It’s no secret that Valentine’s Day can be a bit of a drag for long-term couples. It's an overhyped holiday that often increases prices and not-so-exciting gifts. But there are ways to keep romance alive in your relationship! Here are four ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day with your partner:
Make your relationship a priority.
One of the most common mistakes couples make is taking each other for granted. You know what I mean: you’re so busy with work, your kids, and all the other things you have going on in your life that it starts to feel like you can’t find time to have sex—let alone talk about how much fun you had last night. But if you want to keep your relationship fresh and exciting, then both partners must prioritize their partner above everything else.
That doesn't mean ignoring everything else in your life; it just means making sure that those things happen first when it's time for an adult conversation or a night out without the kids (or without friends). Even if this means skipping happy hour because there are dishes in the sink or telling mom she has to do her laundry for once (and not only because yours would cost more), this sacrifice will pay off in spades when Valentine's Day rolls around.
Choose romantic places to visit.
Choosing romantic places to visit is a great way to keep things fresh.
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Choose a place you and your partner have never been before and make it your first date.
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Choose a place with special meaning for both of you, like the park where you met or the restaurant where you had your first date.
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Choose a place that isn’t too far away from home in case things get awkward or uncomfortable out at dinner—you don’t want your first night back together after being apart for three weeks to be ruined by lack of transportation!
Make a date night.
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Schedule a date night.
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Choose a place to go.
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Make plans for what you will do on the date--this can be as simple as going for dinner or watching a movie at home. Still, you must have something planned so that neither of you has an excuse to avoid planning anything because “it’s too last minute” or “we just don't have time in our schedules this week."
Arrange for an activity that both you and your partner love to do.
If you and your partner have been together for a long time, it's easy to fall into a routine. But that doesn't mean you can't shake things up from time to time. For example, if your partner loves museums and you're more outdoors, why not try going to the zoo instead? Or if he or she prefers attending concerts while you like picnics in the park, how about combining both activities at a concert followed by dinner at your favorite outdoor spot?
The goal here is to have fun together and create new memories that will last for years to come. You could even plan something as simple as walking in the park or going on an afternoon bike ride around town. The important thing is that these activities are unique enough that they don't happen all too often (and therefore become routine).
Pull out those old photos from the honeymoon phase of your relationship, and look at them together.
Take out your old photos from the honeymoon phase of your relationship, and look at them together. It can be fun to see how much you’ve changed over time! Use these pictures as a prompt for reminiscing about how you felt when you took them or talk about how your relationship has changed over time. You may also be surprised by what stands out to each of you in this photo album!
Create an old-school Valentine's Day tradition if this is a new one for you.
If you're looking to get back in touch with the Valentine's Day romance of yesteryear, consider making an effort to create your own traditions. A few ideas:
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Make a special dinner. Make sure it's something he or she loves and can't get anywhere else—no one wants their partner to feel like they're eating food they'd rather not eat just because it's "a holiday."
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Have a special dessert. Going out for ice cream is nice, but if you want something really sweet this year, bake some cookies together and pour some milk into glasses from old-fashioned mason jars (or whatever else makes sense for your kitchen). It'll be fun!
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Write each other cards instead of giving gifts. If you're feeling creative, use calligraphy pens and have fun writing each other sonnets on beautiful paper; otherwise, write what's in your heart on regular notebook pages that you then fold up into little notes and slip under pillows at night so they wake up early enough in the morning to see them before they go off to work/school/etcetera (and maybe even say "I love you" before going). Send one every day leading up until V-Day!
If you want to keep things fresh in your relationship, check out some ideas for fun dates, trips, and fun activities with your partner.
If you want to keep things fresh in your relationship, check out some ideas for fun dates, trips, and fun activities with your partner.
Remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t just about celebrating love—it’s also an opportunity to have fun with each other! You don’t need a special occasion or holiday to be romantic; every day is a chance to show your partner how much they mean to you.
Here are some ways couples can make their Valentine's Day date special:
It’s great to be married to someone you love, but it can also be easy to fall into a routine with your partner. The key is to make sure that you keep things fresh and exciting. If your relationship has been going strong for a while now, Valentine’s Day could be the perfect time for fun activities with your partner. We hope that these ideas help you plan out a fantastic day together!