Stumped about how to stage the perfect Valentine’s Day celebration? Worry no more. There are countless ways to revitalize the excitement you and your spouse felt during your first time celebrating together. Ditch the tired routine of dinner and a movie and bring on the romance with a fresh take on how to revive the day. Here are three nontraditional ways to make your Valentine’s Day fun and memorable.
Make Something
If you and your partner are the hands-on type, why not make something together? Handmade treats are a tangible show of care. By investing your own time and effort to create an end product, every creative decision you make further personalizes the outcome. You and your spouse will be grateful for the beauty of the process and proud of the love that went into every detail.
Try:
- Cooking: Make dinner, pack a picnic or bake something sweet.Self-expression: Think art, music, dance or poetry.
- Wearable creations: make or design jewelry or sew an article of clothing together
Laugh Together
Laughter is good for the soul (and your union). Life is full of plenty of serious, somber moments – your date night shouldn’t be one of them. Lighten up! There’s nothing better than spending Valentine’s Day doubling over in laughter. First, think about your spouse’s particular brand of humor, then find an event or activity that fits the bill.
Here are some possibilities:
- A comedy or improv show.
- A comedy movie (or show) marathon at home.
- Game night (remember that the competition should be more fun than competitive).
Focus on Others
If traditional romance isn’t your cup of tea, consider stepping outside of the box. Valentine’s Day is all about love, but there’s no rule that requires you to limit it to your spouse. Instead, go out and spread love as a united team. Think of what you can do to make someone else feel tended to and cared for. On the surface, it may appear that such an act diverts your attention away from your spouse and places focus on someone else. But look a little deeper and you’ll see that philanthropy, community service and spousal mentorship all rely on teamwork. What better way to celebrate your love than by showing how well you work together as a loving couple?
Ideas:
- Donate time: Pick a foundation like the Humane Society or the Children’s Hospital and spread some cheer
- Donate money: Spend the day researching worthy causes and charities
- Mentor another couple: Record a podcast, write a social media post full of marital wisdom or schedule an in-person mentorship session with a young couple.
Valentine’s Day gives couples an excuse to be extra sweet. But when in a long term relationship, finding new ways to celebrate your love can be taxing. After years together, you’ve most likely checked many romantic date and gift ideas off your list. However, making your quality time memorable doesn’t have to be a job. Save the ideas above as a reference guide for the next time you run out of Valentine’s day ideas and surprise your spouse with a day to remember.
