Ideas for an Affordable and Romantic Valentine’s Day Date

All you need for a romantic Valentine’s Day date at home is a home-cooked meal, dessert including champagne and a classic romantic movie. With a little bit of pre-planning and strategizing you can avoid the stress and pressure of Valentine’s Day.

For your home-cooked meal that is sure to impress, choose a simple menu: a one-pot dish and a dessert you can make the day before.  

Look for simple menu ideas in popular cooking magazines like Real Simple, Cooking Light, Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and Every Day with Rachael Ray. Some simple menu examples from these magazines are pot roast, pan-seared scallops and roasted chicken.

For dessert, simplicity is also the key to a stress-free Valentine’s Day. Try chocolate covered strawberries, red velvet cupcakes, heart-shaped sugar cookies, chocolate pudding or simply buy the traditional box of chocolates.

Lastly, pair your home-cooked meal and dessert with a super-romantic movie and an inexpensive bottle of champagne. Below are popular romantic movies to consider. For more romantic movie recommendations, read Entertainment Weekly magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine and Time magazine.

Casablanca (1942) —Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are passionate lovers in this romantic movie with an intense love triangle set in Morocco during World War II. Bogart is jaded nightclub owner Rick Blaine and Ingrid Bergman is his ex-lover Illsa whose husband needs Blaine’s help to survive.

Gone with the Wind (1939) — Vivien Leigh is the beautiful and scheming Southern belle Scarlett O'Hara whose reality changes forever with the outbreak of the Civil War. The dramatic Scarlett struggles to survive the war and its aftermath, as well as her passionate, tortured relationship with the man who is her soul mate, Rhett Butler played by the dashing Clark Gable.

Doctor Zhivago (1965) — Omar Sharif and Julie Christie are illicit lovers against the turbulent backdrop that is the Russian Revolution. Shariff is Zhivago a man torn between passion for his muse and fidelity to his wife.

Shakespeare in Love (1998) — Set in the 16th century, Joseph Fiennes is William Shakespeare and Gwyneth Paltrow is Viola in this fun recreation of the young Shakespeare’s early career. After sharing their love for theater Viola and Will become embroiled in a forbidden love affair.

Love Actually (2003) — It’s Christmastime in England and people are falling in love and out of love with the right people and the wrong people.  This is the story of 8 people who follow their hearts and find love, actually. The incredible ensemble cast includes Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Liam Neeson and Laura Linney.

The Princess Bride (1987) — This lighthearted comedy is a tongue-in-cheek version of the classic fairy tale. Cary Elwes is Wesley, a poor stable boy who falls for the beautiful Buttercup, played by Robin Wright. This sweet, sentimental love story is made hilarious by supporting performances by Wallace Shawn, Billy Crystal, Mandy Patinkin and Andre the Giant; one for the whole family.