12 Fabulous Date Ideas to Put on Your Registry

Today’s couples are craving experiences instead of gifts. Our date ideas are fabulous to add to your wedding registry to make memories with your love.

By Monica Mercuri

Last updated February 5, 2024

Date Ideas to Put on Your Registry
Photo by Unsplash

Choosing experiences over things is practically a mantra nowadays. Couples want to remember the time they spent together, not necessarily stuff their house with more material items. If that’s your goal, think creatively about our 12 date ideas to put on your Zola wedding registry. Then prepare to have days—and dates—filled with memories.

Why Are Couples Asking for Experiences Instead of Gifts?

Today’s couples are having more intimate weddings and making their day more of an affair for their guests. Therefore, it’s only natural that this sentiment transfers over to creative experience gifts that will be remembered long after the activity occurs.

Some couples have all that they need, which means the perfect gift is one that doesn't take up space in their home. If they’ve been living together for a while, chances are the happy couple is already well-stocked. And if they’re combining two households into one, there may even be a lot of purging happening.

Registering for unique gift experiences is on the rise. Consequently, some couples choose to crowdfund for their dream honeymoon or register for date nights. Our unique gift experiences are the perfect solution for those who want quality time together over material items.

Using Your Zola Registry for Experience Gift Ideas

If you’re up for nontraditional wedding registry ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you live near a destination or use your Zola honeymoon fund to get there, we have fabulous suggestions that are sure to create lasting memories. Here are a few of our favorite destination date nights to consider for your travel wedding registry. P.S. You can always register for airfare and accommodations, too.

Experience Gift Ideas for Couples in Atlanta, GA

When you’re in Atlanta, get a lay of the land by taking a helicopter tour. You will fly over sites such as The Atlanta Aquarium and Atlanta Botanical Gardens. However, you can also view Stone Mountain and see Buckhead, which is known for its nightlife. Adventurous couples can tandem hang glide from Lookout Mountain. Although, if your goal is to relax, you can register for a flow massage for two.

Unique Experiences for Couples in Austin, TX

Pretend a private yacht—complete with a captain—is yours for the day as you explore Lake Travis. You can grill, swim, or explore the water on a four-hour excursion. Alternatively, couples can experience a sunset cruise on a sailing yacht. Foodies will enjoy taking a food bus tour to taste some of the most refined flavors that Austin has to offer.

Best Experience Gift Ideas for Couples in Boston, MA

Boston is known for its fabulous lobster, and there’s no better place to eat them than aboard a ship. Couples can dine at sunset while hearing about Boston’s history and dining on fresh lobster. Learning how to blow glass will intrigue those who enjoy being creative. Plus, you will have a handmade keepsake from your trip to display in your home.

Creative Experience Gifts in Chicago, IL

Is pizza night a weekly occurrence at your house? Well, make it your trip’s highlight as you taste deep dish, thin crust, and Neapolitan styles on a pizza tour. Another alternative is to get your heart racing on a zip line adventure course. Strengthen your relationship as you help each other traverse the path.

Unique Gift Experiences in Dallas, TX

Get that adrenaline pumping as you experience indoor skydiving for two. Be sure to take photos of your partner as a stream of air safely suspends them. Those who enjoy history and politics will savor hearing about JFK, followed by a taste of Dallas’s finest cuisine. Of course, be sure to add a couple’s massage to your Dallas registry, too.

Alternative Wedding Gift Registry Ideas in Houston, TX

Part of experiencing a destination is to sample the flavors, which can be a highlight for beer lovers. Learn about Houston’s brew history as you go from place to place during a guided pub craw. Conversely, if you’ve always wanted to try sailing, then a trip with your sweetie is the perfect place to start. From the classroom to the water, you can register to learn how to navigate a Sunfish alone.

Unique Experiences for Couples in Los Angeles, CA

Head to the Angeles National Forest to be cheered on by your partner before breathing deep and bungee jumping. Not only will your heart race, but you will also enjoy lovely views on your hike to and from the bridge. Those who want a slower pace can soak in history and samplings at Los Angeles’s Original Farmers Market, too.

Experience Gift Ideas for Couples in Miami, FL

Zola: 12 Fabulous Date Ideas to Put on Your Registry *Photo Credit * // Unsplash

Florida is famous for its Everglades region, which brims with wildlife and breathtaking vistas. Board a jeep—and later an airboat—to fully experience the area’s unique ecosystems. Foodies will have a fabulous time in Miami, which delivers when it comes to taste. Selections, such as a Little Havana food tour and taking an Indian cooking class, show off Miami’s best cuisine.

Best Experience Gifts for Couples in New York City, NY

New York City offers various wine tours in multiple neighborhoods, such as West Village and SoHo. If you prefer other beverages, then consider a time that concentrates on craft cocktails or beer. You can always burn off all those drink calories by taking a jet ski adventure tour for two. However, you could go all in and book a full day to enjoy culinary delights with a New York City chef.

Unique Wedding Registry Ideas in San Francisco, CA

If you love the outdoors and have always been curious about mushroom harvesting, go on a wild mushroom adventure. You and your SO can hike while learning about which species are safe and which to avoid. San Francisco also has a lovely landscape, which you can explore while in a hot air balloon or biplane. Another option is to enjoy the beach by enrolling in a three-hour surf school experience.

Creative Experience Gifts in Seattle, WA

Sometimes couples want a weekend trip, and taking a three-day kayaking adventure will do the trick. See various birds as you traverse the San Juan Islands, where the chances of seeing Orca are high. For a shorter excursion, explore the tastes of the famous Pike Place Market. Shop the market, and learn how to cook with a market-centric cooking class.

Nontraditional Wedding Registry Ideas in Washington, DC

Zola: 12 Fabulous Date Ideas to Put on Your Registry *Photo Credit * // Unsplash

Booking a DC food tour provides experiences in areas such as Georgetown and old town Alexandria. Another option for foodies is to sail along the Potomac and soak in the views during a gourmet dinner cruise. Those who enjoy learning a new skill can take their camera on a guided photo tour of DC’s historic buildings.

Unique Gift Experiences You Can Have at Home

Sometimes you just want a cozy night in, and we get it. After all of the planning and excitement of a wedding, craving time at home is perfectly normal. However, you can bring the fun to your doorstep with these experience gift ideas for your registry.

  • Make your wedding album: In our digital world, photos live on our devices. Computer screens and smartphones house our most precious memories. Reminisce while creating a lovely wedding album that you can pass down to future generations.
  • Look forward to a wine tasting each month: Joining a wine club can offer a new flavor each month. You can choose your favorite varieties and look forward to a regular date night. Tip: Be sure to check and see if they deliver to your state.
  • Have a post-wedding photo session: The wedding day itself can be hectic, and you may not get all of the images you crave. Book a photo session (available in over 300 cities), and have fun creating pictures with your SO in your hometown.
  • Enjoy dinner out while staying home: Registering for DoorDash gift cards may be the best idea ever. The only question you’ll have to answer is what you’re in the mood to eat that night.
  • Hang out with someone in another country: Airbnb has a whole host of online experiences, and all you need is a computer with Zoom installed. With Airbnb Experiences you can cook with a chef, take a foreign city tour, or learn a new craft all from the comfort of your home.

There are options abound for couples asking loved ones for experiences instead of gifts. From virtual adventures at home to exploring an exciting US city, imagine the joy you’ll have together. Instead of having a house filled with excess stuff, you can have a heart filled with memories. And that’s a perfect start to a lifetime of treasured moments with the one you love.

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