Valentine's Relationships

Love Don't Cost a Thing:
Celebrating the true meaning of Valentine's Day

by Sara Holtz

As Valentine's Day approaches, some couples may make reservations for a lavish dinner at a high-end restaurant. Others may prefer something atypical - a little less than extravagant, yet meaningful and memorable.

If you don't think it's possible to express your love in a more creative way, you're wrong. And, yes, you can do it on a budget.

"Have a more personalized holiday," says Christal Rogers, owner of Precise Plans. "Especially in the recession, people are getting more into doing things that are inexpensive and unique to their partner rather than buying stuffed animals and flowers."

Valentine’s Day is a day to cherish with someone special. It’s not just about grabbing some random person to share the company with for the day, Rogers says.

The holiday is so commercialized that both men and women are becoming somewhat materialistic. There are 364 other days out of the year when you can express your love as well. Just because this one day is universally observed doesn't mean you need to spend money on an expensive gift, says Sylvia Roberson, event planner at B Soiree.

"Every day is Valentine's Day at my house," she insists.

Get creative. Write a note and invite your significant other to join you for dinner, which can be at your home. Set an elegant table with your favorite dishes and cocktails chilling on ice. To spice up the ambiance, use tulips and carnations; they are just as beautiful as roses.

If you want to get out of the house, grab your honey and spend the afternoon at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Not a fan of flowers? Visit the Arch, take a stroll downtown or enjoy a romantic view on the riverfront for some bliss on a budget. You could always opt to involve your children to make it more of a family affair.

As long as you have a well thought out plan, it shows that you gave the day a lot more thought than just buying a gift from the store. "It makes a person feel special," Roberson says.