diff --git a/RETableViewManager/Cells/RETableViewDateTimeCell.m b/RETableViewManager/Cells/RETableViewDateTimeCell.m
index 3946941..fb37920 100644
--- a/RETableViewManager/Cells/RETableViewDateTimeCell.m
+++ b/RETableViewManager/Cells/RETableViewDateTimeCell.m
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
 {
     self.textLabel.text = self.item.title.length == 0 ? @" " : self.item.title;
     self.textField.inputView = self.datePicker;
-    self.datePicker.date = self.item.value ? self.item.value : [NSDate date];
+    self.datePicker.date = self.item.value ? self.item.value : (self.item.pickerStartDate ? self.item.pickerStartDate : [NSDate date]);
     self.datePicker.datePickerMode = self.item.datePickerMode;
     self.datePicker.locale = self.item.locale;
     self.datePicker.calendar = self.item.calendar;
diff --git a/RETableViewManager/Items/REDateTimeItem.h b/RETableViewManager/Items/REDateTimeItem.h
index 56c7a57..ecfb2a4 100644
--- a/RETableViewManager/Items/REDateTimeItem.h
+++ b/RETableViewManager/Items/REDateTimeItem.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 @interface REDateTimeItem : RETableViewItem
 
 @property (strong, readwrite, nonatomic) NSDate *value;
+@property (strong, readwrite, nonatomic) NSDate *pickerStartDate;         // date to be used for the picker when the value is not set; defaults to current date when not specified
 @property (copy, readwrite, nonatomic) NSString *placeholder;
 @property (strong, readwrite, nonatomic) NSString *format;
 @property (assign, readwrite, nonatomic) UIDatePickerMode datePickerMode; // default is UIDatePickerModeDateAndTime