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Cute & romantic ideas for every occasion
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Surprising your boyfriend can be a great way to bring the two of you closer. Surprises leave a strong, emotional impression and can even seem to stop time, shaking up expectations and making you both feel good. From special treats and events to more mature surprises, we’ve put together plenty of ideas to help keep your BF on his toes in the best way possible. Here are 30 ideas to get you going.

How to Surprise Your Boyfriend: a Quick Guide

  • Pay attention to what he likes and make a list so you don’t forget even the littlest things.
  • Surprise him with a gift for no reason or tickets to an outing he likes but you aren’t as excited about.
  • Go the extra mile and spoil him for a day, plan a fun meal, or plan a surprise party for him.
1

Pay attention to what he likes.

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  1. You can get a lot of ideas by watching what he says, does and has conversations about—not only with you but with others as well. Keep an eye on what he orders at restaurants, the things he does for fun and what he watches on TV. Listen when he mentions something he really enjoys while you two are out or when cuddling together. Find out what makes him smile.
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3

Step out of your comfort zone.

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  1. For example, you buy you and your partner tickets for a football game just because you know he enjoys it and wants to spend time with you—even though you may not like football or crowds. It’s ok sometimes to make reasonable sacrifices so you two can share an experience together that he may happen to like a lot more than you. Hopefully, he will return the favor one day and surprise you the same way.[1]
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4

Think outside the box.

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  1. Just buying something pre-made on Valentine's Day, for example, because it is expected won’t be as meaningful as something unexpected. If you can create a gift or experience that will be unique for just the two of you, that would be ideal. This is your chance to really show (rather than just say) how much the other person means to you.[2]
    • The action that you take to create the surprise is actually less important than the idea that you want to introduce something unexpected or new. This is what creates the rush that makes the surprise so powerful.[3]
    • Know that your surprise does not have to be big or expensive. Little things can be meaningful too. Just make sure your boyfriend isn’t able to predict that you are going to do it.
5

Give him a gift for no reason.

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  1. If there is something you know he has had his eye on, like a game or some sports gear, go out and buy it for him.
    • If you do not know of anything he specifically wants or if that item is out of your budget, surprise him with something affordable that you know he will still enjoy, like a book or DVD about something he's interested in.
    • If you're too young for big gifts or any of these other treats, slip a little note into his locker at school, or decorate his locker when he isn't around. Big surprise!
    • The less you treat your gift like a big deal, the more awesome it will seem. If you give it to him and say, "No big deal, just thought of you," he'll be blown away. Guaranteed.
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6

Buy him tickets to something he would enjoy.

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  1. Buy the tickets and plan out the day ahead of time. Find out what other activities are nearby and make it a special day for you both.[4]
    • If you're not super-into what he's super-into, it's still good to go together. Doing this shows that you're interested in him, even if you're not interested in watching pro wrestling. Go along and decide to have a good time anyway.
    • Alternatively, plan a boys-night for him. Buy him and his friend some concert or game tickets and send them off for the night. Then stay home and spend some quality solo time.
8

Plan a fun meal.

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  1. the way to a guy's heart is through his stomach. It's probably true for many people, though, guy or gal. Preparing his favorite dinner is a nice treat no matter how long the two of you have been going out.
    • If the relationship is new and you have never cooked for him before, inviting him over for a home-cooked meal will be a nice surprise, regardless of what you make. Then you can cook him breakfast in bed the next morning.
    • Plan a picnic lunch, or make reservations at his favorite restaurant. Eating in is nice, but every once in a while, going to a restaurant he really enjoys can demonstrate just as much consideration.
    • Go on a snack tour of his favorite food in town. Visit every local brewery to let him sample the local beers (you drive), or check out the fried pickles at every local barbecue place. Pick something you know he loves and hit up all the places. Plan out the routes.
    • Surprise him with lunch at work. Even if he is too busy to eat it with you, making the extra effort on your part will be a sweet surprise and an effective way to show him how much you think of him even when you are not physically together.
11

Secure the refreshments.

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  1. If you're going to throw a surprise party, get the dude-food in hand. Figure out what he likes best and provide those drinks and refreshments.
    • If your guy's a meat and potatoes kind of guy, plan a backyard barbecue. Get a friend of his who is good on the grill to make up some brats or grill some ribs, and make sure to get enough for everyone.
    • If your guy prefers healthy food, plan out a trip to a local spot he hasn't tried yet. Make reservations for all of his friends, buy him a full tasting menu, and plan the meet-up.
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13

Refrain from giving him hints.

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  1. Pretend like you might have forgotten that it's his birthday, or plan a surprise party for him on a random day. You can wish him a happy birthday to avoid letting his mood sink too low, but do not give away any hints to suggest that you have a roomful of his favorite people, food and gifts waiting for him back home.
    • Alternatively, you can also plan a surprise party for an occasion that does not usually get a party. A promotion, for instance, is an exciting life event that is not always celebrated formally, but you can surprise him by planning a party to celebrate his accomplishment.
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24

Greet him at the door in something sexy.

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27

Send dirty texts throughout the day.

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  1. If your boyfriend has a busy day, letting him know that you're thinking about him "that way" will drive him absolutely crazy. Getting a dirty text is one of the best kinds of surprises. Let him know what you plan on doing with him later.
    • Be careful with pictures. If you're in a committed relationship and you trust your boyfriend, that's one thing. If you're just texting someone you don’t know that well or someone who may turn around and use your pictures against you if you break up, think twice.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I spoil my boyfriend on a budget?
    Erika Kaplan
    Erika Kaplan
    Matchmaker
    Erika Kaplan is a Dating Coach and Matchmaker for Three Day Rule, an exclusive matchmaking company across nine cities in the United States. With over six years of experience, Erika specializes in helping singles find quality matches through date coaching and premium matchmaking services. Erika graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She worked for Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, and Men’s Journal before leaving publishing to pursue her passion for connecting people. Erika has been featured on Lifetime, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and CBS as well as in Thrillist, Elite Daily, Men’s Health, Fast Company, and Refinery29.
    Erika Kaplan
    Matchmaker
    Expert Answer
    There are tons of free or cheap things you can surprise your boyfriend with. If he likes art, you could stroll around a few open galleries or free museums. If he's into sports, you could take him to a cheap restaurant or bar to watch the game together. Think of what kinds of experiences you could do together that he'd enjoy!
  • Question
    What's the best kind of surprise if I want to get to know him better?
    Erika Kaplan
    Erika Kaplan
    Matchmaker
    Erika Kaplan is a Dating Coach and Matchmaker for Three Day Rule, an exclusive matchmaking company across nine cities in the United States. With over six years of experience, Erika specializes in helping singles find quality matches through date coaching and premium matchmaking services. Erika graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She worked for Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, and Men’s Journal before leaving publishing to pursue her passion for connecting people. Erika has been featured on Lifetime, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and CBS as well as in Thrillist, Elite Daily, Men’s Health, Fast Company, and Refinery29.
    Erika Kaplan
    Matchmaker
    Expert Answer
    Aim for something the two of you can experience together! It could be a cooking class, a magic show, or something like that. Anything where the two of you can share your time together is going to be a really helpful way to grow together and strengthen your relationship.
  • Question
    How can I make my boyfriend feel special?
    Connell Barrett
    Connell Barrett
    Dating Coach
    Connell Barrett is a Relationship Expert and the Founder and Executive Coach of Dating Transformation in New York City. Connell has over five years of experience as an international coach who helps men connect with women by unlocking their best, true, most confident selves. He is the author of the Amazon bestseller “Dating Sucks but You Don’t,” and has appeared on Good Morning America, the "Today" show, Access Hollywood, and in Best Life, Cosmopolitan, and The Oprah Magazine. In 2019 he was named Datezie.com's “New York City’s Best Male Dating Coach."
    Connell Barrett
    Dating Coach
    Expert Answer
    Get him a gift based on a hobby he has, such as a board game if he likes to play them.
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References

  1. Erika Kaplan. Relationship Advisor. Expert Interview. 6 April 2021.
  2. Erika Kaplan. Relationship Advisor. Expert Interview. 6 April 2021.
  3. http://www.yourtango.com/2014204839/30-ways-jumpstart-your-relationship-elements-surprise
  4. Erika Kaplan. Relationship Advisor. Expert Interview. 6 April 2021.
  5. http://www.yourtango.com/2014204839/30-ways-jumpstart-your-relationship-elements-surprise
  6. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/25/april-fools-day-prank-ideas_n_6942266.html

About This Article

Erika Kaplan
Co-authored by:
Matchmaker
This article was co-authored by Erika Kaplan. Erika Kaplan is a Dating Coach and Matchmaker for Three Day Rule, an exclusive matchmaking company across nine cities in the United States. With over six years of experience, Erika specializes in helping singles find quality matches through date coaching and premium matchmaking services. Erika graduated from Penn State with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. She worked for Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, and Men’s Journal before leaving publishing to pursue her passion for connecting people. Erika has been featured on Lifetime, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and CBS as well as in Thrillist, Elite Daily, Men’s Health, Fast Company, and Refinery29. This article has been viewed 512,672 times.
2 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 20
Updated: November 22, 2024
Views: 512,672
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 512,672 times.

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