A while back, Mitch and I road-tripped to College Station for the opening weekend of Texas A&M’s baseball season. Not only was it Mitch’s dream to be in Blue Bell Park for opening weekend, but it was also Valentine’s Day weekend—his ideal way to celebrate the holiday. I was caught on record multiple times that weekend announcing that nothing says “I love you” like sitting in the bleachers for six hours in cold mist. 🙂 

But honestly, it was a really good weekend, mostly because we visited dear friends who live close to the Aggie campus. They moved from Dallas about a year ago, and we’ve felt their absence ever since. In between all the whooping and Aggie baseball traditions (which, if you’ve never heard of Texas A&M’s baseball student section, it’s well worth a quick Google search), my friend Alyssa and I caught up on the this and thats of life. Considering it was Valentine’s Day weekend, we got on the subject of what celebrating the holiday looked like for each of us. 

She mentioned the lunch date she and her husband shared earlier that day. She had many fond things to share about their special date, listing out the reasons she would choose the lunchtime route again and again. The restaurant was less crowded, the food was less expensive, there was less make-this-holiday-perfect pressure, and there was just less… of all the stuff people may not like about dinner at a crowded Valentine’s Day dinner. “Honestly, breakfast and lunch dates are underrated,” I noted, to which she immediately agreed. 

And this is the very thing I want to discuss with you today. 

I’ve found there’s no joy quite like starting the day across the table from Mitch over eggs, bacon, and coffee (that someone else whipped up for us). So here, now, I am making a case for breakfast dates—what I believe to be the superior, ultimate, and often overlooked romantic outing. 

001. The date naturally starts with a clean slate. 

The day hasn’t had a chance to get going yet, let alone bring up too many stressors, responsibilities, or have-tos. In many ways, you are setting the tone for what you want your day to be like together. And when you’re with the love of your life, it’s so easy to let love, joy, and peace lead your day. 

002. Mornings are often far less distracted than evenings. 

It may just be me, but I feel way less distracted in the mornings than I do at night. Barring crazy life seasons when big decisions loom, it feels like there’s less pressing for our attention at breakfast than there may be by the time dinner rolls around. Keeping our phones off the table feels much easier in the early hours. “I’m here for you and you are my priority” is naturally the tone and pours out of our unspoken conversation. 

003. Breakfast date conversations lend themselves to dreaming together. 

There’s something very hopeful and dream-focused about conversations shared over a cappuccino or short stack of flapjacks. Taking a step out of our typical morning routine makes way for fresh perspective, healthy check-ins, and more sentences that start with “What if we…”. Maybe it’s that the day hasn’t fully swooped in to distract or discourage us from our dreams and creative ideas. Regardless of what it is, I find that we have much livelier, dream-centric conversations on our breakfast dates. And I love that. 

004. It’s just happy to start the day with intentional time across the table from your best friend.

 I remember almost zero days that went poorly after one of our brekky dates. These moments together break up the flow of our typical mornings and remind us that connecting early in the day is always worth it. These moments have a way of bringing a “this is a new day, and that’s a special occasion enough to enjoy life and each other” energy to the day. It’s a reminder that we get to spend time together, and we chose each other in the first place because we like doing anything and everything together—including pioneering our days in the direction of unity. 

What are your thoughts on breakfast dates vs. dinner dates? What do you enjoy about breakfast dates? Let me know below! xo

P.S. You may also like this essay about living vibrantly right where you’re at or scheduling the things you love (like breakfast dates!).