9 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas (And What You Should Wear)

Now that we’ve all recovered from Christmas (well, for the most part), it is time to move onto the next holiday. Valentine’s Day is only three weeks away. To be clear, I don’t view Valentine’s Day as a mini Christmas. Big Valentine’s Day gifts are completely unnecessary, but it is a good excuse to spend some time with the one you love. To me, there is nothing wrong with wearing a cute outfit on a fun-filled Valentine’s Day.

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Since I love to be prepared, I came up with a few of my favorite ideas for a memorable Valentine’s Day. Kurt and I have had some amazing Valentine’s Day dates together over the years. We’ve also had years where we’ve chosen to spend it at home (likely because of the lack of a babysitter). Whatever the type of date you choose, I hope a few of our date ideas will be useful for some of you guys.

1. Dinner and a movie. Yes, let’s start with the most obvious date choice. The reason it is so popular is because you can’t go wrong with choosing a good meal and a new blockbuster. Typically movie tickets don’t sell out weeks in advance, and if you choose restaurants that are a tad off the beaten path, you shouldn’t have a hard time getting a table. Or even plan a lunch date and a matinee to avoid the crowds.
2. Plan a staycation. No need to spend extra money on a flight, just book a night or two at a local resort or hotel. There is nothing more fun than getting dressed up, grabbing a drink at a hotel bar and heading out to a fancy (or not-so-fancy) dinner. Sleeping in a giant comfy bed with a million pillows will make you feel like you are on vacation, even if it is just for a night.
3. Be active together. This is a personal favorite for me and my hubs. We love to chat while clocking a few miles hiking on a mountain or playing around at an indoor rock climbing facility. The mountains typically don’t require reservations. Plus then I don’t feel bad indulging in a Valentine’s Day dessert after burning off a few calories.
4. Go skydiving (with or without a plane). My husband is dying to go skydiving; however, there is no way you could pay me to jump out of a plane. Yes, you can choose to do the real deal, but I personally recommend the indoor skydiving route instead. I’ve now done it twice at iFly and it is was a blast. Because there is no jumping, it isn’t scary at all and it will make for a memorable date.
5. Stay home and cook a special meal. Like I said, I’ve spent a number of Valentine’s Day dates at home. Even if you choose to avoid the crowds, it doesn’t mean staying home can’t be special. Cook a special meal together, set up the table and use your fancy china to eat by candle light. Even get dressed up! No reason staying home can’t be a ton of fun.
6. Buy concert or show tickets. Check out the Ticketmaster website and see what concerts and shows are going on in your town around Valentine’s Day. Since Valentine’s Day is on a Wednesday this year, we all have the benefit of choosing either the weekend before or after to celebrate. As an added bonus, surprise your significant other with the tickets. Your date and gift is all taken care of in one fell swoop.
7. Get creative. I feel like everywhere I go, I see signs for those painting party places. I’ve actually never done one (no good reason why), but book a reservation and take your man along. Since my husband and I love a little competition, see who is the best painter. Or I’ve even seen places (like Pinspiration in Phoenix) where you can have a splatter paint date, complete with champagne. I’m all about messy and memorable fun.
8. Plan a spa day. If money wasn’t an object, this would be my go-to Valentine’s Day date every single year. Book a couples massage and enjoy a glass of champagne relaxing in the hot tub afterwards. It doesn’t get much better than that.
9. Go golfing. I know this would be my husband’s #1 date idea. Whether it is a real course or indoor option, this idea will definitely be a hit for a lot of guys. Even if you are in a cold weather location and can’t hit the links, try an indoor driving range or even mini golf. Places like Top Golf even serve dinner!

Don’t forget to check Groupon or Travelzoo to find deals on attractions in your area. Gotta love a bargain.

Now, what to wear. Since I’m all about dressing for the occasion, I’ve put together a couple different types of outfit ideas. Everything from cute and casual to dressy and sexy.

Outfit idea #1: Cute and casual. Whether you are heading out to a movie, going for a hike or cooking dinner at home, there is no reason you can’t look cute while being comfortable. There is a good chance I’ll be wearing my favorite leggings, slip on sneakers, a cute sweater and a puffy vest this Valentine’s Day.

Outfit idea #2: A cardigan and tall boots. I personally love this option because cardigans are typically comfortable, but you can add a hint of lace underneath to dress it up a bit. My red cardigan is old, but this one is similar. I can’t say enough good things about my silk and lace cami (p.s. the back is adorable), jeans, boots, and initial necklace. Perfect look for a day date into night.

Outfit idea #3: Pretty in pink. I’ll admit, I’m usually drawn to festive colors. When I think of Valentine’s Day, I always think of red or pink. My exact pink sweater is sold out, but this cardigan is really similar. I also love the mix of the distressed jeans and booties to bring the whole look together. Perfect look for a concert or painting date if I do say so myself.

Outfit idea #4: Jeans and a flowy off the shoulder top. A red off the shoulder top (try this one or this one) the perfect shirt for Valentine’s Day. This look would be ideal for a trendy restaurant or a night out on the town. Add a black leather jacket on top to give it a chic look.

Outfit idea #5: Wear an amazing red dress. You guys saw this red lace dress on me before the holidays. It was perfect for a Christmas party and it is even better for Valentine’s Day. It fits true-to-size and the long sleeves are ideal for those cool winter nights. And better yet, it is only $60! Nothing says Valentine’s Day quite like lace.

Whew, that was a long one. For those of you who made it this far, I hope this helps you prepare for Valentine’s Day. Is anyone looking for gift ideas, or should we all agree to do cards only this year? Let me know in the comments below!