How Every State Takes Their Valentine’s Day

The most romantic time of the year is just around the corner, and as Valentine’s Day creeps closer, many couples begin looking for ways to spend the holiday with their sweetheart. What Valentine’s Day looks like for you greatly depends on where you are and what’s around you, which is why we wanted to find out what an ideal Valentine’s Day consists of for couples in every state across the country.

At Shane Co., we understand that a lot of planning goes into pulling off a fabulous February 14. Between deciding on what to do, where to eat, and what gift you should buy, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to approach the loveliest day of the year. Thankfully, we’re here to save you trouble and have mapped out the perfect Valentine’s Day treats and activities in every state.

How Every State Takes Their Valentine’s Day

Most couples agree that there should be no cooking or cleaning dirty dishes on Valentine’s Day. In fact, every state that made it onto our list agrees that Valentine’s Day dinner should take place at a restaurant or, at the very least, involve grabbing something to go. The majority of the country also agrees that dinner should be done Lady and the Tramp style, as most couples prefer Italian pasta on the most romantic day of the year. Only a handful of states prefer sushi, hibachi, and other Asian cuisines on Valentine’s Day.

Couples across the country also agree that you do not show up empty-handed on Valentine’s Day, as almost every state agrees that gifts are a requirement for this romantic occasion, with Connecticut being the only exception. However, you shouldn’t worry if you forget to grab a box of chocolates or a bouquet of roses on the way to a date; the good news is only 3% of Americans said they would break up with someone if they did not give them a tangible Valentine’s Day gift. See? Americans aren’t completely materialistic after all.

We found that each generation has its own expectations for what is considered appropriate Valentine’s Day conduct. For example, 58% of Gen Zers say they prefer multiple thoughtful yet inexpensive gifts, while 56% of millennials prefer to get a single expensive gift. It would also appear that wine and dining is slowly becoming a thing of the past, as 30% of Gen Zers prefer to go for a tasty cocktail or liquor drink at the dinner table.

While there are many differences in how each generation celebrates Valentine’s Day, there are a few things most people can agree on. More than 70% of couples agree that deciding on what to do that day should be a group discussion, and 65% say they would be upset if their partner forgot to bring it up in the first place. Most Americans also agree that having a first date on Valentine’s Day is bad luck, as 60% would avoid doing so. Finally, the majority of Americans don’t let bad breath get in the way of ordering what they really want for dinner on Valentine’s Day. Over half of the survey respondents say they eat what they want, regardless of the consequences. After all, that’s what mints are for.

Males vs. Females: What to Expect from Your Partner This Valentine’s Day

According to our survey, men care more about having the appearance of a handsome couple than women. When dining at a fancy restaurant, 39% of men said they would forgo eating the messy food they were craving to appear to be the gentlemen they are. On the other hand, 82% of women said they would throw caution to the wind and eat the sloppy dish if they were craving it.

Guys, it’s time to stop buying lingerie for your partner on Valentine’s Day. According to our survey results, over two-thirds of men across the country think that racy sleepwear is an appropriate gift for their significant other. On the other hand, women agree that most men get lingerie as a gift for themselves; 40% of women who responded to our survey say that lingerie is certainly not a good Valentine’s Day gift. Back to the drawing board, guys!

Ladies, maybe it’s time to start treating your man to a nice dinner on Valentine’s Day. Across every state we surveyed, less than 4% of women say they pay for the entire dinner that night, while 61% of men say they pay for the whole meal. Now, there were a handful of couples who said they all pitch in. Two in five of the survey respondents claim both parties contribute to the shared meal. But before you start feeling guilty about not paying for that juicy steak your man deserves, you should know that there is something more important to him than Valentine’s Day happening in February — the Super Bowl.

Over half of the men in our survey say they were more excited about the Super Bowl than Valentine’s Day this year, while 65% of women agree on the opposite. So ladies, while you’re sitting at the dinner table this year gazing into each other’s eyes, refrain from wondering if he’s thinking about buying a ring at that particular moment. Chances are, he’s probably just thinking about which NFL stars took home a ring on Super Bowl Sunday.

Closing Thoughts

As Valentine’s Day approaches, many couples are starting to plan a special date night with their significant others. Between deciding on activities, gifts, and dinner, there’s a lot of stress involved. Hopefully, knowing what other couples around the country are thinking about doing will help give you and your partners some ideas for what to do this year.

We know how exciting football is, but guys, don’t forget to get your lady something nice this year. If, on the off chance that you aren’t daydreaming about what team took home the trophy on Super Bowl Sunday this year, Shane Co. has a variety of high-quality engagement rings for you to choose from for that special day (no, not the Super Bowl).

Methodology

In late 2022, we surveyed 3,238 people from across every state to gather information on their Valentine’s Day preferences regarding dining, timing, and gift-giving. After collecting the data, we analyzed the results to identify regional variations in Valentine’s Day plans and determine the most popular ways to celebrate. It’s worth noting that due to their low population size, we did not receive enough responses from Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.