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Valentine’s Day

A day filled with love, romance and sweet gestures — the perfect opportunity to show affection towards those special people in your life.

Attitudes & EmotionsLoveMenPeople & RelationshipsWomen95
Marketing angleinferred

Drive gifting, dining, and romance-focused purchases across retail, hospitality, and beauty sectors by positioning Valentine's Day as the ultimate occasion to express love through curated experiences and premium products.

Relevance 95high intent
  • Last-minute gift guides: flowers, jewelry, and personalized cards for every budget
  • Romantic dinner reservation campaigns with exclusive early-bird booking incentives
  • DIY gift-making tutorials (homemade cards, knitted scarves, embroidered items) to drive craft supply sales
  • Rose color meanings guide: help customers choose the perfect bloom to express their sentiment
Marketing playbookideas
Campaign ideas8
  • Interactive 'Love Language' or personality quiz that channels users to curated products based on their answers (e.g., Acts of Service → spa sets, Quality Time → board games)
  • Inclusive multi-angle campaign: romantic for couples, Galentine's for friends, self-care for singles, pet-themed for pet owners—segment messaging by audience
  • Co-brand gift bundles with complementary brands (e.g., wine + gourmet chocolate, skincare + silk pillowcases, candles + bath products)
  • Anti-Valentine's/humorous angle: name a waste bin after your ex, celebrate independence, or position products for self-love instead of romance
  • Limited-edition Valentine's collection tied to FOMO—use countdown timers, scarcity language, and exclusive early-access tiers to drive urgency
  • Flash sale with tiered deals: buy-one-get-one-25%-off, gift-with-purchase at $85 threshold, or free gift wrapping for last-minute shoppers
  • User-generated content campaign: ask followers to share Valentine's moments using your product/brand with a hashtag + incentive (free product, store credit, or contest entry)
  • Post-Valentine's Day self-love extension (Feb 15–21): target non-buyers with messaging like 'You deserve to treat yourself too' + special promotions
Social angles6
  • Behind-the-scenes content: show chocolate-making, product creation, or packaging process + storytelling voiceover about love in all forms #BehindTheScenes #ValentinesDay2026
  • 'What does love feel like to you right now?' interactive poll asking followers to choose cozy, passionate, playful, or self-love—then link to personalized product suggestions #LoveYourWay
  • Galentine's Day angle: 'Celebrating the people (and pets, and selves!) we adore this February' with diverse imagery of friendships, self-care, and family #GalentinesDay #SelfLoveMatters
  • Humorous/relatable: 'POV: You nailed Valentine's Day' using trending audio/transitions to show before-and-after product transformations #RelationshipGoals #ValentinesDay
  • Limited-edition/exclusivity: 'Only 47 left in stock' + countdown timer posts paired with testimonial carousels showing real customers' love stories #ExclusiveRelease #LimitedEdition
  • Influencer collabs: feature couples, friends, or individuals sharing authentic moments with your product + product-in-lifestyle shots (not overly polished) #AuthenticLove #CreatorPartner
Ad copy starters6

“Love doesn't come in one size. Celebrate yours, your way. [Brand]”

“Forget generic gifts. Give something that says 'I actually know you.' (Bonus: quiz tells you what) →”

“52% of people are buying for friends this year—is your gift that good? Take the quiz →”

“Last-minute gifts that don't feel last-minute. Free gift wrap + same-day shipping on orders placed today.”

“From romance to friendship to treating yourself: we've got love covered for everyone. Shop all angles →”

“Elevate your gifting. Limited-edition Valentine's collection—only available through Feb 14.”

Tips4
  • DON'T rely on romance-only messaging; embrace Galentine's Day, pet parents, self-care, and anti-Valentine's angles to reach 28%+ who don't celebrate couples' romance. DO segment your audience and personalize messaging to each group.
  • DON'T just discount; use gamification (quizzes, scratchers, tiered rewards) to collect zero-party data, reduce promo fatigue, and build genuine connection—shoppers are tired of generic 'buy now' blasts.
  • DO start campaigns by late January; 75% of Valentine's shoppers plan by the first week of Feb. Content needs to be live ASAP, ideally with email + social scheduled in advance.
  • DON'T limit messaging to 'big romantic moment'; focus on small, everyday gestures, rituals (morning coffee together), and meaningful connections—emotional resonance wins hearts AND wallets.
History

While some people believe that the history of this day is pretty clear, the reality is that the story behind St. Valentine’s Day is covered in a great deal of mystery. Tradition hails February 14 (and perhaps even the whole month of February!) as a time for love and romance, with both ancient Roman and Christian backgrounds.

But when the life of St. Valentine, the patron saint of this day, is considered, that’s when things tend to get a bit more murky. Some people don’t realize that the Catholic church actually has record of three of its own saints who went by the name of Valentine (or Valentinus) and all three died as martyrs.

How to celebrate

Make a Card or Gift for Someone

Whether it’s a romantic partner or just a friend, Valentine’s Day is a great day to say “I Love You”. Hand made cards and gifts are especially welcome when it comes to showing someone how much they are cared for. January is a dark and quiet month anyway, so there’s plenty of time to prepare homemade gifts from a hobby like knitting a scarf, braiding a friendship bracelet, embroidering a towel, painting a picture or simply making a card.

Send Roses for Valentine’s Day

With delivery services abounding in almost every town, getting flowers delivered has never been easier! Choose to send red roses that stand for passion; yellow for friendship; pink for sweetness; peach for sincerity or gratefulness; white for purity or loyalty; ivory for perfection; and lavender for a crush (or love at first sight!).

Make Dinner Reservations

It’s likely that a last minute idea for going out to dinner will result in ordering takeout to eat at home, because restaurants are basically always full on Valentine’s Day. But, think ahead (sometimes months ahead, depending on the popularity of the restaurant) and make a reservation for two at a romantic place.

Enjoy a Story About Love

Head over to a local bookstore or library and browse the selection of novels or biographies that might feature stories about love. Or, it might even be interesting to read a biography about the guys named Valentine! Those who don’t have as much time to read could put on their favorite drama or rom-com movie and see what hijinx the main characters get into. Try out some of these films about love to get started: Valentine’s Day (2010). Okay, maybe this one is obvious. And perhaps it’s not even a great film, but it would be remiss to leave out this one with an all-star cast including Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner and Ashton Kutcher. The Notebook (2004). This quintessential romance by Nicholas Sparks can be read as a novel or watched in the film starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. Pride and Prejudice (2005). This delightful take on the Jane Austen’s novel of the same name stars Keira Knightly, Rosamund Pike and Matthew Macfayden. Think Like a Man (2012). Based on Steve Harvey’s book Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, this rom-com features Michael Ealy, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart and Meagan Good.

Get Creative for Valentine’s Day

This day doesn’t have to be the same as it’s always been. In fact, it’s a great day to try something new. Go on a mountain hike, visit a museum together, go whitewater rafting or learn how to play chess. Whatever would be fun and can be done in the spirit of love is the perfect activity for this day! Valentine’s Day FAQsWhen is Valentine’s Day?Valentine’s Day takes place every year on February 14. It started on this day in AD 496 when the pope established the holiday in Rome in honor of the martyred Saint Valentine, who was killed on February 14.[1]What to do on Valentine’s Day?This day can be filled with opportunities to show people how much they are loved. Exchange cards, send someone flowers, make breakfast for family members or write a poem.[1]When was the first Valentine’s Day?Valentine’s Day is not actually a modern holiday, but has been celebrated in the middle of the month of February for more than 1500 years. The first Valentine’s Day was established by Pope Gelasius.[1]Is Valentine’s Day a global holiday?Yes! Valentine’s Day is celebrated in various capacities in countries all over the world. From sharing a bottle of wine to giving gifts, from school children in America exchanging Valentines cards to people in Wales exchanging carved wooden spoons, this day is one that shows how people simply love the idea of love.[1]Who was Saint Valentine? There is a bit of overlap in the stories as it seems there were at least three martyred saints with the name Valentine. However, the one most notably celebrated was a priest in Rome who defied the emperor’s anti-love commands and married young couples anyway.[1]

FAQ
When is Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day takes place every year on February 14. It started on this day in AD 496 when the pope established the holiday in Rome in honor of the martyred Saint Valentine, who was killed on February 14.[1]
What to do on Valentine’s Day?
This day can be filled with opportunities to show people how much they are loved. Exchange cards, send someone flowers, make breakfast for family members or write a poem.[1]
When was the first Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is not actually a modern holiday, but has been celebrated in the middle of the month of February for more than 1500 years. The first Valentine’s Day was established by Pope Gelasius.[1]
Is Valentine’s Day a global holiday?
Yes! Valentine’s Day is celebrated in various capacities in countries all over the world. From sharing a bottle of wine to giving gifts, from school children in America exchanging Valentines cards to people in Wales exchanging carved wooden spoons, this day is one that shows how people simply love the idea of love.[1]
Who was Saint Valentine?
There is a bit of overlap in the stories as it seems there were at least three martyred saints with the name Valentine. However, the one most notably celebrated was a priest in Rome who defied the emperor’s anti-love commands and married young couples anyway.[1]