I’m siiiiinging in the … susnshineeee!! As soon as I saw this lamppost steps away from where we were shooting this darling dress – I knew I couldn’t resist channeling one of my favorite Old Hollywood musicals! Speaking of Old Hollywood, don’t you wish that we still dressed as they did on a regular basis? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for my favorite tees and leggings, but there’s just something special about slipping into your best dress for an evening out.
Today, I’m talking all about how to celebrate Valentine’s Day! Whether you celebrate the holiday with your significant other or not, there’s plenty of excuses to don a fancy frock and style yourself to the nines for this romantic holiday. I’m rounding up ten swoon-worthy party dress from across the web – all perfect for February 14th. I’m also sharing nine date night ideas if you’re looking for something fun to do on Cupid’s favorite holiday. Scroll on down below for more!
Why I’m All for Dressing to the Nines on Date Night
For recent date nights, I’ve noticed I’ve been making much more of an effort to get all dolled up. It’s so easy after a long and exhausting day of work and raising a toddler to stay in those same blue jeans and opt for a nicer top. But I find when I put in more effort to really dress up for a date – the evening feels just that much more special. I’m not only putting in an effort to put myself together by putting in an effort to show Patrick that my time with him is special. I like showing him that both outwardly and inwardly! 😉 So on that note, I’ve never needed more of an excuse to get EXTRA dressed up this Valentine’s Day.
Oh yall, this gold and black embroidered dress is the stuff that Valentine’s Day party dress dreams are made of!! Just because red and pink are synonymous with this lovel-ly holiday, doesn’t mean you have to wear those colors to celebrate. Gold is just as festive too!
This cocktail dress by Shoshanna, a womenswear line that does feminine dresses (both for day and night) in the most feminine and elegant way. As of last week, this pretty was available online at Anthropologie. It looks like it sold out since then but sometimes you can still find a piece from Anthro if you call customer service. A boutique could have an online return and that store could ship it to you from across the country. Crazier things have happened to me when I’ve been on the hunt for a very specific Anthro find!
Because this dress wasn’t available anymore, I didn’t want to leave y’all hanging in the party dress department this Valentine’s Day. Rounding up 10 Darling Dresses I am positively swooning over for this Valentine’s Day below.
Shop My Valentine’s Day Party Dress Favorites
& keep scrolling for a few date night ideas too!
And now that we’re on the topic of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about date night ideas! I feel like in the past ten years that Patrick and I have been together – we’ve done it all! From celebrating wtih fancy four-course dinners out to creating a meal from scratch at home – food seems to always be our top priority on February 14th. While we love food, we’ve celebrated this special day in so many different ways and I’m sharing a few of my favorites below in the hopes that they make your Valentine’s Day extra special this year!
How to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
At the Theater
Whether it’s a local play, a movie on the big screen or hey … even the circus (Cirque Du Soleil will be performing in Houston on the 14th) getting out the door for a bit of entertainment never disappoints. I always feel like the evening is a bit more festive when I’m off to see a show too. A few movies I really want to check out this February are Isn’t it Romantic and X-Men’s Dark Phoenix, (starring Sansa from GOT)!
Dinner Out on the Town
Always the easiest and most obvious way to spend Valentine’s Day. After ten years with my husband, I’ve learned to not always wait and let him make our Valentine’s Day dinner plans. Not that he wouldn’t do a great job … you just have to make those reservations WEEKS in advance. As I was writing this blog post, I stopped and made a quick reservation for one of our favorite spots on Open Table. Even if plans change, if we do decide to go out we’re now guaranteed a prime time reservation at our favorite spot.
Whip Up Your Loved One’s Favorite Meal at Home
There’s nothing quite like the ambiance of a romantic candlelit dinner in your own home. Patrick and I spent many a Valentine’s Day this way. I won’t ever forget the time he tried to make a reservation at this restaurant in Knoxville I was obsessed with. Back on my note above, he waited just a tad too late and the restaurant was fully booked and couldn’t accommodate us. Instead, Patrick did the very next best thing (or shall I say the BETTER thing) he made the dinner he knew I would have ordered at that restaurant from scratch at home. It was so incredibly thoughtful and sweet. Something I will never forget too!
Spend the Night with a Staycation
If you have the time to skip away on a staycation this Valentine’s Day, I highly recommend it! Staycations are such a treat now that we have kids – it gives us the opportunity for our date to go beyond just dinner. And the best part?! You can sleep in!! But even if you don’t have kids and sleeping in on the weekends is a given, a staycation can give you the opportunity to explore your hometown in an entirely new way. Visit a restaurant nearby your hotel and check out a bar afterward that might just be too far from home. It is so easy to imagine being hundreds of miles away as opposed to a few minutes when you’re staycationing. (Read six reasons why we love to staycation here!)
Candlelight Picnic in Your Living Room
Circling back to the cooking dinner at home date night idea. Opting to picnic in your living room as opposed to dinner on the dining room table can be oh-so-romantic! One of my college roommates did this for her boyfriend (now husband) and I’ll never forget how she prepped the set up ALL day and surprised him with it. It was too cute! She made a tapas style meal with a cheese plate and even chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. Sometimes doing something traditional in a new and different way can spark so much joy & lively conversation too.
Couples Massage
After treating myself on my 30th birthday to a massage at The Houstonian Hotel … I’m kind of like obsessed with massages now & would looove to experience a couples ‘one with Patrick. Depending on the spa you choose, some offer co-ed relaxation rooms, swimming pools, hot tubs and even restaurants. You could really make a romantic and relaxing day out of the experience.
Opt Outdoors
Trade one of the party dresses I mentioned above for leggings and hiking boots and opt to spend Valentine’s Day outdoors. Living in Texas, every once in a while we find ourselves with a beautiful 70 degree February day. If that so happens to fall on Valentine’s Day or the weekend after, unplug and head outside with your loved one to celebrate each other amongst the trees with a hike or bike ride. Here in Houston, we love the trails at Sam Houston National Forrest and spotting alligators on a hike through Brazos Bend is both parts exhilarating and tranquil.
Breakfast in Bed
Who says you have to celebrate Valentine’s Day just with dinner? Even if it’s just a bowl of cereal in bed together or bringing your man a cup of coffee while he’s still hitting snooze on the alarm clock, a special treat first thing in the morning is a great way to kick of Valentine’s Day.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other each year?! I feel like the longer we’ve been together and the older we get its so easy to dismiss Valentine’s Day as a commercial holiday and do something fun for each other on our own terms. But taking the time to mark the occasion and really celebrate our love on this special day always ends up being so rewarding and I’m thankful that we do make a point to do it, after all, each and every year.
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xo, alice
Loving this how to celebrate Valentine’s Day feature? Take a look here for more of my fashion favorites!
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photos by Ban Avenue Photography
