Do Valentine's Day Right This Year

While everyone should make sure their partner knows how much they are loved every day of the year, you can’t deny that Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to go that extra mile. However, there are also plenty of ways in which you can lose brownie points when it comes to showing your romantic side.

It’s much easier to do Valentine’s Day wrong than it is to get it totally right, even if you’ve put in plenty of planning. Of course, last-minute Valentine’s Day plans are more likely to go astray, especially if your partner has gone all out.

To help you do Valentine’s Day right and keep you from an awkward evening and passive aggressive digs for the next couple of weeks, here’s how we recommend you get it right:

Even if you’re not a big romantic and think Valentine’s Day is a bit overrated, you should probably get the one you love a card. They may say they don’t want one, but they reserve the right to be annoyed if you don’t buy one.

This means actually going to a card shop and picking one that suits your partner, rather than just grabbing any old card at the petrol station on your way home from work. You should also probably avoid just picking up a birthday card and trying to cross out the greeting to add one of your own. This probably won’t go down very well…

@TefalUK I was given a birthday card with the text crossed out, purchased on the morning because they didn't get a card until I gave theirs!

— Sazra (@Sazra) February 9, 2017

We’re not saying you need to go out and buy every cheesy Valentine’s-themed stuffed toy or huge heart-shaped present that you see, but something sweet is probably a good idea. This can differ from person to person, so really think about what the person you love will like to receive on February 14th.

This could be something a bit more typical like jewellery or even a new set of pans – so long as this is something they will actually want and not a hint that you think they should cook more. We don’t recommend giving something like a bag of potatoes, no matter how smashing you think they might be!

So you want to get your partner a nice outfit to wear on your Valentine’s Day date or fancy treating them to some sexy lingerie. First thing’s first, do you know what size they are?

@TefalUK I thoughtfully bought my wife some beautiful lingerie two sizes bigger than what she actually was….. Wasn't a great start!

— Ben (@lorddann78) February 8, 2017

Buying clothes for someone else is a bit of a minefield and can end up in an argument rather than a loved-up evening so make sure you tread carefully. Picking up something that is much too big or far too small could end up sending the wrong message and result in some tears or a tantrum.

If you don’t know their size, do some snooping to get an idea. Alternatively, back away from this idea as fast as you can and grab something a bit safer like a scented candle or set of bath bombs.

via GIPHY

Taking your partner to their favourite restaurant, playing your song or getting them the perfect gift are all great ways to make February 14th super romantic. As long as that is actually their favourite restaurant, your song or a gift they would like, rather than the things your ex was a fan of…

Whether your relationship is new or you’ve been together for a while, sometimes our memories play tricks on us so you might think that the first time you went to that cute Italian place was with your current partner when, in actual fact, it was your ex from three years ago. Can you say awkward?

If you’re not sure whether or not your memory is accurate, it might be a good idea to avoid the nostalgia and focus on making new memories instead. Just be sure you don’t get these ones confused with someone else in the future.