How to Create the Perfect Valentine’s Dinner at Home

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? A weekend trip? Dinner at a fancy restaurant? What if you don’t need to do something elaborate to show someone you love and care for them? The perfect alternative is staying in for a romantic Valentine’s dinner at home. 

Sure, planning dinner reservations at your favorite restaurant or booking a room at a nice hotel would be excellent, but let’s be realistic. If you forget to plan far enough in advance, you will be out of luck! If you do book in advance, you will still be faced with higher costs for an evening you could have throughout the year.

There are plenty of ways to achieve a night filled with love that won’t break the bank. There is no better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than dinner in the comfort of your own home. It’s a day for you and your significant other to reflect on the love you both share for each other. 

Here are a few tips to follow that will help you create a special dinner set apart from a regular night at home and even more intimate than going out. 

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Buy or Make a Thoughtful Gift 

Although gifts are not necessary to show someone you love them, they are a nice gesture if you plan to exchange them. A typical gift to receive for Valentine’s Day might be jewelry or a watch. Something that they can wear every day that reminds them of you. Yet, getting creative and adding a personal touch is a perfect way to show someone how much you care for them.

One foolproof option is framing a photo of the two of you. Possibly a picture from a trip you took, a special day in your relationship, or a photo from the day you first met. After you find the perfect one, have it printed. Whatever you do, don’t settle for a typical frame; instead, choose a unique photo frame that they will cherish. Do they love the outdoors? Grab a rustic wooden frame. Would they appreciate a more modern look? Buy a sleek gray frame. Remember, this is something that could be hung from the wall or sit on your desk for the rest of your lives. Put just as much effort into this gift as you would finding the perfect piece of jewelry.

If a framed photo is not your style, head over to Etsy and have something personalized. BasketfulOfGrace is one of my new favorite shops on the site. You can easily customize one of her pieces to include a map of where you met, where you got engaged or married, and maybe something fun like where you want to travel to in the future.

My last recommendation is a handmade macramé wall hanging, plant hanger, or earrings from Olive & Ever. She makes incredible macramé decor, and you can even buy a table runner for the next step!

Set the Table

This Valentine’s dinner at home is not meant to be a simple dinner like every other night of the week. Make this night memorable and distinctive. The perfect way to separate this night from the rest is by creating a beautiful table setting. Start with the table runner. Consider something with hearts, the colors red or pink, easel paper that you can decorate, or find a burlap runner. Using easel paper is an excellent option because you can personalize it however you wish. Try writing love notes all over the paper, drawing conversation hearts, or painting using a romantic stencil.

Since it is Valentine’s Day, the inevitable centerpiece contains flowers. Either fresh or faux, both will add an elegant touch to your love-filled table setting. If you want to add a little bit more romance, the addition of candles for a candlelit dinner is just the touch it needs. Using heart-shaped confetti is also a fun idea (be sure to grab the biodegradable option)! Find more ideas for dressing up your Valentine’s Day dinner table here.

Craft a Signature Cocktail

To follow the theme of having a special Valentine’s dinner at home, making a signature cocktail might be something you want to add to your list. Since it’s a special night, why not add a twist to your regular drinks?

One example that meshes well with the theme and is easy to make is cranberry mimosas. It won’t break the bank, and it’s as easy as mixing cranberry juice and champagne. To add an extra twist, top with real cranberries and sliced oranges. After all, this is a night to celebrate! If you are looking for something non-alcoholic, another great option includes sparkling sweetheart punch. Start by putting pieces of pineapple in an ice tray and then filling each cube with pineapple juice and freeze. Then, dice strawberries and more pineapple and add to a pitcher. Fill with equal parts of pineapple juice and ginger ale. Add your ice cubes, top with fresh mint, and enjoy.

Prepare a Delicious Valentine’s Dinner at Home

As you did with picking the right signature drink, choose a meal that you both will love. You should have a good idea about what both of you like! One option that might spark your interest is if you remember what both of you ate on your first date. Recreate it! For some, that may have been years and years ago. If you can’t remember that far back, think of something you both love but don’t usually make. Whether it’s a pasta dish or a steak dinner, crank it up a notch. Say spaghetti and meatballs is one of your favorites. Make it as you regularly would but add something like freshly-grated parmesan cheese or truffle, or make garlic bread from scratch. For your typical steak dinner, there are plenty of additions that you can add to make it a little out of the ordinary. Whatever your norm is, change it! You could pair the steak with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, asparagus, or even shrimp. 

Whatever dish you choose to cook, be sure to make it unique to show your significant other that you went the extra mile to make something special.

Don’t Forget the Sweet Eats

Lastly, dessert! What better way to conclude your Valentine’s Day dinner at home than with a sweet treat. There are loads of desserts that go perfectly with the holiday theme. From heart-shaped sugar cookies, red velvet cake pops, chocolate-covered strawberries, or even a cheesecake turned pink! The options for romantic, pink, and red sweet treat options are endless. A dessert that’s simple to create, but a little different from the rest is my sweetheart pie crust cookies. They are as simple as laying out the dough, using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the cookies, covering with sprinkles, and baking! They will be finished in no time at all and will leave your Valentine’s Day dinner with the most polished addition to complete the entire course.

After everything is finished being prepared, next is sitting down and enjoying your evening. Pour each other the signature drink, and enjoy the unique dinner you have created for you and your significant other. Use the time while eating your meal to reflect on your relationship. Talk about trials and triumphs you’ve gone through together. Share memories from trips and vacations that you’ve taken. Talk about goals the both of you want to achieve together. Maybe a vacation you want to go on or a personal goal you want to accomplish. Whatever the conversations may be, be sure to maximize your time together. Relationships are not always a leisure walk in the park. Taking the time to create a memorable dinner at home is a perfect way to show your love for each other. 

Remember, you don’t have to wait for next Valentine’s Day to have a special dinner like this!

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Tootles,

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