How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in an LDR
Graphic by Anika Dualists
Ahhhh, Valentine’s Day. That one extra special day of the year where you get to celebrate all the love in your relationships. Except it’s harder to do when you’re hundreds or even thousands of miles away from the person you adore most. When you’re in a long-distance relationship (LDR), being surrounded by cheesy rom-coms, dinner dates, and romantic gifts just reminds you of how much you miss your partner. Luckily, these V-Day date ideas don’t require an expensive plane ticket.
Send a Stuffed Animal
When you can’t be their cuddle buddy, send one! Yes, it’s cliché, but with Amazon, Etsy, and SendAFriend, sending something cute and adorable to your partner is cheap, fast, and easy. Because of so many online services and e-marketplaces, you can choose the animal, color, size, and even personalize it based on your partner’s interests. The best part will be watching your partner open their gift over a call on the special day.
Do a Virtual Escape Room Together
For those of us who cringe at the thought of the mushy-gushy romance associated with V-Day, doing a fun experience, like a virtual escape room, will give you both something to think about other than missing each other. There are tons available online for free, and you can either race against your partner to see who finishes first or choose to work together to solve it. Regardless of what happens, you will both have something to laugh about for the rest of the day.
Plan In-Person Surprises
While we promised no expensive tickets, nothing is better than seeing your partner in person. Train and bus tickets cost less than a plane trip if your partner is close enough, or you can grab some friends and make a roadtrip for the weekend. Another option is meeting your partner halfway and explore another city for the weekend. If you’re willing to go through TSA though, reach out to your partner’s friends that you’ve heard so much about and organize a surprise. There are millions of ways to show affection to someone, so feel free to get as creative as you want.
Spend Time with Friends
At the end of the day, feeling a lonely or upset about the circumstance is TOTALLY valid. Hit up your friends to plan a little movie night or make plans to finally go to that new restaurant you’ve been meaning to try. Platonic love is just as important as romantic love, so remind your friends how much they mean to you.
No matter what you end up deciding to do, remember to reflect with yourself and your feelings. Being in an LDR can be stressful and feel isolating. Do not be afraid to take a moment and allow yourself to process and understand how you are feeling.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all the LDRs out there, and everyone else who celebrates! <3