Early Fall Date Ideas to Try This Year

There’s something special about early fall. The air cools just enough for sweaters, the leaves hint at color, and everything feels a little more romantic. It’s the perfect season to slow down and plan a cozy date with your favorite person.

Below, I’m sharing some of my favorite fall date ideas you can try this year. But first, let me explain why date nights are something I care so much about — not just personally, but in my business too.

What Is the Nearly Wed Project?

When you work with me, you’re not just booking a photographer for your wedding day. I believe your engagement season deserves to be celebrated too. That’s why I started the Nearly Wed Project — a series of creative date ideas, challenges, and photo opportunities designed to help my couples enjoy this chapter, not just rush through it.

It’s part date night inspiration, part memory-making, and part intentional time together. My goal? To help you step away from checklists and planning stress and focus on what matters: each other.

Think of it as a little extra gift from me to you — because I truly care about my couples and want you to have more than just photos. I want you to have experiences you’ll look back on and smile about long after the wedding day.

Cozy Fall Date Ideas

1. Apple Orchard Adventure

Pick your own apples, enjoy hot cider, and maybe even bake a pie together afterward.

2. Picnic at Golden Hour

Load up a basket with cozy blankets, cheese, fruit, and a thermos of something warm. Fall sunsets are unbeatable.

3. Corn Maze or Pumpkin Patch

Nothing says fall quite like laughing your way through a maze or picking out the perfect pumpkin.

4. DIY Soup Night

Choose a fall ingredient (butternut squash, sweet potato, roasted red pepper) and cook something cozy together.

5. Farmers’ Market Stroll

Pick up seasonal flowers, fresh bread, or the perfect snack for a lazy afternoon date.

6. Scenic Drive with a Fall Playlist

Grab coffee, take the back roads, and watch the leaves begin to change.

7. At-Home Movie Night

Think fall-scented candles, too many blankets, and a lineup of your favorite cozy or spooky films.

Why It Matters

These ideas aren’t just about filling a Saturday — they’re about creating connection. That’s what the Nearly Wed Project is built on, and why I love bringing it to my couples.

Because at the end of the day, the wedding is one incredible chapter, but your story together is so much bigger than that.

Curious how the Nearly Wed Project works? Learn more here!