When Is It Too Soon to Celebrate Valentine's Day?

February 4, 2010

As Feb. 14 approaches, a friend of mine recently came to me with a dilemma. She just met a new guy and she's really excited about him. They've been out on three dates and things are going well, but now she wonders if they'll do something for Valentine's Day.

I told her that I thought that they could be "Valentines" and do something fun without it being too relationshipy. For example, they could go out to a fun (not super-romantic) restaurant and skip the roses, chocolate, or other classic gifts. Still, I could see how some people would think that's moving too fast.

Yesterday I asked you taken women how the romantic holiday has changed for you and your partner over time. Now I want you all to weigh in on a different debate: how soon is too soon to celebrate Valentine's Day?

Source: Flickr User Karen Horton

9 Comments

image4u2ce 3 years 15 weeks

I guess we could all agree that Valentines day is just another day... I believe gift giving is optional.. spending the day with that person you Love...or Like...is the best way to show that you care...wether it be going out to dinner or staying home and making dinner together and watching a movie..

PLEASE CANCEL 3 years 15 weeks

I also think Valentine's Day is over-hyped. About five years ago, I had just started seeing my now-husband and we just gave each other goofy cards. We'd only been casually dating for a few weeks at that point. It was enough.

postmodernsleaze 3 years 15 weeks

I agree with msame. Don't make a huge deal of it, but give them a funny little Valentine card a la elementary school.

pink-elephant 3 years 15 weeks

Obviously, after only a short time dating you wouldn't want to go completely overkill. For me, I think a few small gifts are nice, just to say you were thinking about the person, as a nice gesture...but it shouldn't define your relationship. I think many people have made v-day a whole lot more commercial than it actually needs to be.

msame 3 years 15 weeks

Skip the fancy mamblojamblo and do a throwback to the classic elementary school valentine declaration of "I like you". Generic card that comes in a box of 20 from Walgreens + 3 Hershey Kisses. Feelings expressed. 2-14 is celebrated. Not a whole lotta $. DONE.

msame 3 years 15 weeks

snarkypants 3 years 15 weeks

it's a day. valentine's day should not be celebrated period.

skigurl 3 years 15 weeks

by then they will have been dating over 2 weeks (even if casually, it's still dating) so i don't think that's too soon whatsoever!!valentines day is a day, it's simply a day. so it would be nice for them to do SOMETHING but there's no need to go overboard and get married just because it's a hallmark holiday. if i were her, i'd get him something cute and small (either a joke gift they'd talked about or something like a little box of candies with a little note attached)...nothing major...and it's up to him to get her flowers or whatever IF HE WANTS...if he doesn't, fine but i don't think she needs to mandate what they do and what they exchange by way of gifts...it's not really a gift giving holiday anywaywith my boyfriend we like to do fun stuff on valentines day like go to a concert...we have romantic dinners all the time, there's no need to splash out for a $300 meal just because hallmark says we should...we just spend the day together and give each other something to show we love each otherso i guess this was my long winded way of saying that it's never too early to celebrate valentines day...just do what comes naturaland frankly, if this guy DOESN'T want to spend the day/evening with her in some capacity and doesn't ever raise it, he's just not that into her

skigurl 3 years 15 weeks

by then they will have been dating over 2 weeks (even if casually, it's still dating) so i don't think that's too soon whatsoever!! valentines day is a day, it's simply a day. so it would be nice for them to do SOMETHING but there's no need to go overboard and get married just because it's a hallmark holiday. if i were her, i'd get him something cute and small (either a joke gift they'd talked about or something like a little box of candies with a little note attached)...nothing major...and it's up to him to get her flowers or whatever IF HE WANTS...if he doesn't, fine but i don't think she needs to mandate what they do and what they exchange by way of gifts...it's not really a gift giving holiday anyway with my boyfriend we like to do fun stuff on valentines day like go to a concert...we have romantic dinners all the time, there's no need to splash out for a $300 meal just because hallmark says we should...we just spend the day together and give each other something to show we love each other so i guess this was my long winded way of saying that it's never too early to celebrate valentines day...just do what comes natural and frankly, if this guy DOESN'T want to spend the day/evening with her in some capacity and doesn't ever raise it, he's just not that into her

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