Start your story with one character setting up a romantic dinner, and end it with them looking at a framed wedding photo.

Posted in Romance on Jul 27, 2021

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 181 stories

“A Picture to Burn” by Echo Sulin

Submitted to Contest #81

Ellen’s hands trembled as she tried to flatten the creases on the old white lace tablecloth her mom had gifted her. Apparently, it was a family heirloom, which she had only used once previously and it was already stained with little red splatters, presumably tomato sauce. Her mother should know better than to trust her with anything of value. But tonight was a special occasion, so once again she risked pulling it out, in hopes of making her apartment a little classier than it was on a normal day. A pot of curry boiled on the stove, the smell...

2 comments 2

Read story

“A Royal Love” by Maria Lai

Submitted to Contest #81

"Ok. What's missing?" He asked himself, scrutinising the small round table. His eyes passed from the plates to the cutlery, then the glasses and the flowers. “The flowers.” He thought aloud. “I think it’s better to put them on a side rather than in the centre.” He moved the little vase with the three red roses slightly on a side, and the candle, that he had just lightened up to the centre of the table, then stepped back to check the result. “Yeah, that’s better.” He had pictured this dinner in his mind many times and wanted to reproduce it...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Two Feet On The Ground” by A Power

Submitted to Contest #81

Metallic clatter rang through the air as the cutlery dropped out of Robert’s hands, landing in a lifeless pile on the table. They only took them out, a beloved wedding present, on special occasions. He began arranging them- the silver standing out against the red table cloth. Pushing a scented candle to the centre of the table, his jittery hands made it difficult to light. The flame danced on the end of the matchstick and wavered before it took hold. He hobbled over to the kitchen counter, his legs weary from many years of working on his f...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Confetti hearts ” by Stefanie Pieterse

Submitted to Contest #81

The fork clattered to the floor, the sound reverberating through Jessica’s ears as she leant to pick it up. She placed it back on the table, alongside the colourful confetti hearts she had picked up on her way over to Sam’s house. The sky was getting darker as the sun began to set, leaving a burnt orange glow to filter through the windows. Closing her eyes she let the fading light wash over her as she took a deep breath. He was going to be here soon; he would ring the doorbell soon; she would open the door soon. Soon they would be together –...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Replay! ” by Shreenidhi Ramamurthi

Submitted to Contest #81

His birthday is no less special this year. I see the clock pointing six when I return form the store. I hang my waist coat by the door and quickly place the fragrant flowers that I had just bought, in a transparent vase, half filled with water. I sweep and mob the floor until I feel the jasmine flavoured disinfectant lingering in the air. I had chosen jasmine scent as it is easily distinguishable from other scents, faintly aware that in a few hours I would smell roses. As I check for any unfinished work, I see the windows sneakily let in the...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Through the Picture Glass” by Anna Vaughn

Submitted to Contest #81

It was February 14th, and Rachael was setting a romantic table in preparation for her Valentine’s dinner with her husband. In all the years since they got married, they had yet to miss this special occasion. Never did they go out for a fancy dinner. Instead, Rachael prepared it for them perfectly, year after year. Her thoughts wandered. “I have to make this perfect. Table cloth? Check. Napkins? Check. Salad forks and dinner forks? Check. Steak knives? Check. Oh!” She suddenly realized, “I’ve got to get the potatoes out!” She qu...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Wedding Pictures and Wine Bottles” by Jamea Johnson

Submitted to Contest #81

"Candles? Check. Rose petals? Check. Ring?' Leo looked around frantically. "Shit, where's the ring?! Maya's going to be here in ten minutes and I don't have the ring!" The shrilling of the kitchen's smoke alarm pulled Leo's attention to the kitchen. Smoke billowed from the oven as Leo opened it. The chicken was charred and dry, unsalvageable. Setting the remaining dishes on the table, Leo remembered the most important element that was going to make this night special. He went into his closet, unlocked the safe subtly hidden behind his suits...

7 comments 7

Read story

“Waiting For Her Turn” by ConstipatedGiraffe95 🦒

Submitted to Contest #81

Grace Thatcher worked at a restaurant. A romantic restaurant, to be specific. People came in couples, spending hours at a candlelit table, and most of the time someone proclaimed their great love for the other, ending in tears and celebration. Grace was awfully happy with her job. She was also awfully good at her job. But at her job, she was awfully lonely. You see, she saw smiles and love and romance every day, but she herself had never experienced it. She waited for tables of starry-eyed couples, but she had never been quite starry...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Dinner for Christine” by David Moyer

Submitted to Contest #81

“Remind me again why I’m here? I should be sitting right above the 40-yard line with my war-paint on.” My best friend John had tickets to the Seahawks game tonight, but I had roped him into helping me setup this romantic night instead. “You’re here because you owe me one, and because you love Christine as much as I do, and you know this will make her happy.” John and I had been best friends since the first grade. Even though my family moved around a lot, we stayed i...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Happy Anniversary My Love” by Emma McDonald

Submitted to Contest #81

As Annie gazed out over the darkening street the lamp on the pavement at the end of the garden popped into life. Instinctively, she tilted her head to glance at the last sliver of sun as it disappeared behind the trees at the end of her road. With a smile and sigh of contentment she pulled the blind and turned into the room. It was immaculate. All set for the evening. Their evening. Annie had been hard at it all day long, taken the day off work especially to make it special. That morning she had cleared the clutter then scrubbed, pol...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Starting Over” by Bettina Karpathian

Submitted to Contest #81

Rosalind still didn’t know why she had agreed to come on this date. Date seemed a ridiculous word to use at the age of sixty, but she didn’t know what else to call it. She found herself in a trendy, hipster restaurant, serving organic, locally sourced food. The wait staff were friendly but young enough to be her grandchildren and heavy on tattoos and piercings. Rosalind was glad to be seated in a booth. She’d brought a book in case this Steve didn’t show up. Sipping a glass of wine, she looked around. To her relief, no one was paying an...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Would you still love me today if you knew I would die tomorrow?” by George Puscuta

Submitted to Contest #81

I could never remember where the fork went. It’s just one of those things that you never pay attention to going through life, like the color of one of your neighbors’ car, the way your watch touches your skin, or the feel of the door handle from your apartment complex’s door. But the moment you need to remember that one detail, or the moment something changes: the car is no longer there, the battery runs out on your watch, a screw from the handle loosens up a bit, it’s there, the question immediately pops up. How was it before, what’s change...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Sweet memories.” by Vitoria Melo

Submitted to Contest #81

It had been a sunny day outside, with birds chirping, the sweet and warm breeze of spring waving through crowds of people, the feeling of lightness the season brought. Just like the last time, he felt his world crumbling beneath his feet on this exact day, but only this time he couldn’t afford to break with it, he was alone, and he knew someone depended on him, he had to be strong. He focused on the task at hand, finishing the last touches the place needed. As night set on the horizon it brought a fresh breeze, so different from ho...

1 comment 1

Read story

“Footsteps” by Mike Burgess

Submitted to Contest #81

Lynnette gave the packaging around the gateau on the worktop a little squeeze. Yes, that appeared to be defrosting according to schedule. Something caught her eye through the window, moving across the garden. The fox was back, leaving tracks in the otherwise undisturbed snow as twilight settled over the roofs in the distance.She shuffled a chair out of the way to get to the door on the left-hand side of the dresser. This mighty object arrived when they emptied her grandparents' old place. It was all she had to remember them by. And reme...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Table For Two” by George Davis

Submitted to Contest #81

Table For Two—George Davis Herbert Pillsbury called the Bickford Inn to make reservations for him and his newest girlfriend, Adelaide Norton. She is the prettiest thing ever walk God’s green earth. She’s more beautiful than a basket of good, ripe Maine Blueberries Herbert thought. “Yes, Mr. Pillsbury, we can accommodate your request: dinner for two on Friday the 12th,” Owner and maître D,’ Orrin Welch confirmed the reservation. “Well, Hon, it’s all set. I’m taking you to the Bickford Inn for di...

1 comment 1

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about two people reconnecting after a rough patch in their relationship.

Romance – 247 stories

Write a love story about an older couple who’ve been together since they were teenagers.

Romance – 168 stories

Write about a first date that surprises both people, but in different ways.

Romance – 161 stories

Write about someone asking out an old crush, only to realize their crush doesn’t remember they’ve ever met before.

Romance – 158 stories

Contest #81

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Candy Hearts

$50

Prize money

915

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 19, 2021 EST

Won by Molly Quinnell 🏆

Title: Golden Cheekbones and the Rising Sun

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Start your story with one character setting up a romantic dinner, and end it with them looking at a framed wedding photo.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 181 stories

“A Picture to Burn” by Echo Sulin

“A Royal Love” by Maria Lai

“Two Feet On The Ground” by A Power

“Confetti hearts ” by Stefanie Pieterse

“Replay! ” by Shreenidhi Ramamurthi

“Through the Picture Glass” by Anna Vaughn

“Wedding Pictures and Wine Bottles” by Jamea Johnson

“Waiting For Her Turn” by ConstipatedGiraffe95 🦒

“Dinner for Christine” by David Moyer

“Happy Anniversary My Love” by Emma McDonald

“Starting Over” by Bettina Karpathian

“Would you still love me today if you knew I would die tomorrow?” by George Puscuta

“Sweet memories.” by Vitoria Melo

“Footsteps” by Mike Burgess

“Table For Two” by George Davis

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about two people reconnecting after a rough patch in their relationship.

Write a love story about an older couple who’ve been together since they were teenagers.

Write about a first date that surprises both people, but in different ways.

Write about someone asking out an old crush, only to realize their crush doesn’t remember they’ve ever met before.

Contest #81

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

915

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: