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What to Do for Your Boyfriends Birthday

Someone asked, “Do you know what to do for your boyfriends birthday that will make him feel very loved?” Great question! We know that doing nice things and saying nice things makes someone feel loved. But what if you’re out of ideas?

Your boyfriend’s birthday is close at hand, and it’s your time to come up with new gift ideas. You got him a perfume bottle the last year and a football jersey the one before that. So, what is it going to be this year?

According to a study, men’s emotional responses differ from women’s. So, choosing the perfect gift may be a bit challenging if you want to wow him!

If you don’t know what to do for your boyfriend’s birthday, we’re here to help! Here are 11 perfect ideas that will make your man happy on his day.

What to do for your boyfriend’s birthday

—Ideas on what to do for your boyfriends birthday that will make him feel loved

1. Be His Personal Chef

It’s a common concept that the best way to demonstrate your love for a man is to cook for him. As it’s said, “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” In fact, the theory is backed by a couple of studies that test how men respond to food as opposed to women.

If you’re unsure about your cooking abilities, you can ask a friend for help. Or, you can ask your mother about your grandma’s special recipes!

Alternatively, you can go the extra mile and sign up for a cooking class online. It’ll save you time because you won’t have to leave the house, and you’ll at least learn the basics before attempting to cook for your boyfriend.

All in all, it’s more lovable to try making his favorite meal or dish with your own hands, even if it doesn’t taste as good as you’d like. The love you put into it will make up for it.

Related: Third-anniversary wishes

2. Surprise Delivery

A surprise delivery is another interesting way to make your boyfriend’s birthday memorable. Plan a surprise gift for him at a specific time of day, no matter where he is; just plan as thoroughly as possible to avoid ruining the surprise.

You can surprise him with something he’s been anticipating for a while or something he’s recently discussed. For example, if he’s been waiting for the release of his favorite team’s jersey, you can buy it for him and arrange for it to be delivered.

Imagine it! He’s at work or school and is suddenly amazed by a surprising gift from someone he loves; it’s hard to beat a surprise like that.

You can also include a small romantic birthday card with the gift.

A romantic little dinner for you two!
A romantic little dinner for you two!

3. Romantic Candle Light Dinner

A romantic dinner is a timeless, classic birthday celebration that never fails to make men happy. You can book a table at a five-star restaurant and arrange for some romantic decorations and candles. Or, better yet, you can make it at home.

To set the mood, prepare an easy, delicious recipe, dim the lights, and light some candles to set the mood.

You can also turn it into a fun activity by cooking and preparing the meal together. To do so, plan ahead and buy all the ingredients you need. Lay them out neatly and prepare your kitchen for the night, then invite your boyfriend to join.

Whatever you plan for him—whether it’s a romantic dinner at home or a restaurant—it’ll turn his birthday into a memorable celebration without having to spend too much money.

Related: Emotional birthday messages for your boyfriend

A surprise home decoration!
A surprise home decoration!

4. Surprise Home Decoration

Decorating the house is another simple way to show your man how you’re paying attention to his day. Whether you share a house or you’re inviting him to yours, you can put some effort into celebratory decoration before he arrives.

As visual creatures, we are drawn to vivid, colorful, and dazzling sights, so make sure to hang some balloons, party banners, and fun wall art.

You can also use fairy lights to add a fun touch. 

If your boyfriend has a large group of friends or likes group celebrations, you can invite his close friends to join in the fun and surprise him when he arrives home.

This wonderful girl made her boyfriend a cake! It's what to do for your boyfriends birthday!
This wonderful girl made her boyfriend a cake! It’s what to do for your boyfriends birthday!

5. Make a Fun Cake

A cake is a must-have for birthdays. A birthday without a cake is like a wedding without a bride!

But are you tired of these traditional birthday cake ideas? You probably want some new fun ideas to surprise your boyfriend.

Instead of making a traditional cake, you can make a mashed potato cake! Instead of flour, sugar, and all these nice things, mash some potatoes, follow the recipes’ instructions, and make the perfect birthday cake! You can even cover it in icing and trick your boyfriend into thinking it’s dessert.

Alternatively, you can opt for a prank. One of the most popular birthday pranks is the balloon cake trap. 

To do it, buy a large sponge cake and hollow out the middle to fit an inflated balloon. Use icing to cover up the balloon and the top, then try to decorate the cake to mask its actual shape.

6. Plan a Games Night

—Easy plans: What to do for your boyfriends birthday!

There’s no doubt that most men love video games, so planning for a fun games night is a clever move for your boyfriend’s birthday. You can prepare his favorite games, loads of snacks, and some soda, and have the celebration that he dreams of.

You can also buy him a gaming-related gift to seal the deal.

If he drops some hints here and there about what he likes to play, you can give him a few of these games as a gift. If you’re not interested in gaming and don’t know what he likes, you can always play it safe and get him a gift card for a gaming store.

7. Book a Sport Event 

—Somewhat easy plans: What to do for your boyfriends birthday!

Your boyfriend is probably a fan of some sort of sport, right? So, a ticket to his favorite sporting event will be a perfect gift for his day. It’s one of the best ways to spend his birthday and one that he’ll remember forever.

It’d be even more perfect if you’re willing to join him. You’ll have to preplan, know the match’s date and time, and book two tickets early. Then, surprise him with the tickets and go have fun!

8. Book a Class Together

Are you looking for a fun activity to do together?

The answer is to think about classes or workshops your boyfriend would want to attend.

Choose the appropriate class or workshop based on your boyfriend’s interests, or look for something in common between you both, so you can have fun. For example, pottery is a non-traditional skill to learn, and its class will be so much fun if you haven’t tried it before.

Here are some ideas for classes for you:

  • Painting
  • Cooking
  • Acting
  • Fitness 
  • Pottery
  • Writing
  • Singing
  • Crafting 

9. Try Outdoor Activities 

If your boyfriend loves outdoor activities, the best way to spend his birthday would be to take him on an adventure. You can start looking for hiking trails nearby and prepare for the day.

Buy all the hiking equipment that you may need, then surprise him on the big day. You can also try camping instead if you’re not a fan of hiking. Or, go on a bird-watching trip if you live in a state with lots of woodlands.

10. Spend a Relaxing Day Together 

Nowadays, the concept of spending a relaxing day at home doing nothing other than sprawling on the couch is often overlooked. With everyone being too busy to relax, it’s your opportunity to make use of this day to make your man have some rest. 

Watch one of your favorite movies or one that has just been released, order some food or make an easy dinner recipe, bring your favorite drink, and spend the rest of the night watching a movie or two. 

11. Let Him Choose

It’s your boyfriend’s day, so if you’re afraid he won’t like what you’re planning, simply let him choose what he wants for his day and go along with it. For example, he might want to stay at home, go out and eat or drink something, or watch a movie at the theatre. 

In all cases, he’d be happy at the end of the day, which is the most important part.

Wrapping Up — What to Do For Your Boyfriends Birthday!

Your boyfriend’s birthday is a nice chance to have a romantic dinner, relax, or do some fun outdoor activities. 

Depending on your boyfriend’s preferences, you can plan the perfect day for him. The most important part is planning ahead so that you have enough time to decide what you want to do and buy the necessary supplies.

If you’re even in doubt, a classic romantic dinner never fails!

Fact checked:
Board reviewed by Marianne Tomlinson, LCSW (Couples and Family Therapy). Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Learn more.

About the author

Ryan Sanderson (LCSW) Ryan is a game and relationship enthusiast who enjoys all things quizzes, games, fun, love, relationships, and family. He's a licensed social worker and helps families, couples, and children in need. He's spoken about love and relationships on Salon.com, Forbes, and Mirror, to name a few.

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