By Danielle Andrews
Valentine’s Day often arrives wrapped in shiny foil: heart-shaped chocolates, red roses and expectations that can feel equal parts magical and overwhelming. Yet beneath the commercial glitter lies something far more timeless: a celebration of love in all its forms—romantic, platonic, self-directed, and soulful. At its heart, Valentine’s Day is less about feigning perfect unions and more about intention. It’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and choose connection on purpose.
This is why our matchmakers at Kelleher Int’l get so excited for Valentine’s Day as our motto is “Match on purpose … for a greater purpose.” We get to look back and celebrate all of the couples we’ve brought together throughout the year. We frequently receive Thank You Notes in the form of engagement announcements, wedding invitations and even baby reveals! It is such a joy to watch families literally grow and blossom, all because we were able to bring two people together who otherwise would have never found eachother! It is a great honor! And one that we hold sacred with reverence and responsibility.
As poet Rumi once wrote, “Where there is love, there is life.” Valentine’s Day gives us another excuse to breathe life into our relationships through presence, creativity, and care.
Valentine’s Day Trivia
- Saint Valentine secretly performed marriages for soldiers forbidden to wed. He believed that love was a human right, not a privilege. He was later martyred for it.
- In the Middle Ages, Valentine’s Day was linked to the belief that birds began mating on February 14th, symbolizing the start of romantic unions. This idea inspired poets like Geoffrey Chaucer to associate the date with courtly love long before greeting cards existed.
“Love will not be constrain’d by mastery.
When mast’ry comes, the god of love anon
Beateth his wings, and, farewell, he is gone.
Love is a thing as any spirit free.”
― Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales
- The oldest known Valentine’s message dates back to 1415, written by Charles, Duke of Orléans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Love, it seems, has always found a way—even through stone walls.
God forgives him who has estranged
Charles, Duke of Orléans
Me from you for the whole year.
I am already sick of love,
My very gentle Valentine.
Unique Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
Modern love doesn’t fit into one box, so why should Valentine’s Day? Instead of focusing on grand gestures, many couples are shifting toward experiences that feel personal, grounded, and emotionally rich. Philosopher, Alain de Botton says, “Love is a skill, not just an enthusiasm,” Valentine’s Day is the perfect moment to practice that skill intentionally.
- Take a Stroll Down “Memory Lane”
Where did you first meet? Do you remember the exact moment you the first felt butterflies? Where was your first kiss? Revisit these meaningful places or even better, recreate the moment together or as a surprise. Emotional nostalgia is a powerful bonding tool.
- Write a Love Letter (Old-School Style)
Get some parchment paper and a calligraphy kit and write a handwritten letter. Endeavor the craft of poetry. Singe the edges to give it that antique quality. Seal it with a wax stamp. Even if you aren’t a gifted writer, your sincerity will come through and I promise you; that letter will be cherished and saved as a symbol of your love for years to come.
- Cook a Meal From Another Culture
Choose a cuisine neither of you has tried before—Ethiopian, Georgian, or Peruvian, for example. Learning something new together creates shared novelty, which psychologists link directly to increased attraction.
- Take a Class Together
Is there something you’re both interested in learning but haven’t taken the time to explore? A pottery or cooking class, wine pairing or painting? Finding ways to express yourselves is a great way to get to know eachother better. Creativity lowers emotional defenses and opens space for playfulness—an underrated ingredient in love.
- “Big Questions” Walk and Talk
There’s something about walking in nature that gets the mind and lips moving. Go for a long walk in your nearest park and ask the questions you feel you never really have the approprate time to delve into.
- What do you think of … (this or that philosophy)…?
- What are your wildest dreams? Your bucket list?
- What was growing up in your hometown like?
- If you could have dinner with one person alive or dead …?
Deep conversations help to create intimacy more quickly. Esther Perel has created an excellent game called Where Should We Begin? A Game of Stories, perfect for getting to know someone on a deeper level
- Single? Take Yourself Out on a Solo or Self-Love Date
If you’re single, Valentine’s Day can be radical self-celebration. Take yourself out on a date, write yourself a letter of appreciation, or plan something indulgent and nourishing. As Audre Lorde once said, “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.”
Thoughtful and Unique Gift Ideas
- A “Why I Love You” Jar
Fill a jar with handwritten notes—specific reasons, memories, inside jokes, or hopes for the future. It’s a gift that keeps on giving long after February 14 as you both can continue to refill it at random!
- Personalized Experience Gifts
Instead of objects, give moments and future memories: concert tickets, a weekend getaway, a massage, or an event you can do together. Research shows experiences often create longer-lasting happiness than material items.
- A Custom Playlist or Audio Message
Create a playlist that tells your love story, or record a voice message sharing what your partner means to you. In a digital age, intentional audio feels deeply intimate.
- A Book With Annotations
Gift a book you love and underline passages that remind you of them. Write notes in the margins explaining why. It’s a quiet, romantic way to be emotionally seen.
- A Time Capsule Gift
Create a box filled with photos, notes, and small objects from your current season of life. Add a letter to be opened together on a future Valentine’s Day.
- Ethical or Symbolic Jewelry
If you choose jewelry, consider pieces with meaning—birthstones, coordinates of a special place, or symbols like knots (representing unity) or circles (representing eternity). In ancient Rome, rings symbolized trust, not luxury.
A Few of Our Favorite Quotes on Love
- “Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- “To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” — David Viscott
- “The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more.” — Nicholas Sparks
Love Beyond One Day
Perhaps the most meaningful way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to see it not as a performance, but as a reminder. A reminder that love grows through presence, curiosity, and consistent care. The flowers will fade, the chocolates will disappear—but how you make someone feel lasts much longer.
In the end, Valentine’s Day isn’t about doing more—it’s about loving better. Whether you celebrate quietly or extravagantly, alone or together, the most romantic thing you can offer is authenticity. Because love, when chosen daily, becomes a practice—and that is always worth celebrating. ❤️
Of course, if you’re still looking for that special person to share your life with, make it a gift to yourself and enlist Kelleher International to do the leg work for you and help you navigate your journey towards love!
