9 Ideas to Inspire Your Valentine’s Gift Buying

February 9, 2023

With Valentine’s Day only a few days away, are you still stuck for gift ideas for that special someone? Whether you are planning a romantic evening with your significant other on February 14th or a Galentine’s blowout with your favorite gal pals on February 13th, we have everything you need for your last-minute gift buying. 

If you are celebrating with a new love, your long-time partner, or special friends, Valentine’s and Galentine’s is the perfect time to show those close to you how much you love and appreciate them. What better way to do that than by finding the perfect gift that shows you understand them and know what they enjoy.  

Red roses and boxes of chocolates are traditional gifts but can be overdone at this time of year. Let them know you care with a unique take on these traditional gifts or else a present that strays from the ordinary. 

Check out our top 9 ideas to inspire your gift buying for this Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day. Then stop by our Gainesville, FL gift store, where you will find everything you need in one location (and no nail-biting wait to see if an online delivery arrives in time!). Our friendly and knowledgeable team can assist you in finding the perfect gift in plenty of time.

Wine and Dine

Are you planning a quiet night in with a glass of your loved one’s favorite wine or sparkling beverage? Make it special by pairing their favorite beverage with our selection of stunning wine glasses and tumblers. Find one that fits their personality and style, like the “Wine Life” glass or decorative tumbler with a sparkling crown to let them know they reign supreme in your life. For a more classic accessory, pair a special bottle of wine with our carafe and glasses to set the tone for a special night in. 

Image of wine glasses with jewels on them

If a fun Galentine’s celebration is your priority with your gang of pals, why not choose a glass for each person attending your gathering. This way no one’s drinks get mixed up, everyone has a glass picked for them personally by you, and they have a special party favor to take home with them. It will be a night they will remember always! 

Change Up the Chocolates

If your special someone loves chocolate, then Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to treat them. First, find out what type of chocolate they prefer. Some of us are committed to pure dark chocolate, while others love milk chocolate or filled chocolates. Or maybe you fit into the third category: “If the question is chocolate, the answer is a resounding yes!” 

If you are buying for your longtime love, you probably already know the answer to this question. If this is a relatively new romantic interest, try to find out what they prefer so you can select the perfect type. If in doubt, get a variety of chocolates so they are sure to find something they like and can share the rest with friends or family. 

For a truly unique and indulgent chocolate experience, try Bissinger’s Chocolates. Their handcrafted chocolates originated in Paris in the 1600s, so they know how to make excellent confectionary. Go for a selection of their signature chocolate bars in classic dark chocolate or yummy flavors like banana pecan caramel or dulce de leche.   These will be ideal accompaniments to a glass of bubbly with your partner or as the centerpiece of your Galentine’s party snacks. 

Image of Bissinger's chocolate.

Flowers that Last

There’s a reason why flowers are such a popular choice for Valentine’s Day. They bring color into our lives and are a classic way to show others how much we care. Flowers are associated with special events like weddings and birthdays, and certainly are no stranger to Valentine’s Day gifting. 

If you are going for something special for Valentine’s Day, try taking the tradition of offering flowers one step further with our selection of faux florals. These imitation flowers look as good as the real thing, but you don’t have to worry about wilting or dried out flower petals. Arrange your favorites and pair them with a decorative vase that will enhance their home and have the staying power of your love.  

Choose from a wide range of faux florals to set the tone for your joyful Galentine’s celebration. Or make it into a fun activity where guests can create their own floral arrangements to take home at the end of the night!

Image of pink and white flowers in a white vase

Cards for Your Favorite Gals 

Valentine’s Day cards are a longstanding tradition, from homemade cards you made as a child to heart adorned cards for your significant other. Traditional cards may be okay for your love interest on Valentine’s Day but what about your gal pals? If you want to express just how much they mean to you on Galentine’s Day in a quirky, fun way that fits your friendship, we have the perfect card for you. 

Tell them they are doing great or how thankful you are for having them in your life. Or give them encouragement by taking a page out of one of our favorite character’s playbooks: “Try to live every day like Elle Woods after Warner told her she wasn’t smart enough for law school.” Yes!

Image of cards that encourage and bring a laugh to a friend

Romantic Dinner In

Is the restaurant scene on Valentine’s Day not for you? This can be one of the busiest nights for restaurants and often not the best time to visit your favorite eateries.  Save that dinner out for another night when you can really enjoy great food and service without fighting crowds or being limited to special Valentine’s menus. 

Instead, spend Valentine’s Day showing them how much you care by cooking a special dinner at home. Find out their favorite food type and whip up some culinary delights that will win them over. Grill steaks with our range of spice blends and sauces, whip up a stir fry, or go for a popular favorite with a delicious Italian meal. 

Image of Bourbon Smoked spices

If you aren’t sure where to get started, check out our Italian meal prep supplies that will make creating your favorite Italian dishes easy. You will be gazing at each other across a plate of spaghetti a la Lady and the Tramp in no time!

Image of Italian cooking set

Or Cooking with Your Friends

A Galentine’s celebration with your favorite pals is a great time to get creative and cook together. You could try a potluck where everyone brings a favorite dish, or prepare an elegant brunch together with a selection of goodies to suit all tastes. One of our favorite foods for sharing is taco night. Let someone fix the homemade salsa and guacamole, someone else prep the side dishes, while you get the main event organized. Don’t forget the margaritas!

Or go for something exotic and fun and try making your own homemade sushi. With a few key ingredients, homemade sushi is a lot easier to prepare than you might think.  Find a specialty store or Japanese section in your grocery store, and don’t forget a sharp chef’s knife for preparing the fish and cutting your sushi rolls. Pick up a sushi rolling mat, along with sushi rice (cook it in your rice cooker for best results), and Nori (the dried edible seaweed sheets that hold your sushi rolls together). 

Let everyone attending your Galentine’s party prepare their own variety of sushi from a selection of ingredients. For vegetarians, there are plenty of vege sushi options like cucumber, avocado, and asparagus. When you are done, lay it all out on our adorable sushi trays and have chopsticks ready to enjoy your finished sushi rolls.  

Image of sushi tray and chop sticks

Celebrate the Strong Women in Your Life

Whether you are shopping for your wife or girlfriend, or looking for something unique to tell your female friends how much they mean to you, find a gift that lifts them up. Choose lotions and candles with a calming scent because they definitely need some relaxation after a hectic day! Look for unique products from women-owned companies, or locally crafted products made by female artisans.

One way to celebrate the strong women in your life is with the Infinite She products. This range of fragrances, lotions, and candles with names like Vibrant and Inspired call on women to stand proud and be themselves.  Their products feature the stories of dauntless, inspiring women from throughout history, with uplifting scents and messages perfect for the important women in your life.

Image of Infinite She brand perfume

Personalize it with a Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words, so tell the people you love how much they mean to you with a photo that says it all. Find a special photo of the two of you together that will bring a smile to their face anytime they look at it.  Finish off this personalized gift with a unique frame that enhances both the photo and their home design style. This gorgeous metal frame with a heart shaped opening is the perfect finishing touch for a one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day gift that tells them how much you love them.

Image of Valentine's Day heart-shaped tray

Pamper Your Special Someone

What you want most on Valentine’s Day is to feel special and loved, and one of the best ways to express this is by giving your special someone the royal treatment. Tell them to put their feet up and relax while you pop the bubbly to share a toast. Let relaxation take center stage in your Valentine’s gifting too by giving them a pamper kit. Think soothing eye masks, scented candles, fuzzy slippers, and robes for the ultimate at home spa experience. 

Image of robe and fuzzy slippers draped in a bathtub

Present your special someone with their personalized pamper pack and add some relaxing music to complete the mood. The pamper pack is ideal for a Galentine’s get together too.  Create a mini-pamper kit for each guest and spend some much-needed relaxation time with your best girlfriends. 

Make this the best Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day celebration yet.  Plan some quality time with your closest loved ones, do something special together that you both enjoy, and find the ideal unique gift to show them how much they mean to you. Our Gainesville, FL gift store has everything you need in one location.  Visit us to do all your Valentine’s shopping and let our team help you find gifts for all your loved ones.