When the second week of February rolls round annually, Adam and I inevitably take a look at one another just a little bewildered and ask, “So… what should we do for Valentine’s Day?” Many of the conventional concepts can really feel just a little tacky (to not point out overpriced), so I’m at all times on the hunt for distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts that also really feel romantic and particular.
I keep in mind the primary yr we celebrated Valentine’s Day as a pair. We cooked a very fancy dinner at Adam’s place, full with steak and chocolate soufflés. It was so memorable that we’ve tried to do one thing exterior the field yearly since. Whether or not you’re coupled up or single, preserve scrolling for 41 distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts that can guarantee your vacation is definitely enjoyable, with no clichés in sight.
41 Distinctive Valentine’s Day Concepts to Strive This Yr
1. Go to a drive-in live performance. Bonus factors for dressing up and bringing your individual garden chairs and snacks.
2. Display a romantic film. Create a non-public theater at residence full with a projector—and naturally, all of the snacks. Simply add popcorn, Raisinets, and two pairs of cozy socks.
3. Go curler skating. Or ice skating. The objective right here is to channel your favourite hand-holding scene in nearly each traditional rom-com.
4. Host a karaoke night time in your lounge. This personally feels like my imaginative and prescient of hell, however I do know it’s proper up a few of your alleys. Plus, if you happen to had been born with the voice of an angel, this might be an amazing technique for making them fall in love with you on the spot.
5. Take an early morning hike to look at the dawn. I do know, I do know—sounds sort of painful. However there’s nothing extra magical than watching the solar come up. Plus, getting up that early to interrupt a sweat is a complete bonding expertise.
6. Take a digital cooking class. Bonding over pots of marinara and pans of tiramisu? Signal me up! On the subject of distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts, meals is at all times a good suggestion.
7. Put collectively care packages for the homeless. Stuff paper baggage or shoe bins with meals, water, socks, hand wipes, and so on., and preserve them in your automobile for the following time you drive previous somebody in want. It’s fairly cool to see your S.O. serving others and dedicating their free time to a worthy trigger. You’ll doubtless fall in love with one another another time.
8. Host an at-home artwork night time. Whether or not this implies sketching in an grownup coloring ebook, making a collage of your favourite photographs collectively, or streaming a documentary, it’s positive to get your artistic juices flowing.
9. Schedule a tasting at a vineyard or brewery. There’s nothing higher than a visit to your favourite spot. Or, if you’d like a extra low-key expertise at residence, purchase three bottles of wine: one that’s $25, one that’s $15, and one that’s $10. Cowl the bottles in foil and blend them round, then attempt to guess which is which! It’s fairly shocking generally.
10. Decide up your favourite take-out and drive to a scenic location for stargazing. When was the final time you and your S.O. seemed on the stars collectively? There’s one thing about gazing on the nighttime sky that reminds us of the vastness of the universe—and the way fortunate you’re to have discovered one another in it.
11. Camp it up. Whereas a get-lost-in-the-woods date could be simply the journey many people are searching for, there are others who’d somewhat camp out in the lounge. Whether or not you had been a scout in a previous life or have by no means spent an evening within the nice outside, there are many methods to tailor this date for a magical night (hiya, glamping). Simply don’t neglect the marshmallows.
12. Take a digital dance class. Try YouTube instructors that provide salsa or swing instruction. Good your dance strikes for the following time you go to a marriage or a rustic bar.
13. Recreate your first date. For Adam and me, this might contain a dive-y Chinese language restaurant, Peking Duck, and one too many glasses of chardonnay. In the event you’ve been collectively a very long time, you’ll undoubtedly have enjoyable laughing about these early days, and it could even be a worthwhile reminder of why you fell so deeply in love within the first place. Be artistic about methods to recreate your dates at residence! Decide up takeout from the restaurant, dim the lights, use tablecloths, or any distinctive features {that a} particular restaurant has.
14. Take a “staycation” at a favourite native resort. I feel each couple ought to splurge every so often and spend the night time away, even when a full-blown trip isn’t within the playing cards. Order room service, watch a film, soar within the sizzling tub, and sleep in.
15. Pack a picnic and bike experience to someplace particular collectively. There’s something so particular about using bikes collectively to a particular spot to take pleasure in a picnic collectively. Pack your favourite cheeses with dips and snacks in a picnic basket—don’t neglect the bottle of wine!
16. Make breakfast in mattress. Nothing beats feeding one another bites of pancakes when you’re snuggled underneath the covers. Whether or not you need one thing wholesome and vibrant or are craving your favourite consolation meals (once more, pancakes), so long as you’re getting within the kitchen collectively and sharing a meal, you actually can’t go improper with this date.
17. Journey by practice. This concept is perhaps just a little extra concerned, however it’s nothing just a little planning can’t make occur. Prepare journey helps you to soak up your surrounding sights in probably the most stress-free means doable. You don’t even need to set out with a particular vacation spot in thoughts—it’s all concerning the journey.
18. Theme your date night time. Date nights are nice and all, however if you heart it round a particular theme, you may immerse your self in an entire new expertise. And, in fact, nothing says romance like just a little jaunt to France. Need all of the Parisian vibes with out having to get on a airplane? Make a playlist of all of your favourite French music, plan a French-ified menu, and remodel your eating room into the chicest French restaurant, regardless of the place you’re.
19. Make a imaginative and prescient board. Sharing your goals and setting the muse for future plans to come back is the final word solution to join. You’ll be able to every create your individual imaginative and prescient board or collaborate on one collectively. It’s a enjoyable and galvanizing course of and may information conversations for what you every need for yourselves and your shared objectives as a pair. For steps on methods to get began, try our information to imaginative and prescient boarding.
20. Ask questions designed to construct intimacy. These 50 questions are designed to assist deepen your relationship. Belief us, you’ll spend all night time reflecting on them.
21. Discover a neighborhood bookstore. You don’t need to be a bookworm for this to be a best-ever date (though, bonus factors in case you are). Head out and browse the stacks! Choose a learn for your self or decide one on your associate. If you get residence, curl up on the sofa and skim side-by-side. Nothing like just a little literature to set the temper.
22. Learn your favourite “Modern Love” tales. Who else skims Sunday’s Model part for these vignettes of real-life romance and heartbreak? In the event you’re already a fan, assist your associate get on board. Decide an essay from the archives and take turns studying them to one another. You’ll get a glimpse right into a life not like your individual, as every story is a window into distinctive views on, and experiences with, love.
23. Get aggressive. Sport night time anybody? Care to problem your S.O. to a spherical of tennis? No matter your competitors of alternative, gear up! There’s nothing like just a little wholesome competitors to get the sparks flying.
24. Bake a brand new recipe collectively. PSA: Valentine’s Day dessert doesn’t need to contain chocolate. In truth, a few of the greatest draw upon distinctive flavors and intelligent spins on classics. That is a type of distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts with countless potentialities.
25. Recreate one another’s favourite cocktails/mocktails. Even if you happen to don’t take into account your self a mixologist, you may have just a little enjoyable getting artistic at your house bar. Ask (or guess!) one another’s favourite drinks and make them at residence. It’s a form gesture that can make them—and also you—really feel seen in your tastes and preferences.
26. Play Esther Perel’s dialog sport, “Where Should We Begin?” With prompts like “Share something that’s changed your worldview” and questions that ask you to share what’s been preserving you up at night time, belief that there’s no holding again. Get your copy right here.
27. Write a letter to your S.O. for them to open subsequent yr. Who wouldn’t love receiving a letter that took you again to the place your relationship was the yr prior? Replicate in your emotions, ideas, and what you’re keen on most about them on this second. It’s a touching gesture and one that you just’re each more likely to preserve saved in your dressers perpetually.
28. Discover out one another’s enneagram. In the event you haven’t heard, intentional persona assessments are again. (Key phrase being “intentional”—there’s nothing hokey about them.) Discovering one another’s enneagrams is an eye-opening solution to dive deeper into what makes your associate tick. Study all concerning the enneagram—and what it says about your persona.
29. … or uncover your love languages. In the event you haven’t performed a deep dive but, understanding the love languages (and understanding which greatest describes you and your associate) supplies perception into the way you every give and obtain love. Seek the advice of our information to all of the love languages.
30. Strive your hand at pottery. This could be a enjoyable (and generally messy) solution to get to know your S.O. and categorical yourselves in a non-conventional means. Plus, air-dry clay is cheap and makes for a enjoyable at-home expertise.
31. Take pleasure in a {couples} therapeutic massage. Everybody comes out of this exercise successful. A therapeutic massage additionally received’t occupy your whole day, however you’re positive to really feel your greatest after! *We’re obsessive about the therapies at Milk + Honey spa. They’ve a number of places in Austin and across the nation, and you should utilize code CAMILLE15 if you ebook to get 15% off any remedy.*
32. Scrapbook. Taking a stroll down reminiscence lane is at all times a good way to reconnect on Valentine’s day. Begin a scrapbook with any photos you’ve mendacity round, or print some beforehand and get cozy.
33. Watch (or go to) a comedy present. What’s higher than laughing till your abdomen hurts? Comedy exhibits are an amazing dialog starter, and also you’ll you’ll want to come out of it with a smile.
34. Get exterior. Even merely taking a stroll across the neighborhood or strolling your furry good friend could be a good way to spend high quality time collectively. Bonus factors if you happen to preserve your telephones off.
35. Go to someplace new. It doesn’t need to be a cross-country journey, however driving 30+ minutes could be a good way to expertise some novelty. Perhaps you discover your new favourite espresso store or a neighborhood boutique. Both means, this journey falls into the class of distinctive Valentine’s Day concepts that received’t go away you bored.
36. Have a rock, paper, scissors night time. This pattern originated on TikTok and entails you enjoying rock, paper, scissors to determine the occasions of the night. Whoever wins will get to decide on the following cease, and the sport can go on for as many locations as you’d like to go to.
37. Have an at-home spa night time. A spa of any form is a good way to loosen up and really feel rejuvenated along with your associate. Whip out that gua sha that’s been gathering mud and prep for just a little zen.
38. Catch a theater efficiency or ballet. In the event you’re into the humanities, examine your native theaters for performances on or round Valentine’s Day.
39. Study a brand new talent. Pickleball continues to be trending—why not give it a strive as a singular Valentine’s Day concept? In the event you’re not feeling sporty, decide one thing you and your associate have at all times wished to dabble in and spend the day attempting it.
40. Do the factor that introduced you collectively. Did your first date contain aggressive mini-golfing? Or perhaps it was cooking at residence. Wherever the spark originated, spend Valentine’s Day reconnecting by doing precisely that.
41. Take an expensive journey. Certain, some years, we preserve the vacation informal. Others? We prefer to lean into just a little luxurious. I’ve heard superb issues about Kohler Village in Wisconsin, and this yr, they’re embracing the theme of indulgence with their Celebration of Chocolate. E book a keep for you and your S.O. and luxuriate in all the pieces from ice skating to curated wine pairings to sure—loads of chocolate.
42. Cook dinner dinner at residence: Shock them with a curated dinner of all their favourite issues. In the event you actually wish to elevate the expertise, create customized menus and a attractive desk.
43. Ship a particular supply to their workplace: Add a cryptic shock about plans for the night.
43. Write “Things I Love About You” Notes: Write ’em down and conceal them all through the day—their lunch, cellular phone charger, and so on.
44. Body one thing sudden: Are you a pair that collects matchbooks, receipts from a primary date, live performance tickets, photographs, or menus? Body one thing out of your favourite time along with your associate and shock them.
45. Write your associate a poem: Slide it into their work bag as a shock or give it to them in particular person.
46. Do some random acts of kindness collectively: Purchase a dozen roses and go away them on individuals’s windshields, or pop right into a espresso store and pre-buy coffees to make somebody’s day.
47. Strive a workshop collectively: Time to step exterior your consolation zone and check out one thing new? Make candles, take a rustic line dance class, or discover a cooking class for enjoyable.
48. Make a scavenger hunt: Channel your creativity and make this uniquely about your relationship – clues on the place you had your first date, your first kiss, something that speaks to you as a pair.
49. Plan a shock night date: Every of you has to plan one portion of the night. For example, you are taking the place to ebook dinner and your associate plans the after-dinner plans.
50. Go bowling and seize a no-reservations dinner: Decide a enjoyable spot on the town that doesn’t take reservations or affords a elaborate pre-fixe and exit for a night of Bowling and Dinner.
