So you’re dating someone new and you’re about to spend your first Valentine’s Day together. While this holiday may center around love and excitement, Valentine’s Day can also bring up feelings of anxiety for some. This can be especially true if you’re celebrating as a new couple because there’s no precedent of what you did the year before. So you’re left to figure out Valentine’s Day plans for the first time.

Thoughts may begin racing through your head, such as Should I get a gift? If so, how expensive? Do they expect me to pull out all the stops? Do they even want the lovey dovey stuff? Well, we’re here to quell this internal monologue and help you navigate the Valentine’s Day waters with ease. In this blog, we’ll discuss first Valentine’s Day ideas for you and that sweet person in your life.

Tip #1: Discuss Plans Ahead of Time

First things first, make sure that your partner actually wants to celebrate Valentine’s Day. You may wonder who would want to pass up an opportunity to receive gourmet chocolates and go to a candlelit dinner, but you may be surprised. Some people really don’t enjoy celebrating Valentine’s Day for personal reasons. If you were planning to surprise your date, you may want to check in first or drop a few hints.

The best way to know what your special someone thinks of Valentine’s Day is to ask them. Maybe they totally dig the idea of doing something romantic, or perhaps they want to celebrate with a twist on it. Say, for example, your date is an outdoorsy person. Maybe their perfect idea of a romantic date is to go on a hike and have a picnic atop a scenic view overlooking the city. Or maybe your date enjoys going out to a fancy restaurant with a tasting menu, a bottle of wine, and dessert for two. It’s best to get this question out as early as possible so you can start to plan the perfect date (or so you can stop worrying about celebrating at all!).

Tip #2: Set a Budget

So your date is on board with Valentine’s Day and it’s full speed ahead for planning. Yay! Now comes the actual planning. It’s easy for anyone to get carried away when shopping for that special someone in our lives. Also, Valentine’s Day is notorious for hiking up prices for rose and floral bouquets, bottles of wine, and even dinner prices at restaurants where you’ve definitely eaten for a lot less.

Before you make reservations and order a dozen red roses, make sure you’ve set a budget. This can be related the conversation you had in Tip #1, which is about setting expectations.

If your date expects a five-course meal at the hottest restaurant in town, then make sure you’re budgeting for that ahead of time (and make a reservation). By creating a budget, you can avoid any creeping costs that you didn’t anticipate, like chocolates, cards, Uber rides from the restaurants, or last-minute swan boat rides on the water. Who knows, you may actually impress your date with your financial planning!

Tip #3: Be Romantic

Dating someone you’re excited about can be a great opportunity to be super romantic. After all, love is in the air on Valentine’s Day - don’t hold back!

Going out to dinner can be romantic and fun but when it comes to romance, a home cooked meal can go a long way! You can set the scene as romantic as you’d like! You can dim the lights and set out tea candles to create romantic lighting. Pick up your favorite bottle of wine (ask your date if they like reds or if they’re more of a rose person). Make sure to pick up something for dessert, such as chocolate-dipped strawberries.

If you’re not much of a chef, you can also get your date a gift. Classic gift ideas include roses, plush toys, a framed picture of you two together, and chocolates. Make sure to include a handwritten card with your gift!

Tip #4: Love Yourself Too

Lucille Ball once said, “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” Our relationships with ourselves set the groundwork for our romantic success with others. So, even though Valentine’s Day can be focused on celebrating romantic love as a couple, make sure to celebrate self-love as well! After all, you’ve made yourself vulnerable enough to accept love, so make sure you celebrate that part of you that’s still a lover.

Something nice you can do for yourself is to get something nice to wear on the date. This is a double-win situation because not only will you look nice and impress your date, you’ll also be able to wear this outfit again. So make sure you pick something that makes you feel like a million bucks! You are your personal cheerleader 365 days of the year, so make sure you treat yourself too.

Tip #5: Have Fun with It!

Making plans to celebrate your first Valentine’s Day together can be daunting for even the most seasoned couples. So we’re here to remind you that it’s okay to relax. Your date’s teddy bear has a purple bow instead of pink (their favorite color) - oh well! Laugh it off and enjoy that this journey is still new for the both of you. After all, you two are just getting to know each other. Embrace the mistakes, laugh off the easy stuff.

However you end up celebrating your first Valentine’s Day as a couple, make sure to enjoy it. Take pictures (a silly one is a must) so you can remember this day. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll be looking back on these pictures together!