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A romantic Valentine’s Day requires careful planning and attention to detail. Even if you object to the outrageous commercialism often brought on by this “Hallmark holiday” your date will expect a romantic evening. And if you don’t deliver, you may be spending your next Valentine’s Day alone.
DINNER
A nice dinner is a sure-fire way to impress a date. If you’ll be going to a restaurant, be sure to make reservations several weeks in advance. Many restaurants are booked more than a month in advance, so make sure you plan ahead. If you think you can show up at 7 p.m. on a Saturday and be seated, you’ll either be turned away at the door or face a lengthy wait. If the restaurant you’ve chosen doesn’t accept reservations, you may want to look for one that does. Nothing kills romance like a growling stomach.
If you choose to make dinner, determine your menu in advance so you can be sure to have all the necessary ingredients on hand. Timing a meal can be tricky. If not planned properly, your entrée will be ready before the side dish, and it will be cold by the time everything else is ready. Try to do as much in advance as possible: you can prepare a salad in the morning, and it will still taste fresh in the evening if you refrigerate it and don’t add the salad dressing until right before it’s served. Choose an entrée that can bake in the oven for an hour, so you can make other preparations while it’s baking. Set a timer to go off 15 minutes before the entrée is done so you don’t forget to prepare the side dish. While the entree is cooking, you can pick up around the house, put on soft music, and light some candles. Make sure to put out a magazine or coffee table book so your date will have something to look at while you’re putting the finishing touches on the meal. Last but not least, always turn off the television. TV is a conversation killer, and a sure way to ruin the romantic mood you’re trying so hard to create.
YOU
Always dress up, even if you are just staying in. If you absolutely must wear jeans, at least put on a shirt with long sleeves and a collar. Shower and shave before the date, and go easy on the cologne. Too much cologne is overpowering and indicates that you might be trying too hard. Get a haircut a couple of days beforehand so you don’t look shaggy on the big day.
THE GIFT
Even if this is a first date, Valentine’s Day calls for a gift of some sort. A simple box of chocolates can be inexpensive and endearing. Flowers, either freshly cut or potted are also a good, safe gift. Also, they don’t need to be roses: a bouquet of daisies or lilies is beautiful without being too costly. If you want to spend a little more, jewelry is almost universally appreciated. Although it is the thought that counts and not the cost, stay away from homemade gifts or poetry: unless you have a serious gift, your efforts will come across as cheesy rather than romantic.
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