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Valentine's Day gifts that are not flowers

Updated

Cut flowers last a week. If you want a Valentine's Day gift that lasts longer, or your partner does not care for flowers, there are better choices.

These ideas keep the romance and skip the bouquet. Each one says who it suits and what to plan before 14 February.

At a glance

Gift ideas, who each one suits, and typical cost
GiftBest forTypical cost
A star map of the night you metA couple with a special nightFrom US$49 per print
A potted plantA partner who likes living thingsUS$25–US$75
A book with notes in the marginsA partner who readsUnder US$25
Dinner cooked at homeA couple who avoid crowdsUS$25–US$75
A day planned around themA partner who values timeUS$75–US$150
Your song, printedA couple with their own songUS$25–US$75
A scrapbook of your relationshipA partner who keeps ticketsUS$25–US$75
A class for twoA couple wanting something newUS$75–US$150
Jewellery with a meaningA partner who wears jewelleryUS$75–US$150
Breakfast in bedAny partner, any budgetUnder US$25
Vouchers for real favoursA partner with a busy weekFree
A list of reasonsA partner who keeps notesFree

  1. A star map of the night you met

    A star map print from Star Crossed Skies shows the stars above the place you met or married, at the date and time it happened. You write a title and a message, and choose the size and frame. It is made to order, so order in January.

    Make your star mapRead more: A Valentine's Day star map

  2. A potted plant

    A potted plant lasts for months or years, unlike cut flowers. Choose one that suits their light and their patience: a pothos or a snake plant for a beginner, a moth orchid for someone with a bright window out of direct sun.

  3. A book with notes in the margins

    Buy a copy of a book you love and write notes in the margins for your partner to find: why a line made you think of them, or a memory it brings back. It takes a few evenings. It suits a reader.

  4. Dinner cooked at home

    Cook the meal from your first date, or their favourite dish, with the table set properly. Restaurants are full on 14 February, and a dinner at home is quieter. Do the washing-up too.

  5. A day planned around them

    Plan a full day built around what your partner loves: a long breakfast, a walk, a film, a favourite pub or bar. Write the plan on a card. It suits a partner who values time over things.

  6. Your song, printed

    Print the lyrics of your song, or a few lines from it, with the date you first heard it together. Frame it for a bedroom or hallway. It suits a couple who have a song they call theirs.

  7. A scrapbook of your relationship

    Collect tickets, receipts, photos and notes from your time together into a scrapbook. Add a caption to each page. It is slow to make, so start in January.

  8. A class for two

    Book a dance, cooking or pottery class for the two of you. Many studios run Valentine's sessions. It gives you a new memory instead of a vase.

  9. Jewellery with a meaning

    A simple piece engraved with a date, initials or the coordinates of a place you share. Keep it understated so it gets worn every day. Check their size and metal first.

  10. Breakfast in bed

    Make their favourite breakfast and bring it with tea or coffee and a note on 14 February. Plan it the night before so the morning is easy. It costs little and says a lot.

  11. Vouchers for real favours

    Make a small booklet of vouchers for things your partner wants: a night off the washing-up, a back rub, choosing the film, a lie-in on Saturday. Keep them specific and honour every one.

  12. A list of reasons

    Write a list of specific reasons you love your partner, one per line, and put it in a card or a small jar. Use real moments, not general praise. It takes an hour and is often kept for years.

Choose what lasts

The best alternatives to flowers either last for years, like a print or a plant, or make a new memory, like a class or a planned day. Chocolates and cut flowers do neither.

If your partner loves flowers, you do not need to skip them. Add a small bunch to a gift that lasts.

A gift that lasts does not need to be expensive. A plant, a book with your notes, or a list of reasons costs little.

Order in January

Printed, engraved and framed gifts are made to order and then dispatched. Order in January to leave a margin. Classes and restaurants fill up around 14 February, so book early.

If you are late, plan an experience for the day itself and give the made-to-order gift when it arrives.

New or long relationship

In a new relationship, keep it light: a plant, a class or a home-cooked dinner. In a long relationship, a gift that looks back, such as a star map of your wedding or a scrapbook, suits the day.

Whatever you choose, add a card with your own words. The card is often the part people keep.

Questions

A star map for this occasion

More gift ideas

Start with the night you want to keep.

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