Valentine’s Day can feel like tricky, uncharted waters if you’re in a new relationship or one where those magical three words are yet to be uttered. Do play the ‘I’m breezy’ card – à la Monica Geller phoning ex-boyfriend Richard in Friends – or do you grab the bull by the horns and risk it with gift-giving?
I say the latter, because, unless you don’t see it going anywhere, it’s a thoughtful indication that you care about them and an opportunity to show a side of you they haven’t yet seen. Plus, Valentine’s Day presents needn’t be all hearts and roses, you can give something tasteful that bears little relevance to the day at all.
Whether you’re looking for a gift that nudges them that little bit closer to biting the love bullet (and by that we, of course, mean saying “I love you”) or something to diffuse the awkwardness by making them laugh, we’ve done the relationship-related homework for you and come up with eight brilliant ideas.
Let’s keep things casual... yeah?
This is a gift for both of you, really, because you get to go with them on an indoor skydiving experience for two (that is, if they choose to take you). Not only is it something different, it’s also a great opportunity to bond over the hilarity and adrenaline of the day.
You know what they say, get their dog to fall in love with you and they’ll soon follow. Plus, this is a brilliant way of deflecting the attention away from the two of you and something to chuckle about over some dinner.
Escape London Book, Amazon, £7.19
This is a great way to stock up on ideas for future dates, and it’s also a useful little book for them to explore on day trips with friends and family, too. If you’re a London-dweller then you’ll understand the need to get out of it sometimes!
Amazon.co.uk Gift Card, Amazon, Varying Amounts
It might sound dry, but bear with me. My suggestion would be to put this in a card, write something like, ‘For our next movie night’, then settle down to pick a rom com that isn’t included in the Amazon Prime package. Thoughtful and straightforward, perfect!
Like the skydiving, this is something fun and interesting to do together. Most people love gin, and this will allow them to get creative with their flavours – then you can drink the fruits of your labour and snuggle on the sofa for the rest of the evening.
These are the best biscuits you’ll ever taste (in my humble opinion), and there’s something deliciously meta about giving the gift of a gingerbread man holding a bunch of flowers. It’s both clever – if I do say so myself – and thoughtful, plus who doesn’t love a sugar high?
This gorgeous bath powder will make even the dreariest of bathrooms feel like a luxury spa. It creates a scented bath in moments, is relaxing, and leaves skin feeling silky soft. Who doesn’t want to be thought of in the bath, eh?
If they like golf, they’ll love this Tiger Woods hat from Nike. Not only is it thoughtful, it’s also useful – as any avid golfer will tell you. It comes in three colours and will ensure they’re leading the fashion pack on the course.
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