Every moment is a milestone in a new relationship—the first time you hold hands, meet each others' families, buy a toothbrush to leave at their place, or celebrate the holidays together. Every moment feels brand new and amazing.
Valentine's Day is meaningful, especially the first one together. How you celebrate communicates how much you care—especially in your S.O.'s love language. Some people think Valentine's Day is a silly Hallmark holiday, but it's such a sweet opportunity to show your love that they're worth celebrating.
So what should you plan for your first Valentine's Day date? What is the ideal first Valentine's Day gift? And what should you write in a Valentine's Day card when it's your first one together?
We've gathered the most romantic date, gift, and Valentine's Day card messages, so you can spend less time stressing about how to celebrate and more time enjoying your first V-Day as a couple!
First Valentine's Day Date Ideas
You love spending quality time together, so any opportunity to make fun memories together—yes, please!
Find out whether your valentine likes to be surprised or would prefer to be in on the date planning; then, start brainstorming! There are tons of fun first Valentine's Day ideas. If you get stuck when planning the perfect date, we want to help! We've collected many memorable ideas for your first Valentine's Day together.
Traditional First Valentines Day Date Ideas
Making new traditions is one of the sweetest things to do with your new boo. But, since you're still getting to know each other, you may feel unsure about what they'd enjoy the most. The best way to find out is to ask them, but if they aren't sure, a traditional romantic date will do the trick!
If you need help deciding what to do, try a traditional romantic idea—and look for ways to add a personal touch.
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Go out for a fancy dinner together. Ask what fancy restaurant they love and make reservations well in advance. Dressing up, sharing a fancy bottle of wine, and chatting in a beautiful setting is always memorable and exciting.
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Spend the weekend away. Plan a getaway at a fancy hotel or bed and breakfast. Order room service, sneak in early to sprinkle some rose petals on the bed, and pack a special card and gift.
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Go to a romantic spot & exchange gifts. Whether in a restaurant, a beautiful overlook, or a park, you can enjoy each other's company in a lovely setting.
Adventurous First Valentine's Day Date Ideas
If you're an adventuresome couple, you'll enjoy something less traditional to get your adrenaline pumping. What's romantic to one couple may be boring to you, so plan an outdoorsy adventure or try something new:
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Take a hike! Visit a local trail you enjoy, or drive a little farther to a beautiful location for Valentine's Day. Do your research to find the best trails, lodging, and restaurants—and check their seasonal availability.
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Do something that scares you (both). What do you both want to learn how to do or try—from salt water float therapy to ballroom dancing? Trying something new is a great bonding experience, and you can lend each other some courage.
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Go skydiving—indoor or outdoor. Maybe you've tried it before, but they haven't (or vice versa). Isn't skydiving on almost everyone's adventure bucket list? Take the first leap together!
"Foodie" First Valentine's Day Date Ideas
It's what drew you together in the first place—besides your actual attraction to each other. You both love food, and there's no getting around that fact. If you’re both self-proclaimed culinary critics, anything food-related will be the best date idea to celebrate your first Valentine's Day together.
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Take a cooking class together. Choose a class where you can learn to cook something you both enjoy eating. You can find local in-person cooking classes or virtual ones, but either way, it's an enjoyable (and delicious) bonding experience.
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Host a wine & cheese tasting. This one can be just for the two of you, or you can invite some of your favorite couples. Gather a combination of new and favored wines, cheeses, and the food lovers in your life to host a fun & romantic event.
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Try an exotic new cuisine (or restaurant). Discover a new ethnic restaurant in your area, or plan a trip to an exotic eatery together.
Low-Key First Valentine's Day Date Ideas
If your relationship is super-new and you want to do something more under the radar this February, opt for one of these more casual date ideas.
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Order takeout & watch a movie at home. DoorDash your favorite restaurant & choose a movie from your favorite streaming service to enjoy. The possibilities are endless, whether you want to Netflix and chill or Disney+ and de-stress.
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Go to a movie. If there's a movie you both want to see (or you want to treat your date to the infamous Valentine's Day chick flick), grab some movie tickets. Find a theater that also serves dinner & enjoy a super low-key evening together.
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Cook them a fancy dinner at your place. Those three sweet words: I'll cook tonight. (Especially if you're a good cook!) Your love will love to relinquish menu planning & cooking for tonight and relax together. Bonus: they don't even have to clean up their apartment this time.
Romantic First Valentine's Day Date Ideas
The most romantic first Valentine's Day dates blend silly, sweet, and sexy moments. So, if you want to up the ante, find a way to combine playful and endearing moments that will fan the flame of your love.
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Enjoy a romantic game together. Purchase a fun card game for couples—some focus on getting to know each other more, and others are more adventurous bedroom games.
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Two words: couples' massage. Hit the spa together and experience a couple's massage. Try to find a hotel with a spa package so you can enjoy some calming, romantic time together—and you don't have to hurry home!
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Play with puppies at the SPCA. And maybe adopt one? If your S.O. loves animals, visit the animal shelter to play with the dogs or cats. (Just be prepared to potentially bring a new pet home.)
First Valentine's Day Gift Ideas
Now it's time to find a gift that adequately communicates your fondness. Of course, everyone prefers different types of gifts—fancy, sentimental, comical…the list goes on and on.
Valentine's Day is about making them feel loved, so giving them what they want is the goal. Communication is everything, so remember to listen carefully to find out what they may want for a special occasion. You want Valentine's Day to enhance your positive connection, and making them feel seen and loved will always do that!
First Valentine's Day Gifts for Him
Your first Valentine's Day with your beau is such an exciting time to show him how much he means to you. So whether you're celebrating with a new boyfriend—or it's your first year celebrating the holiday as a married couple—you want to make it count!
We've found some of the sweetest gift ideas (and adorable pop-up cards!) for him this Valentine's Day, so if you're looking for the perfect First Valentine's Day gift ideas, look no further.
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A personalized docking station. Phone, check. Watch, check. Glasses and keys, check check. A personalized docking station will help him keep track of his essentials—in style.
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A dreamy rental. If he talks about a cabin in the mountains, rent one. If he's always dreamed of driving a vintage car, rent one for him to drive on your Valentine's Day date. These experiences will be gifts he'll talk about for decades.
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His signature scent. Get him a bottle of the cologne you know he loves. It's practical (and a bit romantic, too).
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A massage (or massager). There's nothing like a good massage. Depending on your budget & your preferences, you can give him a massage, give him a gift certificate to a pro, or order a massage machine to use at the end of each day.
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A cozy pullover sweater. A fleece pullover sweater is like a warm hug—and always useful. Help him get through to the end of the winter with a nice pullover on February 14th.
First Valentine's Day Gifts for Her
You want to impress your girlfriend for your first Valentine's Day together. So, how can you show her you care? Some traditional first Valentine's Day gift ideas include a flower bouquet, a box of chocolate, and a card with a thoughtful message. However, we like to put a new spin on those traditional gifts, like unique and artsy Valentine's Day pop-up cards and flower bouquets that will make her feel special & super impressed.
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Something sentimental. Your valentine will treasure a printed map of your first date's location from Etsy, a blanket featuring a note from you (in your handwriting), or a book filled in with things you love about her.
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Share the warmth. You want to make your love feel super cozy—from her heart to her toes! A cashmere sweater in her favorite color, wool UGG slippers, or an artisan-made alpaca wool throw will make her feel warm and fuzzy all over.
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Something sweet to make at home. If she loves sweets but also crafting new desserts, you can give her a make-your-own-truffles, confetti cake pop, or root beer chemistry kit from Uncommon Goods.
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Unique accessories. If your valentine is a fashionista and likes to make a style statement, she'll love a flashy new bag, necklace, or pair of earrings to show off. Modern trends include lovely heart details, nameplates or initial necklaces, and anything celestial.
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Anything to do together. If her love language is quality time, that's the best gift you can give. Find a game (board or video, whatever you two like!), tickets to an event, or even an audiobook to listen to on your next road trip together.
Put the finishing touches on your excellent gift with a meaningful note inside the perfect first Valentine's Day card. There's no better way to say I love you than with a love explosion pop-up card or a long-lasting bouquet of pop-up red roses.
Finding the Perfect First Valentine's Day Card
How do I love thee, and what's the rest? How do I pick a card? Finding the first-ever Valentine's Day card for someone special can feel scary. How do you show that you care without it being too much? Is there any such thing as too much?
We love a beautiful pop-up card and think it's the perfect blend of cuteness and romance. These are guaranteed to bring a smile to your valentine's face:
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The one with the cats. The love cats pop-up card sends the message that they're purrr-fect.
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Looking good, llama! This good-looking llama pop-up card is fun & casual for someone you've noticed—perfect for asking them to be your valentine).
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From your head to your what? To-ma-toes! This adorable garden-themed card says I love you from my head to-ma-toes!
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To the moon and back. You can't prove that you love them more, but you can try. They'll love this beautiful moon-themed Valentine card reminding them that you love them all the way to the moon—and back.
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Hand-crafted paper flowers. Any bouquets from Lovepop's beautiful paper flower collection will be a much-loved surprise for someone special.
What to Write in a First Valentine's Day Card
Once you find the right card for your first Valentine's Day, you must decide what to write inside. This is a fun opportunity for some people to write something clever or get super mushy, but others need help deciding what to say.
You can write a sentimental message or a well-known quote. Many people look to great poets—or favorite tv shows—to decide what to say. Below, you'll find some quotations & short messages to write inside your first Valentine's Day card!
First Valentine's Day Quotes for Him
Whether you want to share a romantic poem or a lighthearted message, here are a few great quotes to choose from:
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"You and I are meant to be together. Period. The end. Cue happy-ending music." —Dawson Leery, Dawson's Creek
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"The real lover is the man who can thrill you just by kissing your head or smiling into your eyes or just by staring into space." —Marilyn Monroe
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"It's fate. It's destiny. We both like burritos." —Seth Cohen, The O.C.
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"Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving..." —Ann Landers
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"You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." ―Dr. Seuss
First Valentine's Day Quotes for Her
A few thoughtful words can mean the world, even if they were written by someone else. Thoughtfully choosing a sweet quote for your valentine can make her feel extra loved.
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"I love her and that's the beginning and end of everything." —F. Scott Fitzgerald
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"You're something between a dream and a miracle." — Elizabeth Barret Browning
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"It's amazing how one day someone walks into your life, and suddenly, you can't remember how you lived without them." —Anurag Prakash Ray
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"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you...I could walk through my garden forever." ―Alfred Tennyson
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"Romance is the glamour which turns the dust of everyday life into a golden haze." ―Elinor Glyn
Valentine's Day Quotes for Them
They will treasure the care you've put into the first Valentine's Day date, gift, and the words you've carefully chosen to express your affection.
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"Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold." —Zelda Fitzgerald
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"Everything is clearer when you're in love." —John Lennon
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"There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved." —George Sand
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"When I look at you, I can feel it. I look at you and I'm home." — Finding Nemo
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"Love is just a word until someone comes along and gives it meaning." —Paulo Coelho
Short & Sweet Valentine's Day Messages
Often, you have a small space to write in a greeting card—of course, many romantics add extra paper or flip to the back to complete their epic love letter. We certainly won't discourage any form of romance here.
However, if you're trying to keep it short and sweet, here are a few ideas to get you started:
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You're the best thing that's happened in my life in a long time. I love you so much. Happy Valentine's Day!
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I feel so lucky to have fallen in love with my best friend—and that you feel the same way, too!
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Every day has been sweeter and brighter since we've been together. I like you A LOT! Happy Valentine's Day.
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I'm thanking my lucky stars today (and every day) that you're in my life. Thanks for sharing your love & friendship with me!
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Will you be mine? I'd love to be your valentine!
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I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend/girlfriend than you. You're the sweetest person I've ever known! Happy Valentine's Day.
And, of course, no matter what message you choose to share, remember that the card you choose for your first Valentine's Day matters. By selecting a meaningful card ahead of time, you're showing that you've put a lot of thought into expressing your love.
A card from Lovepop's Valentine's Day collection is perfect for your first Valentine's Day—some are silly, others are sweet, and there's nothing more memorable than a bouquet of handcrafted paper flowers. We hope Lovepop can make your first Valentine's Day together even sweeter!