17 unique Valentine's Day ideas, because maybe we're over red roses and chocolate

A reminder to everyone in a relationship (or everyone not in a relationship who still celebrate!): Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Luckily, you still have plenty of time to think about how you want to celebrate with your partner. If you’re not the roses and chocolate type (or if your partner isn’t), we’ve come up with some unique and romantic alternatives to the classics, because hey — sometimes the classics get boring!

To really make an impact on Valentine’s Day, it’s important to do something that will show your partner that you really care. Material gifts like teddy bears and Hallmark cards are fine, but do they tell your significant other that you know their personality? Customize your celebration to fit your relationship or your partner’s personality. Making Valentine’s Day more personal will pay off.

Get inspired and start planning a celebration to remember. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself though — as long as you two are spending the day together, that’s all that really matters in the end.

1Book a weekend getaway.

Book an Airbnb or swanky hotel for an upcoming weekend getaway. Choose a place you two have always wanted to go, or stick local and opt for a “staycation.” This doesn’t have to be an extravagant trip, but rather just a a few days of spending quality time with each other.

2Treat your partner (and yourself) a couple’s spa day.

If you and your partner can’t get enough time off to spend a few days in relaxation mode, contact a local day spa and book a day-long couple’s retreat. You can get facials, massages, and really take a moment to let the stresses of the world melt away. Then, come back to your life and relationship feeling renewed and ready for anything.

3Put together a scrapbook filled with favorite memories.

Showing your partner you really care can really make this year’s Valentine’s Day extra special. Compile favorite photos, tickets from places you’ve traveled, inside jokes you two have, etc., and put it all into a sweetly decorated scrapbook. You two can flip through it over dinner and reminisce about all the good times you’ve shared.

4Recreate your first date.

Now that the nerves have left the building, recreating your first date is a fun and nostalgic way to celebrate your relationship. You can build upon this idea as well. Start at the restaurant you first ate at however many months or years ago and then finish the night at the bar where you realized you were in love. Put some meaning behind the night and your partner will fall for you all over again.

5Go through your partner’s Amazon wishlist.

We all have stacked Amazon wishlists. Nix the cheesy chocolates and roses and get your partner those headphones they’ve been eyeing or those new pair of shoes. This is a great idea for newer couples who may not know exactly what the other person likes. An Amazon wishlist is public info, people! It’s a no-brainer.

6Write each other love notes.

No, you don’t have to start each note with “Roses are red, violets are blue.” Writing out a meaningful letter or note to your partner, putting into words how much you care for them, can mean more than any material gift.

7Set goals for the future.

Think of this like a couple’s vision board. Do you hope to move into a house together in the next five years? Perhaps you’re trying to have a baby soon. Or, you could simply wish to go on a romantic tropical vacation in the next year. Whatever goals you two have for your relationship, write them out or collage them together on a poster.

8Do your favorite go-to activity.

Rock-climbing, dancing, eating — whatever it is that you two love to do, set aside time on Valentine’s Day to do just that. It’s a simple way to celebrate, but if you’re having fun with each other, it doesn’t matter how outside the norm the activity is.

9Or, do something you’ve never done before.

Alternatively, you and your partner can try something neither of you have done before. This is a great way to get out of a relationship rut or introduce something new into your lives. Take a risk on something new and you two might learn something about yourselves or each other.

10Hang out with your best friends.

Feel free to spread and share the love on Valentine’s Day. Sometimes a double or triple date can be more fun than sticking solo. Head out to your favorite restaurant or bar with your group and celebrate romantic love and friend love at the same time.

11Spend the day in bed.

Reserve a day out of Valentine’s Week to completely ignore the outside world with your partner. Spending the day in bed is one of the most romantic things we’ve seen in movies and read about in books, so it’s time to try it out in the real world! Turn off your phones and forget about putting real clothes on. Today is not the day.

12Pretend to be royalty for a night.

Dress up in your best outfits and hit the town like a king and queen. Try out that overpriced restaurant celebrities always frequent (and only order an appetizer if you have to). Then head out to a bougie bar or go dancing at the city’s hottest club where anyone who’s anyone is seen at. At the end of the night, kick off your high heels and head to McDonald’s because all that pretending will leave you hungry.

13Stay in with a bottle of wine and a good movie.

No one is forcing you to spend the night out on Valentine’s Day. If you and your partner are more the type to hunker down on the couch with a cheap bottle of red wine, then by all means, do that. Pop on a movie and put some popcorn on the stove. You can also order in from your favorite restaurant and get it delivered so the sweatpants can stay on.

14Cook a gourmet restaurant-worthy dinner.

Take those dusty cookbooks off the shelves and treat your partner to a celebrity chef-like dinner. Even if you’re not that comfortable in the kitchen, putting the time and effort into cooking dinner for your significant other is such a romantic gesture.

15Sign your partner up for a subscription box.

Subscription boxes are the gifts that keep on giving. With so many different types of boxes to choose from — like Birchbox for beauty products, FabFitFun’s variety box, or Winc’s Wine subscription box — there’s something for everyone. You can also check out a steamy couple’s subscription box like SpicySubscriptions so you can join in on the fun, too.

16Buy each other lingerie/sexy outfits.

It may feel kind of silly at first, but shopping sexy for your partner will put each of you in the mood to — well, you know. Your partner always has an idea of what would look great on your body and letting them indulge in that fantasy, if you will, and vice versa, can heighten physical attraction and set the tone for a super romantic night.

17List all 14 reasons you love your significant other.

Prepare ahead of time and write out 14 reasons why you adore your partner to celebrate the 14th day of February. Share this list over a candlelit dinner and let the emotions fly. Don’t be afraid to get real and let your heart speak fully. Words are sometimes the best gift a person can receive.

Have fun with each other this Valentine’s Day. Do what fits your relationship and show your partner how much you care.