Love is in the air, or shall I say EVERYWHERE. It is inevitable as the world suddenly turns red. Every business has a special red area that caters to the romantics trying to craft a memorable experience this love season. As we get closer to Valentine’s Day, I will share things about the love holiday and how to make it count for yourself or a loved one. From thoughtful gifts to date ideas and understanding the heartfelt desires of your special someone, this guide will give you a picture on how to go about celebrating Valentine’s Day this year.
Valentine’s Day has a long history of celebrating love. It’s like an ageless thread in the story of time, weaving tales of love and commitment that have lasted for generations. According to the National Retail Federation, in 2022, Americans spent a staggering $22.8 billion on Valentine’s Day celebrations. And on average, an individual spent around $177 on gifts, dining, and other romantic endeavors. As you can see, Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that gets everyone on our toes, whether you are single or with a special someone.
DECODING VALENTINE’S DESIRES
But HOW do we know what our loved ones want for Valentine’s Day? It is this ambiguous topic that stirs every emotions of almost everyone. Some go BIG and ALL OUT, others forget and businesses are busy pushing their products as gifts to the clueless people who don’t even know where to begin.
But before we even go with gift ideas, let’s first determine what your special someone wants, not the material aspect but deeper. It is best to know how your partner would like to receive and vice versa. I have written a blog post about different Love Languages. Read it first and determine what your love language and what your partner’s are. Why is it important to know each of your love languages? It is easier to know how to go about your Valentine’s present, whether it be in terms of quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, or receiving gifts. You WILL know that the gift you chose is something your partner WILL appreciate. That extra will take out the guesswork and save each other from disappointment.
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT IDEAS
The most common Valentine’s Day gifts include flowers, chocolates, and jewelry, with the floral industry seeing a significant surge in sales during this period. Approximately 53% of women admit they would end their relationship if they did not receive a gift on Valentine’s Day, highlighting the importance of thoughtful gestures. As a woman myself, let me share some ideas of what you can get for her this Valentine’s Day.
For the ladies like me, whose love language is Acts of Service, any gesture that will make my life easier is the best. Whether it be cooking, keeping the house, or any form of service that’ll make one feel good (iykyk). For our ladies whose love language is words of affirmation, a simple (and often) I love you coupled with sincere compliments should be sufficient. For the physical touch girlies, you know that already, a kiss, cuddle, or good sex will send them off. For ladies who have quality time as their love language, any time allotted for bonding is the best, whether it be a weekend getaway where you can focus on both of you or as simple as a massage/wellness treat. Lastly, girlies with gifts as their love language are not simply getting them gifts, they would want to receive something that is well thought out and resonates with how well you know them.
Now for our gentlemen, the love language guide is something that can help you pick out what your man will surely appreciate. It is quite simple as the expectations are a bit low. Traditionally, flowers are not the norm, but something that refers to their hobbies should be good. I can say that our gentlemen like physical touch and quality time in any shape or form that’ll get them undivided attention.
DATE IDEAS
Social media plays a substantial role in Valentine’s Day celebrations, with couples sharing their romantic moments online. In 2022, it was estimated that over 50 million Instagram posts were dedicated to Valentine’s Day. I believe that there should be communication on how you want to spend Valentine’s Day together. Yes, surprises are romantic but most of the time goes wrong and lead to disappointments especially when expectations are not properly communicated.
Whether it be budget-friendly dates like a picnic in the park or ordering takeout and watching Netflix or unique dates like hot air balloon rides, the main point of dates is spending quality time with your loved ones bonding, and getting to know each other on a different level.
I hope this blog post gave you an introspective on how you can better plan for Valentine’s Day. This guide may not be as black-and-white as other posts that list ideas on what you can do on Valentine’s Day, rather it makes you look deeper within to deliver a well-meaning idea that will better suit each one of you.
As you prepare for Valentine’s Day, use this guide to create a celebration filled with love and special moments. Share your tips, experiences, and favorite traditions in the comments below. Let’s make this Valentine’s Day a collective journey of love and shared memories.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
