have to have a friend drive him over to pick me (and my car) up after work...don't leave without him. I waited. I knew he had made plans for dinner so we went home to get ready. He kept telling me to hurry and I soon found out why. There was a limo waiting in the driveway to take us into the city for a night out. His broken car was actually there waiting at the hotel. He preordered room service, a melt-in-your-mouth halibut dinner (my favorite—a total surprise. He even arranged for the childcare, without any advice from me! The final clue came wrapped around a 10-diamond anniversary ring. It was totally awesome. I didn't want the day to ever end. Although it was all wonderful, the best part of it all was the crossword puzzle. So much thought and love went into it, I just can't describe how it made me feel. Now after 18 years, I'm eagerly waiting to see what romantic ideas he'll come up with for 20. Or maybe it's my turn. A FamilyLife conference would be perfect!