Best 5 DC Date Night Ideas Before Baby is Born
Preparing for a newborn baby as a couple living in Washington, DC, certainly has its advantages and disadvantages, but one of the things I am grateful for is the wide variety of DC date night ideas to take advantage of before the arrival of your little one! Living in the Northern Virginia area provides you and your partner with many fun, romantic, and relaxing dates!
Whether you are getting ready to welcome your first or fourth baby, dating during pregnancy can be just as enjoyable and spontaneous as dating at any other point in your relationship! Sure, you may not be trying the newest Washington, DC, cocktail bar, but there are still many other things to do in the area as you await baby’s debut!
While your pregnancy can feel like it’s dragging on, especially the third trimester, once the baby arrives, it all seems to have happened in the blink of an eye. Having three children of my own and experiencing two pregnancies, it can be hard to find your date night groove once the baby arrives. So, it’s best to take advantage of the fun things as a couple while you are still expecting!
Here are some of my favorite DC date night ideas to explore in the area before baby’s arrival!
Relaxing DC Date Night Idea – Have A Spa Day
One of my favorite non-pregnancy things to do is to try a new spa and get a relaxing massage. If you’ve never had a massage before, even better to experience your first massage as a prenatal! There are many spas in the area, but one of my favorites is The Salamander Resort and Spa. They offer a luxury experience from start to finish. You and your partner can lounge by the pool, order lunch and mocktails, and even enjoy the spa’s indoor amenities.
Bonus Idea: grab lunch or dinner at one of their famous, award-winning restaurants: The Gold Cup for lunch and Harrimans Virginia Piedmont Grill. If you stay at The Salamander Resort and Spa, you can visit two nearby towns: Middleburg and Leesburg. Both places offer shopping, activities, and restaurants. One of my favorites is The Fun Shop which has toys, books, and more for babies and children. Ashby Mae is a boutique children’s clothing store located in the heart of Leesburg!
Fun Date Night Idea in DC – Take a Cooking Class
While eating any variety of food was not the most appealing to me in my first trimester, during my second trimester, the cravings finally arrived! Trying new foods is a favorite of mine, and who doesn’t love getting their craving fix while pregnant?
Washington, DC, offers a wide variety of cuisines and a wide variety of cooking classes. Whether you are looking for baking specific, Italian, sushi, Indian, or want to jump-start on prepping lots of freezer meals before baby arrives, taking a cooking class together is a great way to try something new!
Cozymeal is an easy way to filter by location, cuisine, style, etc., to find the perfect cooking class for you and your partner!
Bonus Idea: hire a private, professional chef to come to your home and help you prep the freezer and pantry before the baby arrives! Little Lady Chef offers this service for a more personalized approach. Pair your at-home DC date night with your favorite rom-com on TV!
Romantic DC Date Night Idea – See a Show Together
Thankfully, we live in an area with no shortage of things to do, and being in the capital of the US means we have access to The Kennedy Center. One of the best parts of being so close is that the Kennedy Center offers various performing arts!
Whether you prefer the ballet, a musical, a broadway show, the orchestra, a comedy show, jazz, opera, popular music, or classical, The Kennedy Center offers something for everyone. Other nearby venues include Jiffy Lube Live, Wolftrap, The National Theatre, and the Center for the Arts at George Mason University.
Bonus Idea: If you are already in Washington, DC, attending a show at The Kennedy Center, add dinner to your plans! A few of our favorite local to DC restaurants include: Rumi’s Kitchen for Persian; their lamb is to die for. Le Diplomate, if you prefer French food, and be sure to take advantage of their pot de creme for dessert! If you want a one-stop shop, The Kennedy Center has a restaurant upstairs called The Roof Terrace, and we love their filet!
Take a Babymoon
Opting for a babymoon is a common idea for expecting couples, but I can’t recommend it enough! While time is always fleeting, and I am a big fan of planning and enjoying travel, the time before you welcome a new baby is sacred. Taking time out of your daily routine to get away is something most of us need to rest and reset!
Whether you book something nearby for the weekend (Charlottesville has some fantastic Bed and Breakfasts) or prefer a Caribbean getaway, either option provides the much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of life.
Bonus Idea: have a DC date night “in” afterward by putting together some of your favorite pictures from your trip! If you landed on this blog, I hope you love pictures! One of the things I wish I had taken more time to do before delivery is getting all of our photos printed. One of my favorite places to shop is Artifact Uprising for customer-friendly designs. Plus, who doesn’t love to reminisce about the start of their relationship or a recent vacation?!
Schedule Your Maternity Session
I saved the best for last, of course!! While, in my experience, not all mamas know whether or not they want professional DC maternity photos, I do know that so many of my newborn clients regret not taking them. So many were on the fence but were so glad they did.
As always, documenting the season of life you are in can seem daunting, but it always seems to be the pictures we don’t take that we regret. Whether you choose to have your maternity portraits taken at my studio, in your home, or on location, you can have the same all-inclusive experience.
The studio wardrobe is available to all of my clients, and you can choose to have your hair and makeup done professionally, get dressed up, and document this exciting time of your life with your loved ones (siblings and pets are always welcome)!
Not sure if a maternity session is for you? I am happy to answer any questions! Please feel free to reach out to me here.
DC DATE NIGHT IDEAS
Did you enjoy reading this post? Are you hoping to see more posts like it? You can find more newborn photography blog posts from a Northern Virginia Newborn Photographer here, here, and here. If you are looking for studio maternity photos or lifestyle newborn photography in your home, you can find those here and here!
Ever wondered what a newborn photographer recommends you pack for your newborn session? Find my packing list over on this blog post. If you are looking for more tips and tricks, you can find my Must Have Newborn Items From A Newborn Photographer here, or Breastfeeding Must Haves From A Twin Mom Here.
Looking for nursery inspiration as you decorate for your new little love? You can see our Gender Neutral Twin Nursery Here, and our Gender Neutral Safari Theme Nursery here.
Please contact me if you’re looking for an in-studio lifestyle newborn photography session, an in home lifestyle newborn photography session, or a studio maternity session, or a milestone session with your baby and loved ones. I would love to work with you! You can also visit my portfolio here or follow me on Instagram for updates on availability and upcoming events. Santa sessions take place each fall in the studio and all families are welcome to join the waitlist! You can also visit my portfolio here or follow me on Instagram for updates on availability and upcoming events. Additionally, head over to my Pinterest for ideas and inspiration for our session together.
