29 Surprising Valentine’s Day Date Concepts to Make Your S.O. Smile

When the second week of February rolls round every year, Adam and I inevitably have a look at one another a bit bewildered and ask “So… what ought to we do for Valentine’s Day?” Many of the conventional concepts can really feel a bit tacky (to not point out overpriced), so I’m all the time on the hunt for surprising Valentine’s Day date concepts that may nonetheless really feel romantic and particular.

I bear in mind the primary 12 months we celebrated Valentine’s Day as a pair, we cooked a very fancy dinner at Adam’s place full with steak and chocolate soufflés, and 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, hold scrolling for 29 distinctive concepts that may guarantee your Valentine’s Day is definitely enjoyable, with no clichés in sight.

Featured picture of Rebekah Peppler’s Parisian feast by Joann Pai.

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Picture by Michelle Nash

29 Distinctive Valentine’s Day Date Concepts to Strive This Yr

1. Discover and go to a drive-in live performance. Bonus factors for dressing up and bringing your personal garden chairs and snacks.

2. Create a personal movie show in your home with a projector and display a romantic film. 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 basic rom-com.

4. Host a karaoke night time in your front room. This personally appears like my imaginative and prescient of hell, however I do know it’s proper up a few of your alleys. Plus, when you have been born with the voice of an angel, this could possibly be a terrific technique for making them fall in love with you on the spot. If you wish to be tremendous skilled with it, try this Wi-fi Bluetooth Karaoke Mic.

5. Take an early morning hike to observe the dawn. I do know, I do know—sounds form 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.

woman holding fresh produce, Valentine's Day date ideas — *Picture by Belathée Images*

6. Take a digital cooking class. Bonding over pots of marinara and pans of tiramisu? Signal me up!

7. Put collectively care packages for the homeless. Stuff paper baggage or shoe containers with meals, water, socks, hand wipes, and so on. and hold them in your automobiles for the following time you drive previous somebody in want. It’s fairly cool to see your S.O. serving others and sacrificing their free time for a worthy trigger. You’ll possible fall in love with one another over again.

8. Host an at-home artwork night time. Whether or not this implies sketching in an grownup coloring e book, making a collage of your favourite photographs collectively, or streaming an artist’s documentary, get your artistic juices flowing.

9. Schedule a tasting at a vineyard or brewery. Whereas we did this nearly throughout the pandemic, there’s nothing higher than taking an tour to your favourite spots. Or, in order for you 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 typically.

10. Choose up your favourite take-out and drive to a scenic location for stargazing. When was the final time you and your S.O. actually appeared on the stars collectively? There’s one thing about gazing on the nighttime sky that’s such a reminder of the vastness of the universe—and the way fortunate you’re to have discovered one another in it.

flower market, Valentine's Day date ideas — *Picture by Michelle Nash*

11. Take a “staycation” at a favourite native lodge. I feel each couple ought to splurge on occasion 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 scorching tub, and sleep in.

12. Take a digital dance class. Take a look at YouTube instructors that supply salsa or swing instruction. Excellent 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. For those who’ve been collectively a very long time, you’ll undoubtedly have enjoyable laughing about these early days, and it might even be a beneficial reminder of why you fell so deeply in love within the first place. Be artistic about tips on how to recreate your dates at residence! Choose up takeout from the restaurant, dim the lights, use tablecloths, or any distinctive facets {that a} particular restaurant has.

cake picnic, Valentine's Day date ideas — *Picture by Belathée Images*

14. Pack a picnic and bike trip to someplace particular collectively. There’s something so particular about using bikes collectively to a particular spot to bask in a picnic collectively. Pack your favourite cheeses with dips and snacks in a picnic basket—don’t overlook the bottle of wine!

15. Discover an area bookstore. You don’t must 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 choose one in your associate. Whenever you get residence, curl up on the sofa and browse side-by-side. Nothing like a bit literature to set the temper.

16. Make breakfast in mattress. Nothing beats feeding one another bites of pancakes when you’re snuggled below 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 incorrect with this date.

17. Journey by prepare. This concept may be a bit extra concerned, but it surely’s nothing a bit planning can’t make occur. Prepare journey enables you to absorb your surrounding sights in probably the most stress-free means doable. You don’t even must set out with a particular vacation spot in thoughts—it’s all concerning the journey.

woman cooking in kitchen — *Picture by Christie Graham*

18. Theme your date night time. Date nights are nice and all, however if you middle it round a particular theme, you possibly can immerse your self in an entire new expertise. And naturally, nothing says romance like a bit 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 out a French-ified menu, and rework your eating room into the chicest French restaurant, irrespective of the place you’re.

19. Make a imaginative and prescient board. Sharing your desires and setting the inspiration for future plans to return is the final word method to join. You possibly can every create your personal imaginative and prescient board or collaborate on one collectively. It’s a enjoyable and provoking course of, and might information conversations for what you every need for yourselves and your shared objectives as a pair. For steps on tips on how to get began, try our information to imaginative and prescient boarding.

20. Camp it up. Whereas a get-lost-in-the-woods date will be simply the journey many people are on the lookout for, there are others who’d somewhat camp out in the lounge. Whether or not you have been a scout in a previous life or have by no means spent an evening within the nice open air, there are many methods to tailor this date for a magical night (hey, glamping). Simply don’t overlook the marshmallows.

champagne glasses, Valentine's Day date ideas — *Picture by Michelle Nash*

21. Ask questions designed to construct intimacy. This checklist of 32 questions was written particularly to assist deepen your relationship. As a result of because the creator, Nihel, writes: “With the appropriate mindset, intention, and questions, setting apart these particular moments can deepen your love and convey a recent and renewed perspective to your relationship.”

22. Learn your favourite “Fashionable Love” tales. Who else skims the Sunday paper’s ‘Model’ part for these vignettes of real-life romance and heartbreak? For those who’re already a fan, assist your associate get on board. Choose an essay from their archives and take turns studying them aloud to one another. You’ll get a glimpse right into a life not like your personal, 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, choose it and equipment up! There’s nothing like a bit wholesome competitors to set the sparks flying.

24. Bake a brand new recipe collectively. PSA: Valentine’s Day dessert doesn’t must contain chocolate. In reality, among the greatest draw upon distinctive flavors and intelligent spins on classics. The Kitchn has you coated with its checklist of 40+ scrumptious desserts.

25. Recreate one another’s favourite cocktails/mocktails. Even when you don’t take into account your self a mixologist, you possibly can have a bit enjoyable getting artistic at your own home bar. Ask (or guess!) one another’s favourite drinks and make them at residence. It’s a sort gesture that may make them—and also you—really feel seen in your tastes and preferences.

couple kissing — *Picture by Michelle Nash*

26. Play Esther Perel’s dialog recreation, “The place Ought to We Start?” We counted down the times till the famed psychotherapist launched her dialog deck. With prompts like “Share one thing that’s modified your worldview” and questions that ask you to share what’s been holding you up at night time, belief that there’s no holding again. Choose up your copy right here.

27. Write a letter to your S.O. for them to open subsequent 12 months. Who wouldn’t love receiving a letter that took you again to the place your relationship was the 12 months prior? Replicate in your emotions, ideas, and what you like most about them on this second. It’s a touching gesture and one that you simply’re each prone to hold saved in your dressers ceaselessly.

28. Discover out one another’s enneagram. For those who 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 method to dive deeper into what makes your associate tick. Study extra concerning the enneagram—and what it says about your persona—right here.

29. … or uncover your love languages. For those who haven’t executed a deep dive but, understanding the love languages (and realizing which greatest describes you and your associate) sheds perception into you every give and obtain love. We share all the things it’s worthwhile to learn about love languages right here.

This put up was initially revealed on February 9, 2020, and has since been up to date.