Virtual Valentine's Day

Navigating Valentine’s day can sometimes be tricky, but given a global pandemic? Well that’s a whole new challenge.

Some people have spent every minute with their sweetheart and loved it, but for others it has meant shifting into a new socially distanced love. But however you’re spending your Valentine’s, be it with your bae, your Palentine’s or treating yo’self, check out some fun ways to spend the most romantic day of the year.

Choose your character!

Parter? Pal-entine? Going solo? Whether you’re spending valentines with your sweetie, friends, family or taking some well earned solo time, pick your partner for valentines day. Love isn’t just romantic, check in with your boo, your mates and even your Mum and stay connected with the people you care about.

Plan a Valentine’s for when suits you

Just because Valentine’s is on February 14th, that doesn’t mean it’s when you have to celebrate it. If they next time you know you’re going to see your special someone is in March or April, then plan your date for then. If you make it a surprise your partner will never see it coming.

Arrange a FaceTime dinner date

Dates don’t have to be in person. In the digital world we’ve found ourselves in there’s so much you can do virtually. Amp up your call by having a virtual dinner date - prepare your favourite meal and sit and talk over dinner, or lunch, or even breakfast. Or try having a virtual cooking class - yup, they’re actually a thing.

Play a card game together.

We’re not talking snap or go fish. But grab your Cards Against Humanity, What do you Meme, Gwent or even Poetry for Neandertals and add a little bit of spice to your virtual date.

Stream a show or movie together at the same time.

Gone are the days of trying to buffer up your video at exactly the same time to catch your sweetheart’s reaction to the juicy bit of your show. With Google Chrome extensions like Teleparty, you can watch simultaneously without having to try and sync up together on Netflix and Disney+. Amazon Prime even has a built in Watch Party feature to make streaming apart a breeze.

Take a night out at the museum.

Taking a stroll through a museum or art gallery have always been seen as a classier kind of date (if that’s what you and your date are into). Take you and your Valentine on a private tour of some of the greatest art and museum exhibits in the world from the comfort of your own home, from the Louvre to Studio Ghibli, there’s a whole world at your fingertips.

Find out more about what free Museum tours are available.

Show the romance with a Spotify playlist

Gift your Valentine with a playlist of all the tunes that remind you of your boo, plus the songs that hold a special meaning to you and your relationship. Maybe the sign that was playing the first time you kissed, your first dance or that a friend hummed on a great night out. Keep the playlist private to the pair of you and listen whenever you’re missing them.

Escape rooms

How does a date at Hogwarts sound? Escape to the wizarding school, or rather from it! Spark a little magic by playing through a virtual Harry Potter themed escape room. Completely free, it’s also a great way to reveal your partner’s competitive streak without breaking the bank.

Try and escape

‘36 Questions that lead to love’

Are you a fan of the Big Bang Theory? How about the episode where Penny and Sheldon ask one another the 36 questions that are guaranteed to make you fall in love with another person?

Well whether you’ve seen the show or not, why not grab your boo, grab a snack and see what results you get from your very own experiment.

Start your experience

Spend a night under the stars

Without even leaving the comfort of your duvet, spend a night with your sweetie stargazing. With Stellarium Labs, stare up at the night’s sky and learn a little more about what’s up there at the same time.

Stellarium Labs

Send them a care package of their favourite things.

Grab a box and fill it with their favourite things, or even what reminds you both of special moments in their relationship. Whether it’s with snacks that they’ll love or finally letting them borrow your favourite hoodie, share those moments that will remind them you’re still there, even if you’re distanced from them for now.

Take a matching picture in different places.

It’s time to dust off your photoshop and photography skills. Take a picture wherever you are in the world and put it together in photoshop. You can play around with poses and backgrounds to create the ultimate long distance memory.

Send them a video message.

There’s nothing better than getting an unexpected message from a person you love. Why not spice it up a little and record a message, whether it’s your go-to karaoke tune, a TikTok dance rendition or a pun to make them giggle. Hearing you talk, rather than reading it themselves will make a real difference.

Set up a virtual photobooth

Whether you’re a Zoomer or a FaceTimer (maybe you’re an old school Skyper), set up your online platform with your favourite backgrounds, grab some props and take a bunch of photos together. It could be a beach, a bunch of roses behind you or even a music concert, have some fun making new memories.