Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and it’s a great way to show the person you love how you feel about them. It is the only day in which you show your appreciation by showering your Valentine with gifts and loving gestures. One of those gestures is the Valentine’s dining experience. Either you plan it together or you can surprise your Valentine with a romantic dinner.

By planning a romantic dinner together, you can brainstorm and prepare an evening that you will both enjoy. The location will be the first thing to decide. Will you have a romantic dinner at home, reserve a table at a restaurant, perhaps create a rooftop experience, or create a picnic table in a park?

If you’re planning it alone, here are some ideas.

You can reserve a table at a restaurant and ask them to decorate it with red and white tablecloths. Bring your own bouquet of red roses to place on the table, which your Valentine can take home with you. Add a personal touch with a romantic gift. Give the gift to the waiter beforehand to place on the table, ready for when the two of you arrive. It doesn’t have to be a big gift, but something small and subtle. A necklace or a pair of earrings is a great way to surprise your Valentine. You can also opt for a personalized gift like a photo of the two of you in a frame or perhaps on a chalkboard tile. It is a wonderful way to show your love.

If you are planning your romantic dinner at home, then you have no restrictions. You can place the dining table in the center of the dining room. Lay out a white tablecloth with a red runner and two bright red base plates. Use the best catering equipment you have to impress your Valentine. Put the silverware next to the bottom and use the best plates you have. As a centerpiece, you can place a dozen red candles of various sizes on a glass plate and light them. It will create a beautiful glowing environment. Spread some red rose petals on the tablecloth and runner. Get creative with the napkins and fold them into interesting shapes like hearts or, if you’re more daring, into swans. Get some good chocolates, add a heart tag with a romantic date, and place one in each of the respective place settings.

Above all, enjoy the company of your Valentine. It’s about the celebration of love.