The Valentine’s Day first date: Should you or shouldn’t you?

Depending on who you ask, Valentine’s Day first dates are either “cursed” or “super romantic”. The big question is, should you or shouldn’t you plan a date on V-Day? We’ve picked apart the debate; all you have to do now is decide which side you like better.

Everyone has an opinion about Valentine’s Day. In fact, it’s probably one of the only holidays that people feel so strongly about. While the questions of chocolates vs. flowers or red vs. black lingerie are all-important, here’s another age-old conundrum: Are Valentine’s Day first dates a good or a bad idea?

After giving the topic a lot of thought, we figured out there are pros and cons to both sides of the Valentine’s Day first date debate. We’ll leave it up to you to decide (and make sure you report back if you do go on a date)!

Hell no!

For every romantic, there’s someone else who resents Hallmark’s favourite holiday. While Valentine’s Day can be super romantic, it can also be confusing — and never more so than when you’ve got a date scheduled for Cupid’s big day.

First dates are nerve-wracking enough without the added pressure of Valentine’s Day. Thanks to popular culture, rom-coms and lingerie stores, we’ve all been conditioned to view V-Day as the ultimate romantic holiday. With relationships and sex on everyone’s minds, and expectations sky-high, some people argue that there couldn’t be a worse day to pencil in a first date.

Single girls tend to have rules about their dating lives, and this is a common one: If you’re casually “seeing” someone or in the flirty stage of a relationship, then a date on V-Day is something to be avoided — there is way too much pressure associated with Feb. 14.

If you’re really interested in the guy but you don’t want to deal with all the lovehearts and mushy couples, do yourself a favour and steer clear of Valentine’s Day. Instead, plan your first date to take place either before or after the holiday. If you get together before Feb. 14 and absolutely hit it off, then you can think about seeing each other again on V-Day. At least some of that initial pressure of the first date will have worn off. If you’re not sure about the guy but you’d like to give it another go, avoid the awkwardness and say you’re having a “girls night” on Valentine’s Day.

If you’re not into taking risks, just have your big date after the Cupid love-fest. That way, you can avoid the over-the-top romance and sentimentality (and underlying expectations) altogether and get to know your date in a normal environment. Instead, grab the girls and have a night out (or in)!

Check out our favourite cocktails and appetisers for a girls’ night in >>

Sure, why not?

Ask any single lady and they’ll tell you: Valentine’s Day isn’t worthy of a countdown if you’re flying solo. In fact, it can be downright depressing — but you can change that if you just have a good attitude. So here’s some food for thought: Why not go on a first date on Feb. 14? What do you have to lose by saying yes?

If you step back and look at the bigger picture, it’s an interesting idea. If you’ve never been out on a date with the guy before, it could be tons of fun to embrace the holiday and all its cheesiness. Before you accept the date, just make sure you’re both on the same page about Valentine’s Day and aim to keep it light-hearted and fun. Just for a giggle, you could plan the most over-the-top, Valentine’s Day-themed date and see how it goes. If you’re stuck for ideas, this formula is a winner: Wear something red and/or lacy and have drinks at a fancy cocktail bar followed by dinner at a restaurant that’s decked out with hearts and doilies. Order champagne, watch the awkward or lovey-dovey couples around you and tell V-Day stories.

Check out our top tips for Valentine’s Day makeup >>

If you’re an optimist, think about this: What’s more romantic than being surrounded by others in love and lust?

Who knows — it could be the most hilarious, memorable date you’ll ever go on. But if it’s not, at the very least it will make a good story. Plus, it definitely beats spending the night at home eating your weight in ice cream, moaning to your other single girlfriends, having a rom-com marathon and whingeing that you’re alone. (Chances are you’ve spent one or more V-Days doing some variation of that!)

So, why not go out on a limb and do something different this Valentine’s Day. Say yes to that date, if you dare.

More about Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day recipes
Flowers for Valentine’s Day