5 Ideas for A Covid Valentine's Day

By: Kristen Pinchbeck

I can’t believe it is already almost the second week of February. 2021 has felt like a whole year unto itself and like it has gone by in blink. February is the month of love, as well as Black History Month, and LGBTQ+ History Month. Later this month we will be talking about Black History Month as well as LGBTQ+ History Month, but for today we are going to talk about some Valentine’s Ideas!

Valentine’s Day looks a little different this year. Cupid is wearing a mask, and Cupid’s love arrow looks a lot like a vaccine needle this year. While it might be hard to surprise your loved one with a house full of roses like Patrick Dempsey did for Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama because you both are working from home, there are still some ways that you can make the day special.

5 At Home/Covid Safe Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

Cook dinner together
- This can be a great way to spend some extra time together. Maybe pick a whole theme for your meal (italian, mexican, chinese, or even fast food like burgers and fries). Start by preparing an appetizer you can snack on while you make the main course. Put on some music, maybe share a glass of wine. Make a main course and then a desert to enjoy together after.
Movie Night In
- My girlfriend set up the most amazing movie night in for our anniversary last year. She made posters that were movie themed, set up a whole “red carpet” hallway leading to the movie “theater”- our spare room. She transformed the spare room into the most amazing home theater with a concession stand, movie projector, a comfy sitting area with a blanket fort and led lights for soft lighting above us. It was seriously amazing and we hated to have to take it down.
Plan a hike/picnic at a social distanced park or in your backyard
- I don’t know about you guys, but with how much we all have to be inside these days, getting out in some sunshine and fresh air is always restorative for me. Getting outside with your person for a beautiful hike, or even just to a local park for a picnic can be a great way to connect with each other and also be doing good things for your mental health.
At Home Spa Night
- The last year has left all of us feeling pretty spent. An at home spa day where you both feel pampered could be the perfect way to spend your Valentine’s Day this year. Get some bath bombs with essential oils, light a couple candles, put on some soft music, take turns giving each other massages with a nice massage oil, use a couple restorative face masks. Use it as a time to pamper each other and relax together.
Set up a whole Date Night in your house
- Each room in your house becomes a different date “location”. You can start in the kitchen, or even outside on your porch or patio for drinks. Then you can move to your dining room that has been set up like a romantic restaurant with candles and flowers for your dinner/main course. Maybe get take out from your favorite restaurant, or from a restaurant that is special to you like where you had your first date. Then, head to your living room for a night of dancing. If dancing isn’t your thing, you could turn off the lights and transform your living room into a home movie theater.

Just a few reminders for you this Valentine’s Day

Remember, it is supposed to be about showing your significant other that you love them, so don’t give in to the pressure around buying them the most gifts (unless gifts are their love language of course). Also, remember that our LGBT Valentines days are just as valid as heterosexual Valentine’s Days, even if our representation is very small. I don’t know if you guys needed to hear that, but I know I sure did/still do.

Single this Valentine’s Day?

Take this day to love yourself! Like our amazing Rue Paul said, "If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love anyone else?" Have a date at home with yourself, buy yourself some flowers if you like them, set up a movie night, have a spa night, connect with other single friends for a Galentine’s/Malentine’s Day (yes guys, it’s ok to have a group of friends you want to celebrate with), and celebrate the other relationships you have in your life (family, friends, siblings, coworkers, etc.). If this past year has taught us anything, it is that we take the relationships in our lives for granted. Let’s make Valentine’s 2021 about more than just the chocolates, but about showing all the people in our lives that we love them.