The Target date challenge has become a popular video theme on TikTok. It involves couples going to Target and picking out fun outfits and activities for each other as an inexpensive but creative date night idea. The concept took off in 2021 when TikTok users started posting videos of their Target date experiences, often showing the items they purchased for their partner and the fun evening they had together.
The appeal of the Target date challenge is that it provides an accessible and affordable option for an enjoyable date night. Many couples like the spontaneity and thrill of hunting for items with a small budget. It also adds a playful, competitive element as each partner tries to come up with the best outfits and activities for the other person. Additionally, browsing the store aisles together creates an immersive, shared experience. The trend has continued gaining momentum as more users try out the challenge and share the results (source).
Pick a Fun Location
When planning a fun TikTok date at Target, picking an interesting location is key. Consider places that will facilitate fun activities, conversations, and TikTok content creation. Some ideas include:
A movie theater – Catch a rom-com or the latest blockbuster. Sit close together and share a tub of popcorn for those cute candid shots. Check out the retro theaters for a vintage vibe.
An arcade or bowling alley – Get competitive and challenge your date to air hockey, skeeball, basketball, or bowling. Arcades like Dave & Buster’s offer a wide variety of games.
Mini golf – Work together to navigate silly obstacles, ramps, and windmills. Mini golf offers lots of laughs, bonding time, and photo ops.
An aquarium – Gaze at exotic fish, sea creatures, and marine life. Aquariums like the Georgia Aquarium provide perfect backdrops for creating content.
Other indoor locations like trampoline parks, rock climbing gyms, and escape rooms also facilitate active fun. Or keep it simple and browse Target together, stocking up on date night supplies.
Plan Engaging Activities
One key to a memorable date night is planning fun, engaging activities that you and your partner can do together. Some ideas for active and interactive date activities include:
Go-kart racing – Channel your inner speed racer at an indoor or outdoor go-kart track. The friendly competition and fast-paced driving make for an exhilarating date.
Ping pong tournament – Have a ping pong table? Set up a mini tournament between the two of you. The lively volleys and trash talk opportunities lead to plenty of laughs.
DIY photobooth – Set up a DIY photo station with fun props and backgrounds. Take silly selfies and watch special moments develop right before your eyes.
Trivia or game night – Host a private trivia night by searching online for trivia questions about your favorite topics. Break out board games and get ready for some friendly competition.
Arcade games – Get your game on at a local arcade or arcade bar. Relive childhood memories while you and your date try to get the high score.
Doing an activity together creates engagement, bonding, and shared memories. So ditch the tired dinner-and-a-movie routine in favor of these interactive date ideas.
Add a Competitive Element
Adding a friendly competitive element to your TikTok date night can make it extra fun and engaging. Turning date activities into games with scores, challenges, and rewards for the winner will get you both involved and invested in having a great time.
Keep score during your date by assigning points for different achievements like who bowled the most strikes or who won the go-kart race. You can even have ongoing score tallies throughout the entire date to keep the competition going (source).
Incorporate playful dares or challenges like trying to win your date a stuffed animal at a carnival game or challenging them to a dance battle. Stepping outside your comfort zones together with some friendly competition can create laugh-out-loud moments to capture in your TikTok video.
Reward the winner with a prize like choosing the movie you’ll watch later or where you’ll go for dessert. You could even have small prizes for winning each individual competition. Getting a reward, no matter how small, is a great way to add incentive and excitement to your competitive date night.
Rather than focusing on an intense competition, keep things lighthearted and fun. The point is enjoying quality time together, being silly, and making lasting memories – not necessarily who “wins.” Add just enough friendly competition to keep things interesting!
Incorporate Nostalgia
A fun way to create a nostalgic date night is to revisit favorite childhood places and activities. This could include going bowling like when you were teenagers, having a movie night featuring classic films from your youth, or visiting your old elementary school playground. Feeling that rush of childhood excitement and memories together can be a great bonding experience (source).
You could also plan a date around nostalgic games and music. Break out classic board games you played growing up like Monopoly or Life and see who wins. Or make a retro 90s playlist to listen to together while reminiscing about your favorite songs and bands. Having a karaoke night of iconic throwback hits could be entertaining as well. Engaging in these nostalgic activities from your past can spark meaningful conversations and create shared moments of joy (source).
Ultimately, incorporating nostalgia into your date allows you to celebrate your history together in a fun way. Revisiting memorable places, activities, music, and movies from your youth can help you reconnect over fond memories (source). It’s a great theme for a creative date!
Have Themed Attire
Wearing matching or themed outfits is a fun and creative way to make your TikTok date night special. Coordinate looks based on movie characters, decades like the 80s or 90s, or colors like all black or red and pink. For example, you could dress up like Danny and Sandy from Grease, or go for a retro 50s sock hop vibe with poodle skirts and leather jackets.
Planning themed attire for your date is a chance to get creative, silly, and playful together. You’ll end up with amazing photos and videos to post on TikTok showing off your coordinated outfits. Opt for easily recognizable looks that followers will get a kick out of. Go all out with costumes and props for a truly memorable date night.
Some themed outfit ideas to consider include:
- Dressing as your favorite movie or TV characters
- Coordinating decade-specific fashion looks
- Wearing complementary colors from head to toe
- Creating DIY costumes together beforehand
- Choosing venue-specific outfits, like tropical clothes for an island-vibed date
Putting thought into your TikTok date night attire adds extra fun and personality to your videos. Matching outfits shows your coordination as a couple and helps create shareable content that followers will absolutely love. Lean into the themed aesthetic and take your date night style up a notch.
Document with Photos/Videos
Taking photos and videos to post on TikTok is a great way to document your special date night. This gives you a creative activity to do together and captures fun memories you can look back on. According to TikTok’s Date Ideas channel, planning TikTok-worthy moments into your date will make it more entertaining and engaging.
Some ideas are to dress up in matching outfits, plan photogenic locations, and think of challenges or dances you can film. You can also take turns filming each other or set up your phone to capture your reactions. Getting playful with the filming process and not taking it too seriously leads to the most natural, funny videos. Remember to stay present during your date and only film a few special moments rather than constant vlogging. End the night by creating a montage or TikTok story of your memorable date.
Add Fun Food & Drinks
What better way to make your TikTok date night special than with fun, themed treats? Lean into your date theme by preparing snacks, sweets and drinks that fit the motif. For example, if your date has a retro theme, make some old-fashioned milkshakes or decorate popcorn boxes to look like they’re from a vintage carnival. You could also pack a picnic basket with sandwich fixings and snacks for an outdoor date. Or fill disposable, decorative glasses with mocktails for a tropical island vibe. Get creative and make edible props as well – whipped cream buns for a baking date, or cake pops decorated like beach balls for a pool party theme. The right bites and beverages will add to the immersive experience and give you delicious content to capture. So plan a menu of photogenic foods and drinks that help bring your TikTok date theme to life.
Exchange Thoughtful Gifts
Exchanging small, thoughtful gifts on a TikTok date adds a sweet element of surprise. Consider gifts that relate to your date activity or inside jokes between the two of you. Some ideas:
- Customized t-shirts or hats referencing an inside joke or meme
- Snack packages or candy of their favorite treats
- Cute plush version of an animal filter you use
- DIY coupon book of date activities or favors
- Nostalgic games or toys from childhood
- Sentimental photo book or slideshow of your best TikToks
The gifts don’t need to be expensive. Focus on finding or making something heartfelt and creative that shows you put thought and effort into it. Exchanging fun, personalized gifts helps create special memories from your TikTok date.
Conclusion
The key to a great TikTok date night is focusing on having fun and creating memories rather than stressing over the cost or specifics of the date. At its core, a successful date is about enjoying quality time together doing activities you both love. The date ideas discussed like incorporating nostalgia, friendly competition, themed attire, and photo/video documentation are about making your time together lighthearted and memorable. Rather than spending lots of money on an elaborate date, get creative with locations and activities that highlight your personalities and relationship in a fun way. The thoughtful gestures like exchanging gifts or cooking favorite foods show care while also facilitating laughter and joy. If your date night ignites positive emotions and inside jokes that last beyond the evening, then you’ve succeeded in strengthening your bond and created nostalgic memories to look back on happily.