Part 1: Planning and Preparation

Part 2: A Romantic Atmosphere

Planning and Preparation

Impress Her With an Invitation
Send an invitation to your sweetheart instead of calling them up and inviting them over the phone. Create this by hand with a fancy piece of stationary or a blank card. Be sure to include the date, time, location and dress code. You may be tempted to surprise your honey by not telling him or her what you have planned, but that could spell disaster. If they don’t expect food to be served they may eat a full meal before meeting you. So make sure they know that this night will include dinner.

The Secret to Choosing What to Make
Instead of consulting “romantic meal” menus when deciding what to cook, ask your partner what his or her favorite meals are. It doesn’t matter how much of an aphrodisiac oysters are, if your sweetheart doesn’t like oysters, your plan won’t work. Once you find out what their favorite meals are you can search the Internet to find the recipe. Try cooking.com, they test all their recipes and usually include a picture. If her favorite meal is a childhood favorite, call her mother for the recipe. Keep in mind that preparing their favorite meal will score you more points than a recipe randomly chosen out of a book.

What To Wear
Dress to impress. If the room, the table and the meal is going to be fancy shouldn’t your attire also fit the bill? Tell your sweatheart to wear something extra nice (such as a skirt, a cocktail dress, a suit, khakis and a sweater).

More Food Tips
Plan ahead so that everything on your plate is ready to be served at once. Jumping up throughout the meal to stir your vegetables just isn’t romantic.

If you will be serving a dessert, we suggest preparing it earlier in the day so that it will be ready to eat whenever the meal is over.

Wine is a traditional compliment to a romantic dinner…but not everyone drinks wine. Optionally replace it with cider or an immitation wine that is alcohol free. These can be found in the grocery store and in some liquor stores, they are usually quite nice.

Finally, cooking together isn’t all that unromantic. Imagine kissing your partner’s neck while they chop veggies, hugging him from behind while he stirs the pasta and stealing kisses during idle time. Throw in some mood music and great conversation…now cooking together doesn’t sound too bad does it? For a really special occasion, such as Valentine’s Day or an Anniversary I would stick with you serving and pampering her and nix on this idea.

A Romantic Atmosphere

• String white christmas lights wherever you can: along the fireplace, around a door or window frame…but don’t string them around something you don’t want to draw attention to, such as the kitchen cupboards, a cluttered shelf, etc.
• If your romantic dinner has to take place while it is still light out, cover your windows with black bags and close the blinds so that no light will seep through.
• Use candles, but avoid the scented kind so as not to overwhelm the wonderful aromas of your meal.
• Have music playing softly in the background. Have a few CD’s preprogammed into your stereo, or set out so you don’t have to riffle through your collection when one finishes playing.
• Set up the table in the most romantic room of your house. Often this is not the kitchen, not to mention that looking at all those dirty pots and pans can be distracting. Your first choice should be in front of the fireplace if you have one.
• Use your nicest dishes.
• Use fabric napkins if possible, and make sure they are free of stains. For a nice added touch, roll each napkin losely, put a small rose on top of it then tie them together with a piece of ribbon.
• Turn off the phone, cellphone and pager.
• Use a clean table cloth and sprinkle it with rose petals or heart shaped confetti.
• Fill two wine glasses almost to the top with water and place a floating candle on top. This makes a nice table decoration
• If you think your after dinner plans may end up in the bedroom then have it prepped with rose petals on the bed, unlit candles by the bed with matches within reach, white Christmas lights strung along the bed posts. And make sure the bedroom is clean and there are fresh sheets on the bed.

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What guy wouldn’t love to receive a coupon redeemable for “25 kisses (not on the lips)” and what woman wouldn’t love a coupon redeemable for “an evening of us time” or “a heart to heart talk”?

As a matter of fact, Dr. Phil polled men and women and asked them what they wanted for Valentine’s Day. A whopping 86% of men responded “sex” and the majority of women (65%) said they wanted a romantic evening planned by their spouse. Our collection of love coupons contains many creative coupons redeemable for both of these and more!

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The Twilight Saga

Based on the award-winning novels by Stephenie Meyer, these stories of vampires and werewolves are arguably the most romantic we’ve seen over the last decade. The theme of eternal love is examined in a modern, fantastic setting, helped along by the broody looks of Robert Patterson as the ever-attractive Edward. Although this most recent sequel is Twilight at its darkest, romance is still the pull and focus of the story. And to add further to the theme, the two protagonists are happily together in real life and are even reportedly spending Christmas together.

The Adjustment Bureau

Another Matt Damon film, another action-packed struggle against a sea of faceless villains. But this time he’s fighting for love, his assailants the agents of fate. No matter how hard their enemies try to prevent it, ballerina Elise and politician David keep bumping into each other and are determined to have their lives together, however much it may strain against their destinies. Super-natural, thrilling, unique and deeply romantic.

One Day

David Nicholls’s hugely successful novel One Day was adapted to screenplay by the author, filmed and released this year. It details the lives of one couple on the 15^th of July each year for two decades, examining their ups and downs, following their heart-filled struggle. Another very romantic premise.

Jane Eyre

Probably the most romantic novel ever written, this Charlotte Bronte classic has been again adapted for screen. Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester are a match made in heaven, combating social etiquette, crazy ex-wives and scarring bodily injuries over their lengthy courtship. Two relative unknowns play out this age-old love story with touching depth in a thoughtful adaptation.

The Inbetweeners

If I said ‘controversial, modern comedy’ you may think of a plot involving the increasingly popular habit of meeting people over a free dating site, or other technologically advanced ways of handling romance. But The Inbetweeners take a different approach, setting their romance in a depraved, alcohol-fuelled clubbing resort in Greece. After several hours of cringed-filled comedy, the film concludes in a surprisingly romantic way. Definitely my romance of the year.

There have been many epic romances of 2011 and there are sure to be many more in 2012.

Talk Back: Have any favorites you’d like to add? Post a comment below…

Love Coupons are a romantic twist on the idea of a grocery coupon, when given as a gift your sweetheart can redeem them for a number of romantic favours, such as “25 kisses (not on the lips)”, “An evening of wine and candles” or “A relaxing back massage”. The RomanticPrintables.com website includes many more of these extremely unique, fun and sexy coupons ready for printing, and perfect for his or her stocking.

check it out > Printable Love Coupons

Men, this is the most popular gift, almost every female we talked to (if not every female) suggested this. Put together a “Relaxation Basket” for her. Include things like bubble bath, a bath pillow (waterproof pillow for the bathtub), candles, body lotion, a CD of relaxing music (some stores sell music specifically for creating different moods), a good book and gift certificates for professional massages, manicures, facials and pedicures. Every woman is unique, add your own ideas, maybe you know of some other things your wife or girlfriend uses to relax: like chocolate, or a good movie. Wrap all of these together in a basket or fancy box, it is a wonderful way to show that you care and understand that her life can be so stressful! By the way, this a great gift idea to get any woman…your mother especially!

Dinner for Two, On You

Make a homemade coupon for a romantic dinner for two at her favorite restaurant. Be sure to treat her like a lady all night: open doors, compliment her, open her car door first, bring a rose when you pick her up.

Books

If you’re not sure what she likes to read, buy her something off the best-sellers list, or ask the employees at the bookstore what they recommend.

Candles and a Candle Holder

All but one of the women we spoke with suggested a really nice scented candle and candle holder. A nice candle will cost about $6-10 and the candle holder varies in price depending on your taste. Choose a candle with a really yummy scent, and we guarantee you can’t go wrong with this!

Christmas Tree

If you will be spending Christmas together in a hotel or cabin, surprise her by calling ahead of time and arranging to have a Christmas tree in the room, and secretly pack tree lights and decorations. When you arrive you can decorate the tree together. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a tree.

Bath Time Accessories

Does she enjoy taking baths? Why not get her some scented soaps, bubble baths, candles and a body sponge? You can put everything together in a basket, wrap it in cellophane or paper and tie it with a bow.

Personalized Calendar

Make a personalized calender for her. Fill each month with your own pictures, make special calender dates stand out (her birthday, your anniversary, the anniversary of the day you met, etc), you can even make up your own special days like a weekend getaway and a day to devote to her, and only her.

Gift Certificates for Weekends Away

The husband of one of our friends gives his wife homemade gift certificates for nights or weekends at ‘Bed and Breakfasts’. She loves B&B’s, so he takes her there when she needs a weekend to relax.

Scrapbook of Memories

Put together a “Scapbook of Memories”. This takes a lot of work, so I suggest starting early. Collect things like movie stubs from movies you’ve taken her to, pictures, postcards from your vacation spots, little poems, type out the words to “your song”, loveletters you’ve sent her or she’s sent you, emails, something from the beginning of your relationship, anything that has a special memory behind it. Nicely arrange everything you gather in a photo album. Include an introduction page, with a little message for her and the date.

Sentimental Painting

Last year one woman’s husband found a painting of the place where they had their first kiss, he had it framed and gave it to her for Christmas. It had a lot of sentimental value to both of them…what a great idea! If you can’t find a painting, take a picture and have an artist paint it for you…or just frame the picture.

A Journal

If she likes to write, get her an elegant journal.

Engraved Jewlery

Buy a keychain, braclet or necklace pendant, and have it engraved. The engraving could be: “_______ loves ______”, “I love you”, or something meaningful between yourselves. What a great reminder of your love that will be with her all day.

Personalized Love Story

Write her a lovestory with you two as the main characters…then have it bound and made into a simple book.

Subscription to her Favorite Magazine

She would probably love a subscription of her favorite magazine.

Photo Collage

Buy one of those large picture frames that has smaller spaces for a collection of pictures. Then gather a bunch of your nicest pictures together, and arrange them in the frame. You could even take this one step farther and get a personal engraving on the bottom of the frame.

Homemade Christmas Stocking

Buy some material and sew her a stocking, then fill it with small, individually wrapped presents.

Personalized Stationary

If you are in a long distance relationship and write letters to each other, why not have some personalized stationary made for her (note paper, envelopes). Include some stamps and a writing pen.

Collector’s Item

Does she have a special collection, like miniature teapots, or antique clocks? Get her something to add to her collection. Search around at flea market and yard sales, the more unique the better.

Dance Lessons

Sign up for dance lessons together (has she ever said “I’de love to learn how to ballroom dance” or “I wish I knew how to do such and such a dance”?). Women like when the men they are with want to spend time with them, and this is a way of ensuring that you will be spending time with her every week.

Christmas Tree Ornament

How about a Christmas tree ornament to celebrate your relationship. You can get some for marriage and others with little figurine couples on them and the year.

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