Matt & I aren’t huge Valentine’s Day consumers- he does such a good job of making me feel loved throughout the year that I don’t really feel compelled to go all out on February 14th. That’s not to say I don’t appreciate a sweet note and a little gift, but we keep things pretty conservative here in the Springmann house. The first Valentine’s Day we were together was when we were still in college and with Matt four hours away at Mason, we didn’t get to spend the day together. So what did he do? He had a Ravenclaw hat & scarf sent to me in Radford, because the previous month he’d casually asked me which House I thought I’d be in if we were at Hogwarts. Scoff if you must, but this man is amazing :).

Our first married Valentine’s Day was only a month after we returned from our honeymoon and in an effort to spare our bank account, we did Chinese food and a RedBox movie. We loved the low-key evening so much that it’s become our new tradition, so instead of a fancy dinner reservation, we’ll be watching Sherlock Holmes and enjoying take-out from somewhere here in Reston while spread out on a picnic blanket in our living room.

A couple of days ago I told Matt I really wanted him to write me a letter for Valentine’s Day because we’d forgotten to get cards for one another for our anniversary this year. Whoops! And in true Matt style, he took my request and made it better. I woke up this morning to find Scooby-Doo Valentine’s notes tucked all around the house with a sweet little message from Matt and a bit of scripture to accompany it :).

It’s so easy for me to get caught up in what I’m SUPPOSED to want on February 14th- expensive chocolates, even more expensive flowers, the best table at the fanciest restaurant. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting those things! But deep down, that’s not really what I want on Valentine’s Day- I want to feel pursued, valued, and treasured. When I find myself getting wrapped up in what I think I’m supposed to want vs. what I actually care about (because truly, I’d hate myself the next day for eating an entire Whitman’s Sampler), God always has a way of gently showing me what an amazing man I married, how he is exACTLY what I need and want without the pretense of media-prompted expectations.

Instead of truffle chocolates I’ll regret next week, Matt bought something he knew I’d love- a book about all the “off the beaten track” places to go in London- the best local pubs, the best shopping, the best coffee houses, and quaint places to rest your head at night. We spent the evening mapping out where we want to go when we’re there in June!
Anyone else have a low-key Valentine’s Day tradition? Or an elaborate date night you’re really looking forward to this evening?

Valentine’s Day awesomeness

February 14, 2013

  1. Rebekah Hoyt says:

    I love that you keep Valentine’s Day to a tradition that you both enjoy, rather than trying to fit the “standard” that society has made up. Last year, I cooked dinner for Matt. I decorated the table with balloons and it was fun, low-key and romantic. We don’t really have any set traditions, so this year Matt is taking me out for my favorite kind of food – Thai! Happy Valentine’s Day, Abby! ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Emilia Jane says:

    Love the little notes! Wil and I need to do better with those. Our Valentine’s Day tradition is to make spaghetti together for dinner ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. I’m a Ravenclaw, too! Was totally bummed that was not more Ravenclaw stuff when I went to Universal last year.

  4. Spring says:

    We have never been much for big over the top Valentines Day plans- this year i’m making dinner and I got Silas a scotland sweatshirt (one with the scottish flag on it) we spent hours walking around all the tacky shops in scotland on our honeymoon looking for one and they all seemed cheap so I found one online and ordered it. We are going out to dinner tomorrow night as week nights are hard when he gets up at 4:30am for work. But I must say the Chinese food and red box sounds pretty romantic in my book ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. Jacob picked our wedding date of August 14th so that it would be exactly six months from Valentine’s Day, so it’s a holiday that’s very special in our house. It was the date we also shared our first kiss and saw each other again after years. We usually don’t have a babysitter, but we still try to make each other feel as loved as we can. This year, he got up early with our sons to make red heart shaped cupcakes to surprise me with at breakfast. We’ll actually be going out to dinner somewhere tonight (yay for having my MIL living in town this year!) but we’ll keep it really low key. Like I was literally JUST explaining to him, it’s about just spending time together reminding each other why we fell in love in the first place. I’m not a roses and chocolates kind of girl. I appreciate the simple gestures like the cupcakes way more. Your husband Matt’s idea with the valentines around the house is sooooo sweet! Love that, and I’ll have to casually mention that to Jacob or just go ahead and do it for him instead! ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. so sweet! ๐Ÿ™‚ my hubby left me a card and some non-alcoholic sparkling cider for me this morning since i can’t have the real stuff. it was all i could have ever wanted!

  7. aw, those sweet notes all over the house is an adorable idea! arjun and i aren’t that big on the traditional valentine’s day either. since last year was our first year celebrating it as a married couple, we started our own tradition of building a giant fort to encompass our couch and tv, and then we eat dinner and snuggle up with a movie! it’s a little silly but so totally fun!
    here’s wishing you and matt a very happy valentine’s day! ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. Regan says:

    I love this post! What a sweet guy you have there! ๐Ÿ™‚ I love the picnic style dinner idea – I think I just might steal it for our stay-in evening! Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

  9. Rebekah Carter says:

    I am 24 years old & still hopelessly in love w/ certain beloved stuffed animals. No, they aren’t from my childhood either. I just love stuffed animals now as much as I did as a child so I keep buying them & often my husband buys them for me. He has started a tradition of buying me flowers on holidays like Valentine’s, cutting the stems short, & then positioning them around the apt w/ my favorite stuffed animals so that it looks like the stuffed animals are holding them & presenting them to me. I worked 13 hrs last night at the hospital & honestly forgot it was Valentine’s Day. When I got home, my husband had already left for work but what a huge smile came to my face when I opened the door & saw the futon covered in adorable stuffed animals holding a dozen pink roses. I swear I am not psycho or anything but I just find this so incredibly cute.

  10. Jean says:

    We learned a long time ago that expensive restaurants Valentine’s Day specials are not for us. Since being retired, we opt for a late lunch at one of our favorite restaurants. Today we took a drive into the country then had lunch around 2:00 p.m. We do exchange beautiful cards and my honey always makes sure I have red roses and chocolate. After almost 37 years, he’s still my Valentine every day of the year!

  11. Holly says:

    This is so sweet! ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. David Abel says:

    We don’t usually do a whole lot, maybe a small gift and a nice dinner. Either we eat out or at home and watch a nice movie together. Tonight it’s love actually. I think the most important thing is to be with each other. I love your story though.

  13. Kristen says:

    I feel like Matt just continually sets the bar higher and higher for men… And what you post is probably only like 5% of the adorableness that actually happens. You two are beautiful ๐Ÿ™‚

  14. Sarah B. says:

    How beautiful, Abby! Thanks for not only sharing your photography on your blog but also your beautiful, God-honoring marriage, and your heart!

  15. Laura Gordon says:

    This is SO sweet! I hope someday to find a guy that really gets me ๐Ÿ™‚ I am so glad you had a great day together!!!

  16. Bethany says:

    Ray & I had a super low-key 1st Valentines day together but it was perfect for us. He woke up super early & made me breakfast in bed (before I had to leave for work at 6:30AM!) And then that night I stopped off to pick up his favorite beer & made dinner for us. Simple, and perfectly us!

  17. Robyn says:

    I had just had our second baby a couple weeks before Valentine’s Day. So on V’day, my hubby brought home PF Chang’s takeout (my favorite) and we ate with the kids. ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m not really “into” Valentine’s Day either, so this was perfect.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Leave A Note

Browse the Conversation ...

Snag the Gear Guide

Heck yes! Gimme!

Curious about my gear list?

Follow along

@abbygracephoto

info@abbygracephotography.com

WASHINGTON, DC & WORLDWIDE

DESIGN BY TONIC SITE SHOP 

ยฉ ABBY GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY 2024 

Back to top

JOin the abby grace newsletter community

Get on the list

for exclusive, once-weekly business & photo tips, early access to new courses and resources, and occasional Mean Girls quotes. 

%d bloggers like this: