Whether you love this holiday or not, there are always benefits to spending time with your beloved. Of course, Valentine’s Day can be quite cliche; restaurants are bursting at the seams and can be shamefully overpriced, and sometimes the romance can be lost in all of the hustle and bustle of the Valentine’s hype.

So perhaps, you need some original ideas to spark your excitement…a little bit of out of the box date night inspiration. Valentine’s Day can be something more than just a fancy dinner, roses and chocolates.  It should be a moment spent between the two of you, immersed in your devotion to one another.  So if take out and binge watching is more your jam, then we say go for it.  Add special touches to make it feel like a holiday, but don’t ever feel like you have to overdo it just to keep up with the Joneses.

Cooking Together

If you want to stay out of a restaurant but still want to eat and indulge, we have some options for you that should spark your fancy.  Whether you prepare a candlelight homemade dinner together, have some fun preparing a themed dinner night or take a cooking masterclass; cooking together creates magic in the kitchen and sparks romance.  Some of the best dates are those that focus on quality time over luxury … so if staying at home and cooking is more your speed, then go for it.  However, if luxury is your ideal way to celebrate you can take this concept and elevate it by having a private dining experience, hire a private chef and have them prepare a gourmet meal for you in the comfort of your own home…want a deeper connection, make it an indoor candlelit picnic offering a dash of romance and coziness.

Plan a Staycation

We all long for an incredible travel experience…however, time constraints and budget don’t always allow for us to just jetset to some tropical locale for a Valentine’s celebration. You can still reclaim the need for holiday by planning a staycation.  Find your local favorite hotel, or a spot in a city nearby (no travel required) and take advantage of “getting away”. Being a tourist so close to home is a great way to spend time together and explore a location that is only steps away from your comfort zone.  Try new restaurants, check out the local hot spots and unwind from your usual busy life.

Relax and Unwind

A spa day is always a good idea.  Whether you want to elevate it and make it an entire day of couples self care, or just do a couple’s massage…the choice is yours. Find a local spa or make it an entire spa weekend somewhere special.  Depending on your time and budget, this date has the potential to become a short little getaway you both crave. A little bit of pampering may be just what you need to take a break from your busy lives, after all a couple’s spa day ranks as one of the best gifts for partners with active and somewhat hectic schedules. 

Get Creative

Satiate your crafting bug with a “creative” date night. An art class offers a perfect mix of fun and romance for Valentine’s Day. Whether you create matching works of art or fuel your own inner artist, getting messy and playful while doing it will create some longlasting memories. Collaborating on a piece of art that symbolizes your love is a great way to secure a sentimental keepsake from your out of the box Valentine’s experience.

Take a Dance Class

Whether it is salsa, ballroom dancing or line dancing; a night together learning some new dance moves is sure to bring the laughs and deliver the closeness.  Dancing definitely has the romance factor, but learning a new skill is also a surefire way to find out even more about each other.  Creating new talents together is sweet and, bonus, maybe you will find a new hobby together!

Wine Tasting and Pairing

A wine tasting date will bring romance and class to your Valentine’s Day. If you have local wineries, make a day out of it, complete with all the charcuterie your heart could imagine.  If you desire something a little more intentional, head out to a restaurant that does wine tasting and pairing. Occasionally French restaurants will do a pairing event where you choose your dinner and they help you pair the wine, giving you  various options to taste. The staff will explain the wine’s story and flavor notes as you sip.  So if you have an appetite for a fun learning experience that sparks some great conversation between the two of you, this can be just the date for you.

Stargazing

Of course the idea of spending a night out under the stars with your love is great for those of us who live in a climate that allows for this in the dead of February.  However, for those of us who are still braving the winter, we have the perfect way to mimic a night of stargazing while also staying warm. Build a cozy blanket fort and enjoy some indoor stargazing, combining comfort and romance for a perfect night in. Use twinkle lights inside your fort for a magical starry effect. Bring some blankets, sweet snacks and champagne for an extra cozy and whimsical touch.

Classic Valentine’s dates will never go out of style, but spicing it up a bit with some out of the box ideas is always a nice twist.  A good Valentine’s date idea balances romance and personal interest.  So think about what spark’s your fancy and go with it. Valentine’s Day should be about nurturing your relationship and your devotion to one another.

Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 10 years, keeping the love alive between the two of you is so important.  So if you are looking for ways to keep that flame burning, take a look at our blog, Keeping the Love Alive While Planning Your Wedding.