Struggling to think of some last-minute date ideas for Valentine’s Day this year? Fear not! We’re here to fill you with inspiration so thoughtful and romantic, it’s guaranteed to sweep your partner off their feet! That’s right, we’re going to be breaking down the 5 BEST last-minute date ideas for you and your partner this February 14th.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and, with the perfect gift and card for your loved one being the top priority, it can be easy to forget about making special plans. This day is all about spending quality time with your partner and making sure they know they’re loved and that’s exactly why planning out the perfect date should be your key focus.
Perhaps you’re thinking ‘I forgot to book dinner reservations! What can I do now?’ or maybe you’re wondering ‘Valentine’s Day is on a pesky Tuesday, what can I do after a day of work?’. Well, worry no more! We have your back.
Now, let’s get into our list of the 5 BEST Last Minute Date Ideas For Valentine’s Day!
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Go on a Picnic
Now, here me out. I understand that it’s winter BUT it’s slowly creeping up to spring and getting a little warmer. A picnic is quite possibly the most romantic thing you can do with your partner - morning, afternoon or, especially, night. Picture this. You and your partner, watching the stars, wrapped up in a blanket, sharing your favourite snacks together.
I get that the whole picnic in winter thing can be a little hard to wrap your head around. HOWEVER, if cold is the problem, why not go for a drive somewhere peaceful and have a picnic in the car? Tell me that doesn’t sound like a scene from every romantic movie ever. In fact, I’m texting my boyfriend as we speak just to let him know that a picnic in the car is exactly what we’re doing on February 14th.
Still not sold? How about you spice things up a little (not in that way, you dirty dog) and try challenging each other to buy one another's favourite drink, chocolate bar, etc.? It’s a trend all over TikTok and not only is it sweet to see how well people know their other half, but it also looks like A LOT of fun.
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Cook Them a Homemade Meal
Nothing quite says ‘I love you’ like a nice homemade meal. And if your love language is acts of service, then this might be the ideal date for you! Whether you're a cook or not, this gesture can go a long way. It’s one of the sure-fire ways to make your partner feel adored. Cook their favourite meal! Do up the room all romantic, candles and all. Whip out your best plates, glasses and cutlery. Go above and beyond, it’s Valentine's Day!
This date idea is IDEAL, especially if prior plans hadn’t gone to plan. You can gather ingredients from around your kitchen or take a quick trip to the supermarket and, despite it being a last-minute idea, it’s still an incredibly thoughtful and romantic thing to do for your partner - which is, of course, the goal at the end of the day. A homemade meal done right is not only much more intimate than going out somewhere to dinner, but also a hell of a lot cheaper too!
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Have a Cooking Competition
Perhaps big romantic gestures aren’t your thing or maybe you and your partner are looking for something you can do together instead. If cooking still takes your fancy, then I have the PERFECT date idea for you. Two words. Cooking. Competition. You don’t have to be a chef to do this with your partner and have a stupidly good time… in fact, the worse you are at cooking, the more fun it sounds!
Take pizza, for example. Imagine both you and your partner creating your own pizzas from scratch. Sounds chaotic, right? This date idea is ideal for so many reasons. You get to spend quality time with your partner, experience something new and eat good (hopefully not burnt) food! It’s also a lot more affordable than buying a takeaway or going out for dinner and, let’s face it, a hell of a lot more fun!
Some lovely couples on TikTok have done this before, so I’ll link them here to get you feeling inspired.
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Go to the Cinema
Ah, the cinema. There’s nothing quite like it. Sit back, relax and watch a movie with snacks you’ve snuck in to avoid paying 10 quid for a small popcorn and a flat medium coke… was that shady? Oops! There’s a reason why people in, like, EVERY book, TV show and movie ever go to the cinema on their first date… it’s romantic! Sitting together, hand in hand… maybe a cheeky arm over the shoulder. You get to enjoy a movie in the company of one another. It’s PERFECT! And, of course, it is very rare to have a bad experience at the cinema. There are two options when you really think about it. Watch an incredible movie and, therefore, have an amazing time OR watch a TERRIBLE movie and have a hilarious time. It’s like a roulette with movies these days and that’s the fun part!
Like I said earlier, Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday (boo!), so it's highly likely that you might not even get to celebrate on the 14th. However, the cinema, of course, shows films morning and night, 7 days a week - it’s adaptable! Not to mention the fact that it's a perfect last-minute date idea - all you need to do is head down to your nearest cinema and see what availability they have. Whether it’s Valentine’s Day or the weekend prior, it’s really the quality time spent with your partner that matters - not the day!
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Have a Movie Night
OK, so, maybe cinemas aren’t for you. You never know if the film is going to be good. Maybe you’re into the classics. Perhaps you’re not a fan of the films showing right now. Well, my friends, God gifted us Netflix for a reason.
Imagine this. Cosy night in. Snacks. Hot chocolate. Movie. PJs. Doesn’t that sound like a dream? You can watch whatever you want to watch in the comfort of your own home.
"We can have a movie night any night" I hear you say, “what makes this one so special?” Well, my friend, that’s where you’re wrong. I know you’ve seen those videos on TikTok where a couple goes to a supermarket and plays a game of rock, paper, scissors over the choice of a starter, main, dessert and movie. It looks like such good fun and it's a sure-fire way to make sure both you and your partner are both satisfied, unless, that is, one of you gets extremely lucky and wins every single round… then that’s just unfortunate for the loser.
And with that, we’ve come to an end of our list of the 5 BEST Last Minute Date Ideas. What are you most likely to try from this list? Let us know! Be sure to keep an eye out for future blogs from us. Feeling stumped for gift ideas? Check out our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for inspiration!
We wish you and your partner a very Happy Valentine’s Day filled with romance! Remember to spoil your partner rotten.