Here are some creative ways to tell your spouse, “I
love you.”
Is it more important to love … or to be loved?
Most of us would agree with George Eliot’s words, “I like
not only to be loved, but also to be told I am loved.”
Valentine’s Day is the occasion when you can experience
both. We asked FamilyLife Facebook friends and Marriage
Memo readers to share some of their favorite Valentine’s
Day ideas.
With a little help from our friends, here are 25 creative ways
to tell your spouse, “I love you.”
1. On small pieces of paper, write down every kind of kiss
that you can think of (examples: passionate, on the cheek,
etc.). Then fill an inexpensive red felt bag with your “kisses”
and give it to your spouse. Ask your spouse to pull several
pieces of paper from the felt bag, and then give your
sweetheart whatever kind of kiss is described.
2. Make a book about why you love your spouse and why
you are thankful for him/her. The woman who sent this idea
wrote, “He loved it! Said it was the best gift he has ever
gotten. And it helped me to focus on the things I love about
my husband and not his shortcomings.”
3. Take your sweetie on a scavenger hunt. Ask him/her to
answer riddles to find the clues to items that you placed
somewhere around town. The last item should give
instructions that lead to your Valentine’s Day activities.
4. After enjoying a candlelight dinner for two at home, give
your spouse a massage and watch a romantic movie. The
woman who suggested this wrote, “Last Valentine’s Day
when I got home from work, my husband … had our
bedroom set up with a candlelit table for two. He is NOT a
cook but he made an awesome meal … grilled steak, sautéed
shrimp in lemon, garlic, and butter, a vegetable, and [he]
bought a chocolate fountain that was flowing—surrounded
by fresh fruit for dipping. After dinner he led me over to his
homemade massage table. … We ended our special night
with a romantic movie.
5. Surprise your spouse with a special getaway together.
The man who suggested this made reservations at a bed
and breakfast, arranged for childcare, asked for time off from
work for himself and his wife, and packed his and her bags.
When he asked his wife to go to lunch on Valentine’s Day
she was in for a wonderful surprise. “The little bit of effort I
put into that weekend paid off huge for weeks to come.”
(For an extra special experience, take your spouse to one of
FamilyLife's Weekend to Remember marriage getaways .
It's one of the best investments you could make in your
marriage. There are seven scheduled around the country for
Valentine's weekend , and many more throughout the year.)
6. Give your wife a dozen roses. On each stem attach a
note for a future date—to do something that she would
enjoy (example: Go to the symphony).
7. If possible, go on a date with your spouse to a restaurant
that you enjoyed when you first met. After you order your
meal, take some time to write down favorite memories from
the past year. Then share your lists.
8. Have 11 roses delivered to your wife, and then give her a
12th yourself while reading her a love poem.
9. Fill a large box with helium balloons and special gifts for
Valentine’s Day. The woman who suggested this said that
her gifts included “new sleep shorts for him and a new
nightgown for me, a box of chocolate-covered strawberries
and red napkins ... some new candles, and a romantic CD.
He got the hint. And loved the weekend.”
10. Create an intimate Valentine’s Day evening at home,
without the children. The woman who suggested this idea
said that she and her husband “enjoyed planning the menu,
shopping for the meal, and ultimately preparing the meal
together. Cooking to soft, romantic music can really be a
turn on! While dining, the same soft, romantic music is a
wonderful mood-setter. Dinner was followed by just the two
of us having the whole dance floor, our den, to ourselves. I
won’t say what all this led to, but it was a truly romantic
night that would not have happened at the local
restaurant!”
11. Order food from a take-out restaurant and have a picnic
for all the Valentines in your family on your living room floor.
The person who suggested this said, “The kids look forward
to this every year. When we tried to change it, they wouldn’t
allow it ... it has become a tradition. The kids see the value
of family and a loving marriage.”
12. Privacy and weather permitting, watch a romantic movie
on your deck or patio.
13. If you are separated across the miles, send a care
package filled with things that are red.
14. Make a meal with symbols of love. Examples: Write I
love you with string beans, make a tart in the shape of a
heart …
15. Hide little heart candies in your spouse’s shoes, coat,
car, etc. The woman who suggested this said that she’s
been doing this for decades. “Now a couple of the grandkids
help me with delight.”
16. Wives, show up at your husband’s office before lunch.
Call him from the parking lot and tell him you are going to
take him for a lunch rendezvous and that you will be waiting
for him whenever he can take a break. Wear a nice outfit
and tell him you have something sexy on underneath for
when he gets home. Take him to a nice place for lunch and
back to the office. Give him some great kisses telling him
how glad you are to be married to him, and tell him you will
be waiting for him when he gets home.
17. Fill a jar with Valentine candy and notes for your
spouse. Examples of notes are: Good for a backrub, 10
kisses, etc. Notes could also express your love and respect:
“I am so glad that God blessed my life with such a great
husband like you.” Individually roll each note and tie it with
a ribbon.
18. Surprise your spouse by taking a vacation day from
work and enjoy Valentine’s Day at home. Have a relaxing
morning together on the porch, deck, or patio. Then go to a
favorite restaurant for lunch. The man who suggested this
idea had also reserved a spa treatment and
19. Write a poem for your spouse and frame it.
20. On individual note cards, write why you love your
spouse. Insert these cards in a small photo album. The
woman who suggested this idea began her album with a
honeymoon picture and introductory note card, and ended it
with a love note.
21. Surprise your husband when he comes home from work
on February 14. Place a welcome sign on the kitchen table
and leave a trail of red foil-wrapped Hershey kisses to your
bedroom.
22. With roses in hand and permission from your wife’s
boss, go to her workplace and read a love poem to her. The
woman who shared this idea said, “I am a teacher in an
inner city school. Last year my husband dressed in my
favorite suit and tie, came to my school with roses in hand.
He got permission and assistance from the office staff to
open the speaker system into my classroom and proceeded
to read a long and beautiful love poem to me. He then
came to my classroom and presented me with the bouquet
of roses which I received while wiping my tears of joy and
love for this wonderful man whom I have been married to for
just under 30 years.”
23. Make a special “14 Reasons I Love You” Valentine’s Day
breakfast for your sweetheart. On his/her plate, leave a letter
or card listing 14 reasons that you love your spouse.
24. If possible, send a card postmarked in a town that has
a romantic name such as Loveland, Colorado; Valentine,
Texas; or Romance, Arkansas.
25. After your spouse goes to bed, tape notes to his car’s
steering wheel with reasons that you love him, or decorate
the bathroom mirror with lipstick kisses or Valentine’s
window clings.
Have fun on February 14, and remember: Love is not meant
to be given and received on just Valentine’s Day. Instead,
it’s to be practiced every single day of the entire year.
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