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8 Unique Stay At Home Date Ideas to Spice up Your Relationship

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  • One Tree Hill Engagement shoot

 

Stay At Home Date Ideas You Can Use to Spice up Your Relationship

 

All over the world, going out for a date night is increasingly becoming a challenge for many. This is not about having kids who may insist on going everywhere you go. It’s about staying safe inside your home. More so, if you live in a suburb, driving to the city for a date night can be tricky. Staying at home doesn’t mean you have to forfeit your relationship or allow it to suffer. There are a lot of things you can do to spice it up even during a pandemic like COVID-19, but also for when all this is over and you just feel like having a date night at home 🙂

Whatever your reasons for staying at home; we have researched lots of options for cute stay at home date ideas. All these date ideas are budget-friendly and don’t involve much technology! So you don’t have to run down your credit card to give your date a treat during this time. So below are 8 easy-to-plan, enjoyable, inexpensive  stay at home date ideas you can try at home with your significant other. Stay indoors and have some fun!

  1. Play a Board Game

Game nights are fantastic ways to have a date while staying indoors. You can start it with a glass of wine, then bring out some cards, or set up a cheese board and begin the challenge. The truth is that you will find yourself engrossed in gimmicks, deep conversations, and funny spanks with your date as you have more time playing such games indoors.

Let’s not forget the series of little arguments that may arise when one person decides to play smart on another as the game progresses. Such can trigger the feeling of togetherness and forgiveness.

board game date night
  1. Pretend The Electricity Is Out

You might have tried this when you were a kid. It’s normal to find some kids switching off all lighting in the home and pretending as if the electricity is out. Then they begin to play hide and seek game or tell ghost stories. You can try this too with your date. Amidst the dark corners of your home, you can tell ghost stories, light candles, and play a guessing game.

  1. Have a Tasting Party

This could turn out to be one of your favorite stay at home date ideas. Just create fun tasting stations. You could organise any kind of tasting. From smoothie to wine tastings, the sky is the limit. Pick any theme of your choice, and it could be cookies, ice cream, whiskey, and even chocolate. Just ensure there are a lot of options available for you and your date.

Food platter
  1. Make Dessert or Dinner Together

Making dinner after a stressful day can be tiring. But not with the stay at home order. Ensure you both have activities cleared up for the day. And fix a time to cook your favorite meal together. It’s an excellent way to reconnect, especially if you haven’t seen each other for quite some time. The meal or dessert should be something you both haven’t tried before. Take pictures as you cook to make it fun and memorable.

  1. Organise a Romantic Quiz Competition

When was the last time you both laughed over a topic or the inability of one person to answer a question correctly? This is one fun way to spice up your date life. There are lots of “questions for couples” articles and books online. If you feel you and your date haven’t sat down and laughed for a long time, or you have trouble discussing anything that doesn’t end in an argument, then this tip could help. Make a list of interesting questions to answer over some glasses of wine or coffee. In the end, you will discover new things about each other.

  1. Turn Your Bedroom Into a Romantic Hotel Room

Staying in a fancy hotel room could make your date night as romantic as it gets. But this is not always within the budget. More so, you can transform your bedroom into a romantic scene for the sexiest date night at home drama.  Here are some ideas to help you:

  • Place a bottle of champagne or other drink in a bucket of ice close to the bed.
  • Turn on soft music and light some sweet-scented candles in different corners of the bedroom.
  • Sprinkle flower petals on the bed and make some chocolate covered strawberries.
  • Make your favorite dish, and serve your date in bed.
  • Watch romantic movies together in bed till when you both doze off.
romantic bed
  1. Paint With each other

When was the last time you both tried your hands-on painting? Perhaps, you can remember how romantic and fun it was for your relationship. But what if you haven’t done so yet, no worries! You can still make it a vital aspect of your staying safe at home date ideas.

Get some watercolor sets and a large paper. Then sit together and paint your favorite masterpieces and make a mess! It can be more fun when you both try to guess what the other party has painted. You don’t have to be an artistic genius to do it correctly. Watch some tutorials on YouTube and practice it together before setting the table for the real game.

As far as stay at home date ideas go, this is the one that will likely stay with you. Even if you’re no good at painting, just the reminder of this activity would be worth framing and putting on your wall forever!

painting
  1. Play The Role of an Interior Designer

This is a perfect date night idea you can organise in a budget-friendly manner. Research some DIY home design ideas together. Take notes of the tips and materials needed. You could redesign the living room, kitchen, or bedroom. Whatever you feel comfortable with, just make sure it suits your style and budget.

Hint: This at-home date idea will make you discover lots of fascinating things about your partner, such as favorite color, taste, and design style.

Stay At Home Date Ideas are fantastic for many reasons. It helps you and your partner to discover things about yourselves that wouldn’t have been possible on a regular date. Staying safe during a pandemic doesn’t mean you should put your relationship on hold. Try these tips and take your love life to greater heights! When we are all aloud outside again I’d love to go out and have a photoshoot together! 😀

Current Wedding Photographer Guidelines for COVID Weddings

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  • Photographer Guidelines for COVID Weddings

 

Current Wedding Photographer Guidelines for COVID Weddings

With the new weddings season fast beginning in South Australia, I thought I might put out what I understand to be current wedding photographer guidelines for COVID weddings.

This information is currant as of publishing this blog – however the situation and guidelines may change – and have been changing almost daily since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. So please use this information as a starting point for your own research.

COVID-19 Coronavirus Banner

The ‘COVID Safe Plan’

As part of operating a business in South Australia, you may have heard of the SA health’s ‘COVID safe Plan’.

Photographers are not stipulated under the ‘defined public activities‘ that require a COVID safe plan – however our activities are directly related to the COVID management plans put together by any venue or location where a wedding is taking place.

That said however it is prudent for any professional currently working with people to complete a voluntary COVID safe plan as many venues are still asking for photographers to produce their COVID safe plan despite not legally requiring one. I can understand that as a wedding is all about working as a team, from staff on site to any suppliers. The voluntary safe plan only takes 2 minutes to complete anyway.

As a side note however, if for some reason you are producing wedding photography in your private studio, you will need a COVID safe plan. This is not to be confused by a COVID management plan which is only needed if you are hosting over 1000 guests or serving alcohol.

To complete these forms links to each are available on the SA health website.

Engagement ring in red bouquet

Operational wedding photographer guidelines for COVID weddings

As a result of current social distancing obligations for the general public, and also stipulations outlined by a venue’s COVID management plan, the way a photographer can conduct themselves at a wedding can be very different. Heres a short list of some ways in which I personally have changed how I work at a wedding.

Room density and private residences obligations

This obligation usually concerns any preparation activities at either the bride and/or groom’s place of preparation at a private residence or accommodation.

Room density needs to be checked so that the current SA Health guideline of 1 person per 2 square meters of a room. This may mean that if a bridal party is being prepared in a tiny hotel room, there may be a restriction of 2-4 people in the room. You may need to ask the hotel for guidelines on this.

Alternatively, private residences may not have more than 10 guests, to a maximum of 20 people per gathering. For example, a house of 5 residents may have 10 guests but a house of 12 residents may have only 8 guests. This number would include any suppliers such as a photographer, make up artists, etc.

bridal party peeking through window

Group Photos

Possibly the most disappointing from the perspective of the bridal couple would be the restrictions on group photos. as far as wedding photographer guidelines for COVID go, this is the one that people may get a little upset about.

The current obligation to socially distance yourself from any other person by 1.5 meters means that you should not be huddling together any more for any group photos. The only exemption to this would be if the entire group lives under the same roof as a family group.

This means that as a photographer you should be enforcing this guideline as it’s an obvious breach of the overarching government social distancing guidelines which would also be in place within the venue’s COVID management plan.

Social Distancing group photo

You can approach group photos in a number of different ways – either spread each person or family group out 1.5 meters from one another and capture a rather un-intimate group photo. Or you can place the bridal party out the front of any family group you may wish to take a photo of and combine the group that way using depth of field.

Whole group photos tend to be too tricky to accommodate this altogether unless you have a large open space nearby like an oval and perhaps use a drone.

Drone group shot at Ekhidna WInes

Masks

While wearing a mask is not mandatory or even recommended yet within South Australia, you may want to ask your bridal couple if they would want you to wear one – just as a customer service consideration. It can make you look like you’re on tp of things and take your job seriously.

Drinking

As a part of most COVID management plans for venues, there is an obligation to sit down while drinking. This does not solely affect the consumption of alcohol but actually concerns the consumption of any liquid and food for that matter. So if you need a drink of water – you must sit down.

Woodstock winery wine bottles

Dancing

Luckily for most weddings, the first dance is still a thing you’re allowed to do, and take photos of. However there will no longer be any bridal party joining in half way. This is something the venue’s COVID marshal would be on top of, but its something I’ve included here just so you’d be aware of whats happening compared to a normal wedding.

This said however many venues will not have a dancefloor even set up due to the ban on dancing ‘as a whole’ and ‘loud music’ intended to make people get up and dance together. So if you plan on having a first dance, perhaps make sure your venue is clear on your intention and make it clear that you’re only planning on having the two of you dance together.

First dance at Kuitpo Hall

I’ll be adding more here as the situation changes, but this little list of wedding photographer guidelines for COVID weddings in South Australia is currently how I have changed how I shoot a wedding, and as I understand it I’m currently following all government obligations.

The Bright Side of postponing your wedding

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  • Laughing bride as she's carried

 

Here is the bright side of postponing your wedding

Have You Postponed Your Wedding Due To COVID-19?

The world is facing a global pandemic that has changed our lives, even the way we live and interact with one another has not been left out. This is a dark moment in history that has affected everyone, including those planning to get married. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been forced to reschedule our plans, stay all day indoors, go on compulsory leave from work, and postpone important activities on our calendars.

One of the most important events that you may have been forced to postpone due to the present crises is your wedding day. Although, it’s painful to have had to postpone such a significant event, I wanted to paint a positive picture for you and illustrate the bright side of postponing your wedding. I know for a fact as a wedding photographer I’ve thus far had 12 postponements for weddings through March to October. Hopefully not too many more :(.

Yes, there is a bright side to all this – as long as you’re an optimist.. haha. Seriously though, rescheduling your wedding to a future date isn’t all a bad idea. If you look at it critically, you could still find the silver linings underneath. The tips we have below will inspire couples to discover the bright side of postponing your wedding. We hope they help you to chase the bright side and stay positive. We are all in this together.

  1. Reaping The Benefits Of A Longer Engagement

Whether you are postponing your wedding for a few days or some months, the bright side of postponing your wedding in this situation is that you can enjoy a more extended engagement. It relieves you of the stress of the unknown and planning a wedding for a while. You will have a deep breath and a sigh of relief from the uncertainties of the big day. The sense of peace you will feel can’t be overemphasised, and you can still continue all the fun of courting dates 🙂

Grange Beach Engagement shoot
  1. More Time To Save Money

If you were struggling with your finances before the postponement, here is an opportunity to save some more. However, this is more certain when you have the privilege of still having a job during this pandemic. More so, if you have a home business or you work from home, you can use this period as a good time to save up some bucks for the great day. And since the government already restricts movement, it means fewer expenses for you. Keep all the funds you would have spent going to parties, visiting friends, and engaging in impulse buying for your wedding.

  1. More Opportunities For DIY

What is that DIY project you wanted to tackle before your wedding day? Here is an opportunity to engage in those crafts you envisioned but had little time to do them. Distract yourself with such fun activities and get lost in your world of fantasies. You can find lots of DIY wedding projects online for your inspiration, maybe try making your own wishing well?

Wishing well
Tardis Wishing well
  1. Invest In Your Relationship

When it’s just a few days to the wedding, many couples crave more time to invest in their relationship and find out some salient facts about their partner. But since the time is already fixed, they are left with no other option than to take their wedding vows joyfully. If this describes your condition, then you should be happy to have postponed your wedding. Consider this time as a gift to be treasured and used wisely. Use this quarantine to invest deeply in your relationship. If you ever wanted to discuss a pressing issue before your wedding, here is the time to do so. Use this opportunity to solidify the foundation of your marriage.

  1. Discover A Meaningful Purpose

The whole point of getting married is establishing a union and a brighter future together. If you have already taken steps to do this, it’s a huge bonus. Spending more time to enrich your relationship can help you to find a higher purpose for your union and rekindle your love for each other. Use this lockdown time to lean on each other, trusting that soon, and you will become one flesh.

Veal Gardens Engagement
  1. Develop A Heart Of Gratitude

Think of how blessed you are to have found someone worthy enough to walk down the altar together. Finding the ‘right person” is a massive accomplishment in the life of anyone. Rather than seeing the postponement as a loss, spend some time to think of your blessings. Start a gratitude practice by writing down your blessings in a journal and reading them aloud to your partner. Reassure each other of your undying love and willingness to spend the rest of your lives together.

  1. A Better Honeymoon

Postponing your wedding means more time to plan for your upcoming honeymoon. This is the perfect time to find the hotel that suits your taste. You can also use this period of lockdown to research your honeymoon destination. If you have been entertaining any uncertainties about your honeymoon, this is the time to resolve it all with your spouse. It’s good to have everything carefully planned out before your wedding day.

I love travelling so much! I Can’t wait before I can go overseas and cover another destination wedding!

Athens
  1. Invite More Guests

Perhaps, you invited only a few guests because of the budget constraint. Now that you have the opportunity to save up more money for the wedding, you can go all the way to invite more guests if you like. This also means you may have to plan for other things and review other significant aspects of the wedding plans such as venue, food, and drinks. In a nutshell, it’s good to have such an opportunity to invite more people to your big day.

  1. It’s Okay To Feel Sad about the Turn Of Events.

A wedding is a significant life event, and it’s not your fault as no one anticipated that a viral infection would hit the world so hard. It’s okay to feel sad about it, but don’t allow the turn of events to make you feel depressed. Instead, see it as an excellent time to rearrange your wedding plans and infuse more activities that will make it memorable. Just because the bright side of postponing your wedding means you can make use of the time to do all these things, it’s still completely natural to feel bad about not having your original date 🙁

It is your wedding that was postponed and not your love life. This post is meant to help you see the bright side of postponing your wedding as you try to stay safe at home.

 

COVID-19 and what SvenStudios photography couples can expect

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  • COVID-19 Coronavirus Banner

Well then, what a wild first few months we’ve had in 2020, just when we thought 2019 was one of the worst years on record in regards to celebrity deaths, and bad things happening in the world, BAM 2020 comes rolling about with a vengance. Huge fires right across Australia, the Donald Trump Impeachment circus and now the COVID-19 Coronavirus which has no signs of slowing up. With the recent obligations for event organisers put together by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, limiting indoor gatherings across Australia to 100 maximum people, you can imagine that anyone involved in the wedding industry is going to be effected over the following months.

Travel has also been restricted worldwide with all the major airlines cutting services and countries closing borders, along with crazy people buying up all the toilet paper as though it were gold – it’s a scary time to sit in front of the television news cycle, and certainly not something that should be taken lightly.

worst month of 2020 so far

COVID-19 and what SvenStudios photography couples can expect

Wedding planning is something couples put countless hours into, stressing about minute details, wondering if people can attend or not and this huge health emergency that has been caused by COVID-19 is going to put a lot of those plans on hold, and it’s making a lot of people very anxious. As of now I have 9 weddings booked before the end of May, I plan to attend each one of these weddings as the booked wedding photographer unless the couple advises otherwise. Or if the government mandates a more draconian version of social distancing. I believe the majority of these weddings have reasonably small guest lists, allowing them to go ahead as long as the total number of people on site (including suppliers) are below 100. This is the case with the 2 weddings I’m attending this weekend. The only thing that would stop me from attending a booked wedding would be a complete social shutdown – which many fear may happen as it has happened in some parts of Europe and the US. Scary times.

I plan to attend each one of these weddings as the booked wedding photographer unless the couple advises otherwise

 

I have had a total of 1 wedding cancel outright so far, with plans to rebook in the future, and a few that have got in touch in order to begin sorting out a new, postponed date. It’s quite important for wedding couples that are stressing over their wedding day to not worry too much as the suppliers they have researched and booked in are going to be more than happy to bend over backwards for them in order to sort out a new date for their big day.

It’s rather scary for us as wedding suppliers too, this COVID-19 pandemic has the possibility to effect our livelihood in a way that nothing has come before. With this in mind, If any of your wedding suppliers have gone out of their way to help out in this horrid situation, it would really brighten their day if you were to give shoutouts on Social media, or reviews on sites like google or facebook as although we make a living out of the industry, the current situation is dire and we all wear our hearts on our sleeves when it comes to our weddings. As taken from the Facebook Adelaide Wedding Chit Chat page – We urge you to work with your suppliers to make it work – by supporting the small businesses you are helping put food on the table for the family and to pay the rent/mortgage. Remember to shop local and buy local, the small businesses out there need you now more than ever.