The first Valentine greeting was sent by a priest known as Valentine in third century Rome to his jailor’s daughter, whom he fell in love with while in prison. How could such an endearing message of love evolve into the parade of elaborate gifts and hype of today?
Paul A. Falzone, CEO of eLove Matchmaking, one of the largest professional introduction companies in the world, explains, “A candlelit dinner and a dozen roses is a sweet gesture, but everybody does it. Dining out has become commonplace. The true meaning of romance lies in originality. Your ‘message of love’ has to be personal and really mean something to the recipient.”
Falzone gives examples of a few romantic gestures that may give you some of your own creative ideas:
Say it with flowers – all year long. You know your sweetheart loves white hydrangeas no matter what the season. Arrange a monthly delivery of her favorite flower for a full year with your florist, with the first delivery beginning on Valentine’s Day. Not telling her that she’ll receive a beautiful arrangement every month is part of the romantic surprise.
Say “you’re special to me” by knowing what s/he likes the most. Maybe she loves live theater, but always seems to miss out on shows because she waits until the last minute to get tickets. Get her season tickets and then escort her.
Support his/her dreams. Perhaps he mentioned that mountain climbing was something he always dreamed about doing. You don’t need to climb the mountain with him, but you might give him a piece of equipment he’ll need to do it or a membership to a climbing club. Supporting his dreams is romantic.
Revisit a special place. On your third date, you went on a picnic on a hill overlooking the town and watched the sunset. That’s the day when you both knew you were serious about each other. You may not be able to recreate the entire scene, but it’s romantic to do it again in honor of that special day.
“Giving jewelry or other big ticket gifts on Valentine’s Day seems to be the norm, but romance is a little more than that. It’s easy to go a store and buy a gift. It’s more about knowing your sweetheart and making a very personal gesture. It’s going out of your way to let them know they are special to you,” said Falzone.
Off-beat Date Contest
Have a great, “offbeat date” story? eLove Matchmaking is holding a Valentine’s Day contest and may publish it online at elovemagazine.com. Email your “Best Offbeat Date” story to eLove Matchmaking at pr@elove.com.
eLove is all you need
With more than 50 matchmaking offices in 25 states, eLove Matchmaking is everything that singles have been wishing for. eLove Matchmaking was voted “#1 Matchmaker” in 2010 and 2011 and their professional matchmakers have paired literally thousands of singles over the past three decades. In addition to a one-on-one meeting with each member, eLove conducts thorough background checks for the safety of everyone they match.
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For more information on eLove, visit www.elove.com.
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