Whether it's for Valentine's Day, an anniversary, or just a special evening, we all want to add a little spice and excitement to our nights with that special someone. But unlike the movies and romance novels, a truly memorable evening evolves when we spend a little time setting the mood. Here are a few ideas that may help. You don't need to use all of these ideas in one evening (and probably couldn't!) The important thing is to try and include what you think will compliment the experience.
First, Slow it Down
You spent a lot of time planning your evening, right? And presumably, you have all night. So here are some tips for slowing down the pace so you can spend more time enjoying the evening.
Add some slow music. Any love songs will do as long as they are background music. You want the songs to help set the mood, not overwhelm it. Set it quieter than you normally would and make sure you have enough music to last. Nothing is worse than having to change out a CD during a romantic moment! So whether you use mp3's, automatic CD changers, or stream romantic music off a website such as Pandora, make sure you have 3-4 hours minimum.
Light candles. It can be just a couple, or whole rooms full. Nothing transforms a room for romance like candles! And there is just something about candle light that tends to relax you and slow down the pace of a romantic evening. So whether you choose scented pillars or buy tea lights by the bagful, make sure you have them in place and ready to be lit.
Sit back and relax. Perhaps start by watching a romantic movie with your partner. Can't think of any good romance movies and need some ideas? Here's a link to the top 50 romance movies on the International Movie Database Website. But don't stop there. People love to write about their favorite romance movies and your bound to find dozens of sites dedicated to romance films.
Involve the Senses
Adding a little something to stimulate each of the senses can give you a more complete and satisfying experience.
Along with the romantic music, a thunderstorm can be the perfect background for a romantic evening. You can't control the weather, but if the forecast looks right, you might as well take advantage of it! Rumbling thunder and a strong, steady rain can add excitement and anticipation.
Addressing the sense of smell, we don't want to just focus on ourselves but our environment too. Remember those candles you were going to light? Do their scents help add to the mood of the evening? Perhaps consider lighting incense or using a spray scent as well. Just remember, the scents should be subtle, but apparent.
For a romantic evening, the sense of touch almost goes without saying. So let's add to that experience! Let's start with your sheets. Apart from your partner, you'll probably have the most skin contact with the bed, so your sheets should add to the experience, not take away from it. Not everyone is going to go for silk sheets, but you should make sure you have a high thread count for a sensually soft experience.
When it comes to taste and romance, there are an abundance of foods that can set the mood. The combination of strawberries and champagne is the classic choice, but don't stop there. Chocolates are nice, but chocolate body paints are even better! Add a blindfold and some imagination to your food choices, and this can be an engaging and intimate exploration of taste.
The final sense is sight. Just as we discussed lighting candles to enhance the mood, there are other things we can do as well. Scattering rose petals on the bed creates such a romantic sight. Lately, this has become so popular that you can purchase boxes of artificial rose petals at large retailers- especially around Valentine's Day. While they may not have quite the impact of real rose petals, spraying them with a scent combined with the benefit of using them again and again is certainly appealing.
Make it Playful
Add some activities to make the evening more fun. There are literally hundreds of game kits for couples. These can be as simple as “love dice” that specify activities and body parts all the way up to full box games that delve into a whole evening worth of activities. Some are designed for building intimacy while others are purely for fun.
Dressing the part is a great way to add playfulness to the evening. Sexy lingerie is a great way to enhance your romantic experience and add something new and exciting. If your feeling ambitious, try role playing. While some might find it difficult or feel embarrassed at first, many couples find it to be very satisfying with some practice. Try easing into role playing by purchasing a sexy costume and treating it at first as just another piece of lingerie. Before long, you'll find yourself beginning to act the part without even thinking about it! Many of the online lingerie retailers now sell sexy costumes along with their standard lingerie collections.
Try reading aloud. Sexy stories and love poems work great for setting the mood and raising the level of anticipation. The sound of your partner's voice can be quite entrancing when combined with some of the other techniques we've listed. Go to your local bookstore and check for a book full of romantic short stories or poems. Scan through ahead of time and mark a few that would work for that evening.
Add a few of these ideas and you'll be well on your way to setting the mood for your romantic evening. Perhaps start with a few ideas and add more as you go. You and your partner will be glad you did.
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Skye Heeley
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