6 perfect Valentine's Day gifts for every stage of a relationship

Dec 20 2017, 4:03 am

If you haven’t been paying attention, Valentine’s Day is about to sneak up on you. It’s one of those rare times of the year those of us in relationships (even those of us in new relationships) struggle with a decision. Should I get my partner a Valentine’s gift? The answer is likely yes, but the question is, what’s an appropriate gift that will be well-received?

If you’re in a new relationship, and this is the first time in a long time you’re going to have a date on Valentine’s Day, you might be stressing out a little. But stop. Breathe. It’s not that big of a deal. Yes, there’s such a thing as doing too much, and there’s such a thing as doing too little, but this greatly depends on what stage your relationship is in.

Here’s our Valentine’s Day gift guide for every grey area, every situationship, and every stage of a relationship:

Dating for 2 years or more

Image credit: Clara Jewelry

Image credit: Clara Jewelry

Situation: Long-term relationship
Gift: Diamond earrings

They’re shiny. They’re gorgeous. They go with everything. Diamonds are a girl’s best friend. “We get several orders right before Valentine’s Day, and most of those orders come from men shopping for their long-term girlfriend or their wife,” Josh Raber, founder of Vancouver Diamonds told Vancity Buzz. “Diamond earrings are the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for those in serious or long-term relationships.”

Image credit: VancouverDiamonds.ca

Image: Vancouver Diamonds

This is one of the most romantic and timeless gifts to give, and with prices ranging anywhere from $150 to $5,000, you really can’t go wrong.

Dating for 1 to 2 years

Image credit: Tiffany & Co

Image: Tiffany & Co

Situation: Serious relationship
Gift: Anything from Tiffany & Co

Tiffany & Co has your back this Valentine’s Day. Their jewelry starts at around $150 and most women will love pretty much anything from Tiffany’s. It’s a great gift for Valentine’s Day when you’re in a more serious relationship because it’s a luxury item. It’s comes in adorable packaging, complete with a romantic satin ribbon and it’s very high-quality jewelry that lasts. Tiffany also has an awesome selection of heart-shaped pendants, heart-shaped earrings and bracelets with heart-shaped charms. Very appropriate for Love Day, right?

Dating for 6 months to 1 year

Situation: Ready to say “I love you”
Gift: Personalized jewelry and a “10 Reasons Why I Love You” photo book

If you’ve been dating for at least six months, chances are you’ve already said “I love you” to each other, or you’re ready to say it for the first time. What’s more romantic than getting those three little words engraved onto a custom piece of jewelry for your special someone?

Starting at only $60, The Giving Keys will sell you a unique key necklace or key bracelet with a custom engraving to show your thoughtfulness. Not only are you giving her the ‘key to your heart’, but you can also get it engraved with both of your initials, the date you met, or a simple engraving of “love you”.

giving keys love cuff and necklace

Image: The Giving Keys

Combine this customized piece of jewelry with a customized “10 Reasons Why I love You” photo book full of cute photos of the two of you and your 10 reasons why you’re in love. With this combination, you may just have the best Valentine’s Day gift ever, because almost nothing is as thoughtful and creative as this gift idea.

Dating for 3 to 6 months

Image credit: Pinterest

Image: Pinterest

Situation: Official couple / new relationship
Gift: A bouquet of red roses

After the six month mark, I think it’s safe to say you’re in more than a ‘situationship’. You’re a couple at this point, so it’s okay show some thought and be romantic. A bouquet of beautiful red roses is a traditional and romantic gift without going too over-the-top.

Dating for 1 to 3 months

Image credit: mylittlecakepop.com

Image: My Little Cake Pop

Situation: Grey area / newly dating
Gift: A bouquet of cake pops

Heart-shaped cake pops are a cute, fun, and light-hearted gift that are perfect for a brand new relationship. If you’re in a grey area in the sense that you haven’t yet had the “what are we?” talk, but you know you like her, this gift won’t scare her off. While red roses are perfect for those in relationships, cake pops work just fine for those in almost-relationship.

It shows you like her enough to get her something and avoids you looking like a douche by getting her nothing. Find a local cake pop shop or cake designer who can get creative with some cute (and tasty) heart-shaped treats. I love the Vancouver company The Cake Pop Shop because they make great-tasting cake pops themed and custom-designed for any occasion, and their heart-shaped pops are freakin’ adorable.

Dating for less than 2 weeks

Situation: Nothing yet
Gift: Nothing

Don’t be weird. If you’ve been dating for less than two weeks, any gesture is a bit weird. The only thing I’ll allow you to do is give a gag-gift, such as this funny card from Etsy that reads: “I know we’re not like, together or anything, but it felt weird to just not say anything so I got you this card. It’s not a big deal. It doesn’t really mean anything. There isn’t even a heart on it. So basically, it’s a card saying hi. Forget it.” Happy Valentine’s Day!

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