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10 Low Budget Bonding Activities For Couples

June 13, 2022 By Joseph Nolan

In this article we tell you why bonding activities for couples can help you connect, create intimacy, and improve your communication skills.

Bonding is important for maintaining a healthy and strong relationship. These creative, low cost activities will help you connect with each other on a deeper level and can improve communication and intimacy.

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Bonding Activities for Couples | Canva Pro | Various Images

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Whether you’re in a new relationship or have been married for years, bonding activities for couples are a great way to show your partner you care. From cooking together to taking a dance class, there are plenty of activities to choose from. So pick one that you’re both interested in and get started on some quality time together.

After a long day at work, it can be tough to find time to bond with your partner. If you’re looking for some quality time together, check out these bonding activities for couples. From cooking classes to dance lessons, there’s something for everyone.

There are many different bonding activities that couples can do together, and it is important to find ones that work well for both partners. Some popular bonding activities for couples include playing games together, going on dates, and taking turns doing chores.

In This Article

Toggle
  • What is a bonding activity?
  • The importance of bonding for couples
    • 5 Benefits A Strong Bond Produces
  • 10 Cost-Effective Fun Bonding Activities For Couples
    • 1. Go on a double date with another couple
    • 2. Take a dance class together
    • 3. Play a board game (pick a fun one that’s not too competitive)
    • 4. Go on a picnic
    • 5. Take a scenic hike
    • 6. Play tourist for a day in your own city
    • 7. Go stargazing
    • 8. Make homemade pizzas
    • 9. Take a cooking class together
    • 10. Hold hands
  • Final Thoughts
    • Summary
    • What’s Next?
    • Related Posts:

What is a bonding activity?

Bonding as a couple means creating a strong, emotional connection. It’s about understanding and accepting each other, and being there for each other during the good times and the bad.

Bonding takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. When you’re bonded as a couple, you can rely on each other during tough times and you know that you’ll always have each other’s backs.

Bonding means being honest with each other and communicating openly. It’s about sharing your thoughts and feelings, and really listening to what your partner has to say.

If you’re looking to bond with your partner, start by spending quality time together. Do things that you both enjoy, and take the time to really talk to each other. Be patient and understanding, and soon you’ll have a strong emotional connection.

The importance of bonding for couples

Bonding is an important part of any relationship, but it is especially important for couples. It helps couples to feel closer to each other and to build a stronger connection. It can also help to improve communication and to resolve conflict.

A strong emotional connection can take many different forms, but all of them involve spending time together and sharing experiences.

Couples can bond through activities like cooking, hiking, or simply spending time talking. We provide 10 cost-effective things you can do to build a solid connection with your partner below. Just remember, it is important to find activities that both partners enjoy and that will help them to feel closer to each other.

5 Benefits A Strong Bond Produces

Bonding is important for couples because it helps to create a strong foundation for the relationship. It can help couples to weather the ups and downs of life and to stay connected to each other. When couples take the time to bond, they are investing in their relationship and in their future together.

There is a little known secret of connecting with your spouse on a deep, intimate level. This little known formula for bonding and creating a close relationship with your spouse is not complicated or confusing. >> Click here to learn how <<

Here are five benefits from developing a healthy bond with your spouse.

1. It creates a deeper connection between you and your partner.

My wife and I have a lot of goals, both individual and as a couple. Things we want to accomplish and do through our relationship to give us a sense of purpose.

Underlying this is the fact that we want to do life together, and connect on a deep level. In other words, we want to bond.

The more we do life together, and the more we create shared experiences, the deeper and stronger our connection becomes.

This bond empowers us to accomplish the things that we want to do in life.

There is something powerful about sharing life together. To make this happen. We have to be intentional. We have to create experiences and opportunities to connect so that we can bond. This is the benefit of a bonding activity. It puts you in a position to connect.

2. It helps you to understand your partner on a deeper level.

Connecting and bonding implies that we understand our spouse. Many couples no superficial things about their partner .

They know their favorite flower, favorite dessert, or what gift that would bring them joy. Bonding allows you to move past the superficial things and tap into something deeper and more intimate.

It helps you connect your relationship to your overall purpose in life.

3. It can help to resolve conflict in your marriage.

Let’s be honest, conflict happens in every relationship. The level of that conflict is determined by the depth of your connection.

Let's be honest, conflict happens in every relationship. The level of that conflict is determined by the depth of your connection. Share on X

Couples that have a strong connection and a deep bond have less friction in their relationship. It doesn’t necessarily insulate you from all conflict. However, a deep connection with your spouse helps you work through conflicts and problems in a healthy way.

Also Read: 6 Steps To Conflict Resolution in Marriage

4. It can help you to grow closer to God.

Based on my observation, couples who have a strong bond also have a deeper spiritual connection to God.

Life is lived out on the stage of relationships. 

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Here’s what I mean. Doing life together – in relationship – it’s where we develop character, other mindedness (selflessness), along with problem solving skills.

Relationships give us opportunity to work on these areas of our life.

Life is lived out on the stage of relationships.  Share on X

It is also the arena where we can experience God the most. This is why having a church community, or a community of Faith, is so important. It’s where we get to share the love of God, and receive the love of God.

Well I value my personal, individual walk with God, I also in relationships I experience a depth of connection with God that is unique.

I believe marriage. That’s where this should be explored. In other words, we should experience God in our marriage. Isn’t this what the apostle Paul was talking about in Ephesians 5:31-32?

 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

It is a powerful thought to realize scripture uses the intimacy between a man and a woman in marriage as a picture of God’s relationship with us.

5. It can help you to feel more connected to your partner.

I am very stoic by nature. My wife often jokes that I have to tell her when I’m excited.

This doesn’t mean I do not feel deeply. I do. Connection implies deep feelings. It is not ONLY that. But it certainly involves it.

By doing some of the activities listed below, you will feel more connected to your spouse.

Connection implies deep feelings. It is not ONLY that. But it certainly involves it. Share on X

These feelings are important. We should never be controlled or governed by our emotions, but deep feelings are a good indicator of how things are in our relationship.

Feelings and emotions have their place. We just need to make sure we keep them in their place.

My opinion, they can serve us by giving us an indication when things are off or on.

10 Cost-Effective Fun Bonding Activities For Couples

There are thousands of things you can do to create a bond with your spouse. Here are 10 simple, low-cost ideas for couples you can do tonight to feel closer to your spouse.

Just remember, these are ideas. Put your own spin on it and make it your own.

There are little known keys and principles for communcating in a way that makes you feel bonded and close to your spouse. We cover them in our Communication Bootcamp. >> Click here to learn more <<

1. Go on a double date with another couple

As I write this, I’m looking forward to our upcoming weekend. It is actually our anniversary weekend, so we have a few things planned.

One thing on our agenda is a kayak trip with a few of our close couple friends. While we will definitely have time to ourselves, we also enjoy spending time with other couples.

Not only does this help us bond with our friends, it always strengthens our bond with one another.

Here’s usually what happens:

For the next few days after our time with friends, we will laugh, talk, and share our experience with each other. In one sense, it gives us fodder for conversation. It provides experiences. We can relive with one another.

This is part of what makes connection go deep. It’s part of what makes a bond, a bond. The ability to relive events and situations with one another.

2. Take a dance class together

Years ago, when we lived in Nashville, Tennessee, once a month on Saturday night, a Big Band Orchestra would come to Centennial Park and perform.

Not only, could you enjoy the music from the band, but a dance instructor was there to teach couples new dances. They would take 20 minutes to show you how to do the dance, then the band would play songs and we could practice. It was a blast.

We enjoyed it so much. We made it apart of our monthly routine. In fact, that was many years ago, yet we still reminisce about those Saturday nights.

Even if your community doesn’t provide that specific event, there are many community centers that offer activities and events where you can go and share an experience together.

This is one way you can connect and bond with your spouse.

3. Play a board game (pick a fun one that’s not too competitive)

I smile when I think of this one. My wife loves board games. In fact, we were both raised on playing games as a family. But my wife LOVES board games.

Ever once in a while, out of the blue, she will say, “We could play a board game tonight if you want.”

So we put on our favorite music, spread out the board game on our coffee table, and play. Just the two of us.

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We sing loud, laugh, hard, and brag when we win.

It’s bonding. Pure and simple.

Check out these 20 games you can play as a couple.

4. Go on a picnic

We actually did this a lot when we were dating. I can’t count the times We would pick up takeout from one of our favorite Chinese places then go to a shaded area at a park nearby, throw out a blanket and eat, talk and listen to music.

We learned a lot about each other on our simple little picnics.

5. Take a scenic hike

If I had to pick, this would be my favorite. We love the mountains and we love to hike.

When we first moved to Colorado, we didn’t know anyone, so we spent most of our time hiking in the mountains by ourselves. We learned a lot about our area, but it also gave us an opportunity to talk about our dreams.

That first year in Colorado allowed us to bond on a deeper level because we didn’t know many people in the area. As we were growing in our friendships, we were also growing in our own relationship.

Even if you’re not an outdoors type, it’s important to unplug from everything else and spend time with your spouse. There’s nothing more relaxing and peaceful than being outdoors.

6. Play tourist for a day in your own city

We love this one. We actually discovered the town we now live in on one of our tourist adventures. We set out one day to explore the area and stumble upon a 4th of July celebration and what is now our hometown.

We had a blast. Music. Food. And vendor selling their creations.

When we decided to move back to Tennessee from Colorado, this is where we landed.

My point is, we found this community because we spent a day being our own tourist guide.

We did this a lot when we lived in Nashville. Or so many things to do, we would grab a map and go explore.

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We did the same thing when we were in Colorado. We would find a small mountain town and spend a day exploring.

These can be incredibly bonding experiences.

7. Go stargazing

This is not something Michelle and I have done frequently. Was recommended by a friend .

He and his wife like to sit out on their back patio and try to identify the constellations.

It’s another way of unplugging from the hassles of life and connecting with your spouse.

8. Make homemade pizzas

It doesn’t have to be pizza. I use this because almost everyone likes pizza, they are easy to make, and you can customize them to your taste. This makes pizza a perfect dish to prepare together.

Michelle and I have made them with half the pizza `heavy on meat’ and the other vegetarian.

The point is it is fun to work in the kitchen and create something together. Them we have our meal together and brag to ourselves about how great it is. 

Quick example:

We have a place in Perdido Key Florida we like to visit. The beach is one our favorite getaways. We found a great restaurant there called The Flora-Bama Yacht Club. They have one dish we always order. It’s a shrimp nacho salad.

We like it so much we decided one Sunday afternoon to make it ourselves. We had to improvise on one ingredient we couldn’t find at our local grocery store. That’s part of the fun. The end result was a knockoff version we enjoyed that evening. Here’s what it looked like when we finished. Too bad you can’t taste it!

Greek Shrimp Nachos

Not only was making the dish bonding activity, we reminisced about our last stay in Perdido Key. We talked about new friends we made while we were there and plan some things we wanted to do on our next trip.

9. Take a cooking class together

Again, this doesn’t have to be about cooking. It can be painting, drawing, Pottery, woodworking . It really doesn’t matter what the class is about as long as you both enjoy doing it. And, almost every community offers free classes. 

My wife and I once took an art class together. It was a painting class in our community offered by a local artist. I’ve never considered myself an artist in that sense. Before that class I could barely draw a Stickman.

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I realized I actually enjoy painting. I even made two easels show Michelle and I the paint together. It’s certainly not something I do on a regular basis. But we discovered painting is something we both enjoy. And we love taking the class together.

It doesn’t have to be a cooking class. It can be any class you can do together.

One time, my wife and I signed up for an art class that was offered in our area. The cost was minimal, so we decided it would be a great activity for us to explore together. Turns out, we both loved the class. We still have several art pieces we created in our home.

I ended up making an easel for Michelle so she can continue painting. 

10. Hold hands

There are a lot of studies that reveal the importance of physical contact to increase bonding. One simple thing you can do to make sure you stay connected emotionally is by staying connected physically. 

Holding hands is a great way to develop an increase the bond in your relationship.

Final Thoughts

There are many different bonding activities for couples to choose from. Whether it’s something active like hiking or biking together, or something more low-key like cooking a meal together or taking a painting class, the important thing is that you’re spending quality time together and creating new memories.

So get out there and start bonding with your partner!

Summary

  • What is a bonding activity?
  • The importance of bonding for couples
    • 5 Benefits A Strong Bond Produces
  • 10 Cost-Effective Fun Bonding Activities For Couples
    • 1. Go on a double date with another couple
    • 2. Take a dance class together
    • 3. Play a board game (pick a fun one that’s not too competitive)
    • 4. Go on a picnic
    • 5. Take a scenic hike
    • 6. Play tourist for a day in your own city
    • 7. Go stargazing
    • 8. Make homemade pizzas
    • 9. Take a cooking class together
    • 10. Hold hands

What’s Next?

Forging Deep Connections

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  • 5 Things to Test How Connected You Are
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About Joseph Nolan

Joseph is the Editor and Creator of The Healthy Marriage site. A graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, AL with a major in Counseling and Biblical Studies. He is a certified facilitator with Prepare & Enrich.

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