If love is in the air but planning isn鈥檛 your forte, don鈥檛 worry 鈥� there are still some great last minute options for Valentine鈥檚 Day.
Any hopes of reservations at a fancy restaurant are out of the question, which means there鈥檚 an opportunity to cook a loving home-made meal. Some easy and fast ideas include steak or pasta; make your dish look more complex than it is with a fine garnish or sauce, and of course accompany the meal with your favourite wine and some candlelight. Voila!
You can also make some cute and delicious last-second snacks like chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate bark or granola.
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Not much of a cook? Why not head to your favourite to-go restaurant and plan an afternoon out on the beach or at your favourite viewpoint. If you want to make it extra romantic, bring a blanket and some dessert.
If your sweetheart isn鈥檛 a foodie then maybe go for an experiential gift; try a new class like rock climbing, salsa dancing or painting. You can always go for the classic date-night and see a movie, or better yet create your own theatre with a projector, a sheet on the wall and some homemade popcorn.
If you like to head outdoors, why not go for a hike? Environment Canada calls for a mix of sun and clouds and a high of 9 C on Friday, so you could also visit some local favourites like the Butchart Gardens, or Beacon Hill Park (don鈥檛 forget to grab an ice cream at the Beacon Drive-In).
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If your love interest is more of a material person, there are some great last-second options, for example, a Valentine鈥檚 Day Market happening at the Cascadia Quadra Liquor Store at 2670 Fifth St. on Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m., and let鈥檚 not forget the amazing one-day orders available from many online outlets.
Want to go big? You could always get married! Some cities host last-minute pop-up weddings or vow renewal ceremonies, like Victoria鈥檚 Love Bash event on Feb. 14 at the Victoria Public Market.
READ MORE: Unique Valentine鈥檚 event offers pop-up weddings for couples
When in doubt, go for the classic: pen a heartfelt letter in a nice (homemade?) card and give it to your sweetheart. Letters are kept for decades and can be read again and again as a cherished gift.
