Valentine's Day tips for long-distance couples: 6 ways to make it memorable

The heart does go on, as Celine Dion wisely sang.

So remember that, if you’re feeling a little low on Valentine’s Day, as your partner is in a different country. You can take this opportunity, to get creative and make the day even more memorable!. You don’t need to be in the same room to show your love and appreciation—distance makes the heart grow fonder, after all. Near, far…wherever you are…okay we’ll stop.

Check out some creative ways to celebrate, straight from UAE residents who know how to keep love alive across the distance.

Virtual date night

It’s what Manisha James, a Dubai-based homemaker planned last year: She created a perfect virtual date night, with a video call, so that she and her husband could watch both the Top Gun films. As she suggests, “You can dress up, light some candles, and order dinner from the same restaurant, or cook the same meal, so it feels like you’re eating together."

Send a care package

Luciana Davis, a Dubai-based entrepreneur recalls how her partner, when he lived abroad, used to send surprise packages in the mail. She was never fond of roses and chocolates, so he would send lilies, her favourite childhood reads, and snacks. “I think care packages are a tangible reminder; it’s something you hold close, when both of you are apart,” she says.

So, look for something that really speaks to your partner and send them a package filled with little gifts, handwritten notes, a plushie, or maybe musical records. (that works wonders, we hear).

Love letter exchange

There’s always something deeply personal in reading letters, from the dotted ‘I’s to the crossed ‘ts’. They speak more than a text message could. As Mirelee Key, a relationship coach says, “It’s the ultimate romantic gesture, because you know that the other person has put so much effort into it. And you can see it and just preserve it, for years later."

Celebrate with a virtual gift-giving session

Instead of sending gifts in advance, plan a virtual ‘gift exchange,’ advises Key. Unwrap your presents together over a video call. Whether it’s a cute personalised item or something that they’ve been wanting for a while, watching each other’s reactions is the next best thing to being together in person.

Create a virtual playlist

Music has a powerful way of making you feel someone’s presence. Dubai-based Jheel Kumar, who has been celebrating Valentine’s Day via zoom for two years, remembers feeling particularly emotional on one occasion, when her partner turned the mood around with a playlist of their favourite songs. “It wasn’t even love songs, it was a mix of rock, pop, and some that had no meaning, which just made us laugh, and that felt so healing.”