Valentine's Day can be tough when you're in a long-distance relationship. You wish you could spend the day together going out to a nice dinner, exchanging gifts in person, or cuddling while watching romantic movies. But the miles separating you can make it hard to celebrate.
Luckily, there are lots of creative ways to have virtual Valentine's Day dates from afar. With a bit of effort and planning, you can still feel connected, loved, and romantic even if you aren't physically together. Read on for some fun, screen-based date night ideas you can try this February 14th and beyond!
1. Online Cooking Class Date
Taking a couples cooking class online allows you to level up date night with delicious entertainment! Sites like Airbnb Experiences offer everything from intimate pizza making sessions to complex multi-course dinners guided by world class chefs.
Choose a menu that excites you both, order any specialty ingredients ahead of time, and set up your kitchen cams so you have views of each other prepping. When class time hits, pour some wine to sip and log on ready to impress one another with your culinary prowess. But don't be afraid to fumble! Having to direct and help each other through intricate steps or tricky techniques is all part of the bonding fun.
As the meals come together, chat about what creative directions you might take recipes in the future. When the grand finale tasting arrives, provide honest yet loving feedback on how the dishes turned out. Virtual cooking dates let you dream up future plans for recreating menus together once reunited, perhaps on anniversaries or during cozy staycations. For now, simply raise glasses to celebrate proximal growth - no matter the physical distance cementing your relationship.
2. Customized Spotify Playlist Date
Exchanging custom Spotify playlists is a really special way to feel connected and give your partner insight into your heart from afar. In the weeks leading up to Vday, slowly curate romantic mixes featuring songs that relate to your relationship's memories, inside jokes, special moments distanced by time or space.
Think of it like crafting an emotional mixtape love letter just for your partner's ears! Feel free to get creative - you can organize tracks into categories, capture eras like when you first started dating, include lyrics in the playlist descriptions that explain significance. No matter how you format, let the tunes time travel your minds back to experiences that shaped your storyline.
When your virtual date rolls around, build anticipation by sending Spotify links back and forth first. Relax together on video chat when you're ready to dive in. Discuss your choices - maybe certain repeated artists become "your jams." Swoon over songs you both happened to pick. Let the music spark romantic conversation, reflections on growth, giddiness over the endless love-filled chapters yet to be written together. The personalized playlists offer rare insight into the snapshots stored in each other's hearts.
3. Netflix Party Movie Marathon
A Netflix Party movie marathon makes you feel like you're snuggled up on the couch together, even from afar! Decide if you want to select one genre to dive deep on or a variety for well-rounded entertainment. Rom-coms and nostalgic films always make for good virtual date fodder!
Using the Netflix Party browser extension, synchronize your streaming with your partner's so you're literally watching the movies at the exact same time. Get cozy in loungewear with your favorite movie munchies and decompress. React out loud to plot twists, analyze characters choices, joke about behind the scenes trivia - like you naturally would during any binge session side-by-side.
The chat feature really makes things feel intimate since you can send timestamped commentary to each other while the show runs. Imagine the cute arguments over differences in opinion that would play out in person! Enjoy the familiarity of doing a classic dating activity remotely. By the end, you’ll be cued up for Part 2 of the marathon on your next virtual date night!
4. Deliver Surprise VDay Gifts By Mail
Everyone loves receiving mail, especially when surprises are involved! In the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day, brainstorm gift ideas to entice your partner based on inside jokes, favorite treats, hobbies, matching accessories - anything meaningful you know they'd appreciate.
Splurge on pretty jewelry, concert tickets for future reunited dates, sweet personalized trinkets, cozy loungewear, favorite snacks, sentimental framed photos, a book of love poems...the options are endless! Place orders secretly so everything arrives at their doorstep right on February 14th.
Hop on a video call so you can peek over their shoulder as they unwrap each present. Watching genuine excitement spread across their face and hearing squeals of delight over each reveal will fill you both with fuzzy feels of thoughtfulness from afar!
5. Long Distance Romantic Picnic
Enjoy idyllic outdoor dining vibes inside your own homes by planning parallel virtual picnic dates! Discussrecipes in advance then prepare grazing cheese/charcuterie boards and sweet treats. In your respective spaces, set up cozy picnic spots on floors with pillows, blankets, flowers and candlelight.
Pop some bubbly then log onto video chat propping up your devices so you can “sit” across from each other. Display your colorful Picnic spreads and toast! Nibble away while playing games like Two Truths and a Lie or 20 Questions. When it feels right, read romantic poems aloud or exchange virtual love notes. Alas, no blanket cuddles - but relishing quiet simplicities while connected can be just as nurturing for longing hearts.
6. Live Virtual Improv Show
Many comedy clubs and improv theaters are offering live virtual shows these days. Watching an improvised comedy or improv show can be a fun and lighthearted activity for couples separated by distance.
Look up theaters or comedy groups in your area or your partner's area that are streaming shows online. Pick out a show that works with both of your schedules. If the show requires tickets, be sure to purchase them ahead of time.
Log into the virtual viewing platform together at the start time with your own snacks and drinks on hand. Video chat with your partner while you tune in to watch the live improv show. You'll get to enjoy laughs together as the improvisers create scenes and characters out of thin air based on audience suggestions.
Not all virtual shows are created equal in terms of interactive capabilities. Some may allow viewers to submit scene ideas or improv prompts in real-time. Others will at least let you post reactions and chat about the show as it unfolds. Take advantage of whatever interactive options are offered to feel more engaged and connected to your partner.
After the show, chat about your favorite moments, characters, jokes or improv games that the performers acted out. Shared experiences like enjoying a live comedy show can help strengthen your bond even from miles away. Consider making a fun virtual date out of other online events - concerts, plays, magic shows or more. The interactive element helps make it special.
7. Multiplayer Online Game Night
A fun way to connect from afar is by hosting your own virtual game night. Look for multiplayer online games that you can play simultaneously with your partner. Popular options include Jackbox Games, apps like Psych!, QuizUp and web-based platforms like PlayingCards.io.
Schedule a game time in advance and make sure you both have the necessary software downloaded. Get onto a video chat platform so you can see each other's faces. Queue up the same multiplayer game and start competing!
Jackbox offers party packs with hilarious and creative games that only require players to use their phones as controllers. Psych! and QuizUp lets you test who knows more about the other person through a trivia competition. PlayingCards.io allows you to sit across from your partner for virtual card and board games from classic Go Fish to checkers.
Consider keeping score and granting silly rewards or forfeits to the winner of each round. Stock up on fun snacks and drinks to fuel your game night at home. The activity will help you feel connected and engaged as you laugh, strategize gameplay and enjoy friendly competition.
After a few rounds with scores settled, continue the conversation to catch up more personally before calling it a night. With a bit of advanced planning, multiplayer games can provide active fun for long distance couples.
8. Remote Crafting Session
Getting crafty together can be a creative way to bond from afar. Schedule a video call and decide on a craft project you can work on simultaneously even while apart. Options include activities like painting, jewelry making, scrapbooking or creating DIY decor pieces.
Make sure you purchase or gather the same craft supplies and materials in advance so you're prepared to follow along. Once you're both settled in front of your cameras ready to craft, pull up a tutorial video or Pinterest inspiration to guide the project.
Take turns offering encouragement and feedback as you master each step of the process. Ask questions, share tips and proudly display your progress to one another. Couples can even mail their finished crafts once complete so you both end up with a matching set for memory's sake.
The lighthearted crafting activity sparks productive conversation that carries beyond the project itself. And since attention is divided between chatting and hands-on creating, any awkward lulls are prevented.
Wrapping up your Valentine's Day with a remote but shared experience making art, gifts or decor helps serve as a creative bonding substitute for couples unable to celebrate the romantic holiday together in person this year.
9. Long Distance Wine Tasting
A long distance wine tasting allows you to swirl, sip and savor fine wines together from afar! Start by each acquiring 1-2 bottles of the same varietals - whether you order from services like Winc that ship to most states or visit local stores. Consider going for a theme - perhaps splurging on fancy Californian reds or romantic Italian classics.
When your virtual Vday date rolls around, set up your devices in kitchen/dining areas and unpack your wine accessory arsenals! Break out fancy stemware, listerine-clean palates, cheese/fruit pairings and tasting note sheets. Pour initial glasses, hold up bottles by cameras for inspection and make your first sniff/swirl/slurp in unison.
As the glasses empty, discuss and debate tasting notes - from the balance of tannins and oak to finishes that linger. Nerd out over fun production facts you Google about the vineyards or branding backstories. Dig into regions you’d like to visit together one day when reunited for more intimate tastings. Most importantly let the wines transport your minds to happy places as you soak in the simple joy of experiencing something new as one.
10. Remote Romantic Dinner Date
A romantic candlelit dinner for two is a Valentine's Day staple. While you may be miles apart, technology allows you to simulate the experience. Schedule an extended video call during dinnertime when you're both free. Get dressed up, set the mood with music, dim the lights and decorate your individual tables.
Plan out a special multi-course meal you can eat together. Choose recipes for appetizers, entrees and desserts that you both can purchase ingredients for or have delivered. Cooking the same dishes fosters connection and gives you something to compare notes on.
During your remote dinner date, chat about your days, future plans, relationship memories or anything else. The only difference from an in-person romantic meal is having to enjoy the food separately. Maintain eye contact and focus on conversation as much as possible rather than letting the distance diminish intimacy.
Once you've finished eating, have some virtual dessert by watching the same romantic comedy or baking show. Close out the evening expressing how much the quality time meant even from afar. A remote dinner date complete with dressed up attire, candles, food and affectionate discussion can make for a sweet Valentine's Day celebration.
11. Themed Long Distance Date Night
Pick a fun theme to build an immersive virtual date around. Ideas include decades like the Roaring 20s, faraway places like Parisian cafés or fantasy worlds like a night in Hogwarts. Discuss your theme ahead of time and brainstorm ways to bring it to life during your video call.
On date night, transport yourselves by dressing up to match the theme. Craft themed cocktails or snacks to indulge in. Immerse in music from the era or location. Decorate your individual spaces with visual details aiding the illusion like travel posters or era-specific books as props.
Spend your virtual face-to-face time living out this alternate reality. Pretend you’re meeting in old-timey attire at a speakeasy or wandering the streets of 1920s Paris together. Let conversations flow naturally about musings within this themed world. Stay rooted in the premise using accents, mannerisms and language that keep the roleplay vibrant.
The creativity and escape can stimulate new energy and conversation topics for long distance pairs unable to reunite the way they’d like this Valentine’s Day. When the date winds down, plan the next theme adventure to countdown to, making virtual meets more whimsical.
Immerse yourselves in romantic worlds that transcend the miles through the power of theming and your shared imagination.
12. DIY Hot Chocolate Bombs
Making hot chocolate bombs together virtually can be a super fun and personal experience. Before your video date, order supplies like chocolate molds, cocoa powder, mini marshmallows, sprinkles, etc. When Date night rolls around, position your cameras so you can both see each other's work stations. Walk through melting chocolate, filling the spheres carefully with sweet mix-ins, decorating them playfully, and customizing flavors to each other's preferences.
Chat casually while your DIY chocolate bomb creations chill in the fridge, exchange excitement when they harden perfectly, and decide together when to finally dunk them into steaming milk! Sip the rich, chocolatey hot cocoa creations you handcrafted specially for your love. Let the sweetness warm you up, despite the literal and metaphorical distance apart.
13. Virtual Museum or Zoo Tour
Thanks to technology, you can now explore world famous museums and zoos together from anywhere! Sites like the Louvre offer virtual tours of their epic halls - wander through iconic painting galleries, ancient sculptures and regal architecture live. With your cameras on, walk and discuss remarkable exhibits you discover like you would meandering hand-in-hand.
Or check out San Diego Zoo's animal live cams that provide up close looks into enclosures. Cozy up with some popcorn and react out loud when adorable creatures come into view! If weather permits, bundle up with laptops and navigate the virtual grounds from your own backyards for serious safari date night vibes despite the separation. Knowledge and discovery have never felt so romantic!
14. Online Dance Party
An online dance party lets you be fully silly and carefree, even if miles lie between you! Make dedicated playlists with favorite funky love songs from over the years. Think slow tracks perfect for showing off your smoothest moves to make your partner swoon to upbeat hits bound to inspire ridiculous moves. Give yourself enough lead time to also order fun photography props, festive drinkware, perhaps even themed attire or backgrounds!
When go time arrives, hit play on your synced up songs, strike dramatic poses and outlandish dance moves for each other. Let loose lip syncing into makeshift mics, challenge one another on "dance cam", and giggle yourselves breathless over how normal inhibitions fade away through a screen. Don't take yourselves too seriously - just bask in dorky digital memories destined to become inside jokes.
15. Long Distance Karaoke
A long distance karaoke date lets you serenade your sweetheart no matter the mileage! Cue up instrumental versions of classic romantic ballads along with cheesy pop songs on YouTube. Display lyrics on split screens to belt out duets together, or take turns soloing love tunes while your partner swoons over your efforts.
Up the ante dressing in wild 80s glam costumes or channeling Elvis to impersonate icons! For even more fun, incorporate an interactive karaoke app like AirSng which adds graphics, filters and allows others to request songs. You'll laugh at wonky notes or pitch issues only detectable by true loves. But the genuine attempt to creatively connect through music is what makes virtual karaoke nights truly special.
16. Play Online Board Games and Trivia
Game on with your partner by logging into multiplayer virtual board game sites. Classic options like Battleship, Yahtzee and Scrabble let you go head-to-head on video chat for friendly competition. Or discover new favorites like CodeNames and One Night Ultimate Werewolf which inspire teamwork.
If trivia is more your speed, apps like QuizUp allow you to find niche topics then test each other’s knowledge – either working collaboratively or trash talking the whole time! Set up festive backdrops and sip cocktails to immerse yourselves in the experience. Getting buzzed off wine and intellectually challenged at the same time makes for ultimate date night bonding goals.
17. Take a Couples Online Class
Trying a new hobby or skill as a couple – even from afar – can feel super fulfilling. Scour sites like Airbnb Experiences for specialized virtual classes across countless categories. Choose an area you’re both keen to explore more whether that’s crafting, cooking, mixology, art, dance, language, music, etc.
Sit side-by-side at your cameras ready to take instruction. Learn as you go, laughing over mistakes made or marveling at hidden talents discovered in one another. Some courses even approach romance focused topics like sensual dance or couples massage—intimate education minus the awkwardness of a public audience! Simply showing up with willingness to grow while having lighthearted fun sets the foundation for an unforgettable experience.
18. Online Paint and Sip Night
An artistic twist on the standard video call is to get supplies for a paint and sip session you can enjoy simultaneously while on camera. Choose a painting, perhaps something romantic or holiday-appropriate, that has an online tutorial or is taught on a virtual painting platform.
Make sure you both have a basic set of paint supplies - canvases, acrylic paints, brushes and cups for sipping. Before your call, arrange your painting workstation with good lighting and a water container for brush cleaning. Pour yourselves a glass of wine or another festive beverage to toast the occasion.
At the scheduled date and time, log on to video chat, cue up the virtual painting lesson, and get creative following along together step-by-step! Offer each other encouragement, share laughs and enjoy light music or conversation in the background while you put brush to canvas.
Display your artwork to one another proudly when finished and vote on whose turned out better. Some virtual painting platforms even allow you to save, share or order prints of your designs. Clean up before signing off so you don't cut painting time short.
The shared artistic experience and seeing your partner focused on creating something beautiful makes for a unique Valentine's Day date. It may not be an in-person night out, but an online paint and sip session fosters intimacy from any distance.
19. Remote Scavenger Hunt
A remote scavenger hunt date allows you to get playful, work together, and explore each other's spaces from afar. Begin by separately brainstorming fun themed lists packed with tasks and challenges for each other to complete on camera within time limits. We're talking silly dares like dancing in costumes, showcasing hidden talents, posing goofily with household items and decoding clues.
You can even include relationship questions or trips down memory lane. The goal is friendly competition to solve everything the fastest!
When your virtual Vday date starts, set the stopwatch and race around providing live check-ins on video chat. Narrate your problem-solving thought processes out loud. Shout encouragement as you both leap over obstacles and proudly display proof by camera. Feel that old familiar adrenaline rush of trying to win while still making intimacy a priority.
End by exchanging sentimental mailable gifts or deciding on forfeits for whoever comes in 2nd place. Most importantly, let loose, be ridiculous, and relish these new insider moments that turn miles dividing you into laughs binding you closer together!
20. Interactive Couples Yoga Flow
An interactive couples yoga flow is a beautiful way to feel united with your partner, even from a distance. Before your Valentine's Day video date, pick out a beginner-friendly yoga sequence that incorporates partner poses, mirrored movements, and tandem breathing exercises. The act of flowing in sync - though miles apart - can feel intimate.
Start by lighting candles to set a relaxing mood in each of your spaces, then log on to the video chat and take a moment to gaze into each other's eyes. Take a few centered breaths together before pressing play on the yoga sequence audio guide. As you hear the teacher's calming voice, move through sun salutations and warming poses, checking in with smiles here and there.
As you progress to more complex balancing postures, use each other as stability - extending your limbs out as if they could meet. When twists arise, synchronize by imagining holding hands and use the resistance to intensify the stretch. For deep hip openers, maintain eye contact and steady pacing to stay present in tandem. Finally cool down lying on your backs, distantly yet feeling connected through breath, basking in the afterglow of exercise and emotional closeness.
The shared experience leaves you nurtured, your bodies aligned, and bonds perhaps feeling stronger than the stretches! It may even inspire ideas for future in-person couples yoga adventures once reunited. For now, blow kisses and be grateful for technology allowing intimacy to blossom across the miles.
21. Spotify Playlist Show & Tell
Music is a powerful way to express love and can heighten intimacy even from miles away. Plan a video call where you each share a custom Valentine's Day Spotify playlist with songs that remind you of your partner or your relationship.
Spend time in advance carefully curating your list of tracks that capture memories, inside jokes or affectionate messages you want to convey. Think about lyrics, rhythms or vibes that your partner connects to. Sprinkle in a few mushy romantic songs but also some upbeat energizing anthems.
When your virtual date begins, take turns presenting your playlists to each other. Explain why you chose specific songs and what they signify about your bond. Play 30 second previews of stand-out selections talking through the meaning behind them.
Beyond just discussing the music taste itself, this activity should launch deeper conversation about cherished times spent together in person and hopes for creating new memories down the road. Get creative, maybe even using Spotify to craft a collaborative playlist between both your lineups in the end.
The mix of melodies and lyrics coupled with personal storytelling helps strike romantic sparks from miles away. A little show & tell with your digital music libraries makes for an original Valentine's date likely to hit all the right notes with long distance sweethearts.
22. Cook The Same Fancy Dinner
Plan an upscale culinary experience together from your own kitchens. Research some elegant yet manageable recipes for a three course gourmet meal. Agree on shared appetizer, main and dessert options ahead of time.
On the set date, obtain ingredients from your local grocery store or place ingredient delivery orders. Get dressed up before you begin cooking to set the tone. Pour some wine and queue up a shared cooking playlist.
Hop on a video call so you can cook together, navigating each recipe step at the same time. Share cooking tips and showcase finished dishes to one another. While dishes bake or simmer, use the downtime to catch up more personally.
Pretend you’re out at a high-end restaurant as you show off beautifully plated courses. When ready, sit down across from your camera for remote dining. Rave about how delicious everything turned out and how much effort or skill the dishes required.
Fancy home cooking delivers all the elegance and indulgence of fine wining and dining - without the babysitter or restaurant bill. Embrace cooking new recipes as a chance to get creative, impress one another with skills, and make the most of a night in, even from afar.
The remote collaboration around elevated cuisine helps serve up delightful Valentine’s date energy tailored to couples separated by distance but united by taste.
This Valentine's Day proves that romance isn't canceled just because you're enduring long distance relationship struggles. Though you may feel isolated, there are still plenty of ways to infuse thoughtfulness, fun and quality bonding into your holiday celebration.
Get creative with these virtual Vday date concepts for long distance couples - from cute mail surprises to remote craft sessions or online improv shows. Don't forget to sprinkle in classic digital activities like movie streaming extensions or multiplayer games for extra nostalgia points.
Most importantly, be gentle with yourself if moments of missing physical closeness arise. Honor any bittersweet feelings, voice your affection openly and stay hopeful that the miles won't always separate you. For now, take comfort in knowing your love can transcend screens.
