In the movie “Date Night,” Steve Carell and Tina Fey play a married couple who try to shake up their weekly date-night routine and end up being shaken up (and shaken down) by mobsters.
Organizers of Chattanooga’s Great Date Night, taking place Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Chattanooga Convention Center, hope to bring a decidedly less explosive spark to an evening dedicated to couples, both married and dating.
“It’s a fun, interactive event for couples to come out and rediscover what it really means to have a date night,” said Andrea Perry of First Things First, a nonprofit family advocacy group.
“For a lot of married couples, especially the ones who have children, they get into a routine and they kind of lose the momentum and the fun of dating a spouse, which is what they did before they got married,” Perry said.
The goal of the free event is to encourage couples in their relationships, while providing entertainment. Danny Cahill, season 8 winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” will speak about his journey and the effect it had on his marriage. Singer/songwriter Michael O’Brien and former NFL player Jeff Kemp also will appear, in addition to several other guests. Couples will have the opportunity to win door prizes. Each will receive a goody bag with “things to encourage them in their relationship,” Perry said.
First Things First is pairing with Chick-fil-A to bring Great Date Night to Chattanooga. Chick-fil-A also oversees the WinShape Foundation, dedicated to strengthening families and marriages. WinShape sponsors marital retreats for couples to reconnect and spend quality time together, as well as marital boot camp and a Mediterranean marriage enrichment cruise.
Great Date Night offers the same philosophies, on a smaller, more convenient scale. The event will kick off smaller date nights in October, at Chick-fil-A
“It’s a night dedicated solely to couples, all about couples and building up their relationships,” said Perry. “You’re not out there by yourself, no matter where you are, no matter what stage you’re in your relationship, there is something for you to gain, and to learn and to build on.”
Contact Holly Leber at hleber@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6391. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/hollyleber.