Tips for a Romantic Dinner

Before I even get started with these tips for a romantic dinner I want to put out the disclaimer that these are coming from a man. Moreover, they are geared towards helping other men. If this sounds like the blind leading the blind then perhaps it will encourage female readers to read on, at least for entertainment value.

The focus here will be less on interaction and more on creating a nice ambience for a romantic dinner. As far as what to say and how to act, I may have a few suggestions but I must warn that dining furniture, tablecloths, and table settings are more my forte than actual romance (If you need proof of this, I could probably provide you with a list of ex-girlfriends who will gladly confirm).

Ambience for a Romantic Dinner

So, in the spirit of creating the appropriate ambience for a romantic dinner, we must first turn our attention to the site of the dinner. As I stated, this is geared towards men, so the first piece of advice will be to clean the entire area. Pay special attention to your dining room tables and chairs. Even though these will be covered by tablecloths and chair covers, it is better to start from a clean room.

I realize that you may be limited in style by the type of dining room furniture you own. If you are anything like me (my dining room is adorned with a small round wooden folding table and matching folding chairs), you may not have the most contemporary dining furniture to start with. That’s okay. The technique I’m about to share will cover every part of your dining room table and dining chairs.

Is Your Romantic Dinner Formal or Informal?

Table skirting, tablecloths, chair covers, and linen napkins are all things you should obtain to maximize the romantic ambience for your prospective dinner date. The style of your table coverings should be dictated by the nature of your date. For instance, the more serious the date, the more formal the table settings should be. In the most serious of settings (say, you plan to propose marriage), you will want to go over-the-top with class and formality.

One very classy look is to use a damask over a table cloth. This adds contrasting colors to your table setting which can be matched with chair covers and linen napkins. There are going to be a variety of colors and materials to choose from when deploying your table coverings. In terms of material, satin table cloths and lace damasks are always romantic. Sheer table cloths and chair coverings are more sensual to the touch, which should help to increase the romantic ambience.

Setting the Table

Once you have appointed the tables and chairs with romantic table cloths and coverings, you should turn your attention on to the table setting itself. As I mentioned earlier, linen napkins should be used instead of paper. They look better and are more formal. Moreover, they can be folded into a variety of designs to decorate your table top. Find tips on folding napkins, or research the subject of “orinuno.”  You should also make sure your dinnerware is set correctly. If you are unsure of how to properly set a table, do some research into formal table settings. Believe it or not, there is a great deal of nuance involved with the placement of silverware and plates. Another thing you may want to consider is adding a centerpiece to your table setting. At the very least, you will want to deploy a candle in the center of your table for romantic lighting.

Red Wine or White?

Once the scene is set, the real difficulty begins. If you are cooking the meal I am the last person you want to take advice from. However, I know enough to say that red wine should be served with beef, and white wine should be served with seafood or poultry. If you do serve white wine with your dinner, keep an ice bucket next to your table. If you don’t own a proper wine bucket, find something that will serve the purpose and line it with one of the matching linen napkins from your table setting. Lining the ice bucket with the linen napkin before adding the ice will add another matching element to your table setting.

Once you have finished all of your preparation you should be more confident when your date arrives. Remember to pull out her chair and follow every other basic rule of etiquette. If you are secure about the decor of your dining area, it should help you be more at ease during dinner conversation. Generally, women appreciate a man who takes the trouble to put together a nice meal for a date. Just keep in mind that the meal is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the total experience of the romantic dinner date. If you have properly cleaned, decorated, cooked, and stay on good behavior during the meal, your chances at another date are greatly increased.

About the Author: Simon Emmanuel is a freelance writer who conducts interviews and writes research articles for Bright Settings. All references to this article should link to http://www.brightsettings.com/productblog/2011/10/tips-for-a-romantic-dinner.