In the doldrums of February, snowflakes offer us a lesson in love. Just like the human heart, no two are quite the same but all are alike in their fragility and complexity. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, that’s a timely reflection; after all, everyone loves differently and, as we’ll soon explore, everyone feels differently about love.

Here at Eventsforce, we don’t know anything about snowflakes — or the human heart or love — but we do know a thing or two about event planning. And so — whether you want to make a sweeping gesture of romance or offer up an act of simple kindness — we explore how approaching the occasion like a planning pro will create a moment to remember.


Who do you love? What do they love?

Every great event planner has an intimate knowledge of their audience — of their likes, their dislikes, their needs, and (we have to say this because it’s Valentine’s Day) their desires. This is a relationship that’s based firmly upon hard data, something that you are unlikely to have at your disposal. You know what? That’s totally fine because you have something even better: an intuitive knowledge of the one you love. So, if you want to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day for your sweetheart, you need to ask yourself one simple question: Who do I love and what do they love?


Planning a Valentine’s to please everyone

After all, what could possibly matter more than love on Valentine’s Day? Nothing, right? Ha! How about money? Not to kill the moment, but — before you get carried away with planning the finer points of this special occasion — you’d be wise to make like a planner and cast an eye over your budget. After all, with Valentine’s Day coming hot on the heels of Christmas and all of those January bills, you may soon find yourself reigning in any overly extravagant plans. This sounds like a real downer, but as we’ll soon see, it’s something that can work very much in your favour, leaving you ample room for creativity, to offer up a truly unique gesture of affection to the one you love.

If you read our Thanksgiving blog, you’ll remember that our suggested timeline had any would-be hosts prepping about a month before Turkey Day. Similarly, if your Valentine’s plans are more complex — if they involve different geographies, time zones, or travel, etc. — then you’d be wise to stick to that month approach. Mid-January is the time to ask yourself if:

• You want to send flowers, chocolates, or cards internationally.

• You want to get a spot at that top restaurant (or any restaurant!) on Valentine’s Day. If that’s the case, then you’d be wise to make a booking soon after the New Year’s confetti falls.

• You want to whisk your beloved away to an entirely different locale for a romantic trip, etc.

If you’re only reading this now and kicking yourself for missing that mid-January deadline for what was meant to be a big, blow-out gesture of love, don’t worry. Think of it this way: you’ve got a leg up on next year’s Valentine’s proceedings and you can still make a more subtle approach using the tips set out below.


Seize the micro-moment for a lasting effect

OK, so by now, your mind and your heart are focused upon the object of your affection, and you’ve got a handle on your budget. What’s next? One of the great things about Valentine’s Day is that this is an occasion that is just as suited to small, meaningful gestures as it is to huge, dramatic moments.

On this point, it’s also worth acknowledging the fact that some people simply do not like or “do” Valentine’s Day. You can plan all the grand gestures you want, but this cohort remains resolutely uncharmed by fancy dinners, expensive chocolates, or big bouquets. From where they’re sitting, anyone can book a table, buy chocolate, or order flowers. Their perspective? It’s perhaps best summed up by the great Shania Twain when she sang, “That don’t impress me much.”

When conventional gestures won’t do, it pays to think smaller because — as every planner knows — the success of an event often lies it its finer details. Valentine’s Day is no different and so we propose that you use your intuitive knowledge of the one you love to seize upon smaller details to conjure up unexpected moments of engagement. Just as a planner seeks to keep their audience engaged after an event is over, this is a move that creates a warm glow of love that will outlast the roses in any bouquet.

In the event planning industry, these slots of time — commonly referred to as “micro-moments” — offer a means to connect emotionally in a world where everyone — including your beloved — is pressed for time. Happily, this micro-moment strategy can be adapted to suit your means and the atmosphere you want to set, from pure romance to more of a ‘thinking of you’ vibe. Even better, you can weave in elements of personalisation — yet another tactic from the world of event planning — to incorporate all the things that matter most to your sweetheart.


Making matters of the heart matter

Because everyone loves differently and you know your love best, we aren’t going to tell you exactly how to create these special little moments. That takes the fun away from this whole exercise and we could go on forever! But little, small gestures — like a hand-written note placed strategically in the pocket of a coat, a laptop, or a lunchbox, or even a voice note instead of a text — always go down well. Don’t know what to say? While you won’t be deploying any kind of fancy event-tech to build your Valentine’s experience, you can — just like any smart planner would — turn to technology for support and inspiration. This is where AI comes in handy. Use it to put some flair behind your sentiment, to plan a perfect meal for your beloved, or even to create a personalised itinerary for an evening out (or an afternoon way, etc.) that you know they’ll adore.

But however you plan it, consider that — just like your love — the possibilities for the perfect Valentine’s Day are endless and infinite. With these thoughtful tips from the event planning world, you can create a moment to remember for ever and ever.