How to Navigate Valentine's Day for a New Relationship

DEAR DR. JENN,

I've been on four or five dates now with a guy I really like, but we're not quite at that define-the-relationship stage yet. Is there a non-awkward way to celebrate Valentine's Day with him without coming on too strong? How do I bring it up? — Gray Zone

DEAR GRAY ZONE,

There's nothing like the annual celebration of love to put pressure on a new relationship. The somewhat good news? Your guy is probably feeling the exact same way, and there is a way to handle it without feeling awkward or lame.

The way I see it, you have four options:

Don't Say Anything

Pretend V-Day doesn't exist. Have a case of romantic amnesia. Hold out for him to ask you out for the big day. However, if you take this route, you must be prepared for it not to happen. Understand that, this early in a relationship, not sharing Valentine's Day doesn't mean anything about your potential future together. Some guys don't want to go all out until they are in a committed relationship and know it has legs.

Bring It Up Casually

Ask him if he is up for spending a low-key Valentine's Day together. You can let him know that you enjoy his company and that you would love to have a fun night together. By doing this, you'll also find out how he feels about the holiday (i.e. if he forgot it was even happening) or if he views it as a major deal. On that note, know going in that there are some guys who liken sharing Valentine's Day to a walk down the aisle and think it's a sign of a huge commitment, something he just might not be quite ready for after five days.

Ask Him Out

Take the bull by the horns and ask him out for an evening you plan. Just keep in mind that this sets a precedent that if you go the distance, you may be expected to do the asking and planning for romantic occasions. Some guys will love being asked out for Valentine's Day, but others may feel slightly emasculated. Read your audience. You also have the choice of making this a capital-V Valentine's Day date or simply organizing a date that happens to fall on Feb. 14 but isn't characterized by red hearts and Godiva and staring into each other's eyes over candlelight. That's okay, too. Here are a few activities you can try if you're not ready to propose the honeymoon suite:

• Do something active: A hike or bike ride is romantic without feeling cliché. You'll get to connect, but in a way that's a far cry from Hallmark's portrayal of Valentine's Day.
  
• Skip the restaurant and make dinner at home: A fancy fixed-pride Valentine's Day dinner out can feel a little forced and couple-y early on, but planning a regular night in with a romantic upgrade is a great way to celebrate V-Day in the gray zone. Cooking a nice meal together while watching a movie is intimate but still low-pressure.
  
• Your go-to: What have you done for your last several dates? Grabbed beers? Played pool? Went for a walk? Do that. While you may not want to make a statement that you have to spend Valentine's Day together, there's also no reason you can't have a date tonight just because it's Feb. 14. Texting "Want to grab a drink tonight?" is always safe.
  
• Opt for food or drinks as a low-key gift: Whether to buy your Valentine a present — and what kind — is a struggle even once you're out of the gray zone. You don't want to be the only one not to get a gift; you also don't want to be the only one not to receive one. You don't want to get something over-the-top; you also don't want to go for a plush bear if your partner's picking out jewelry. For couples (or something like them) in the gray zone, a small gag gift or something you pick up that's thoughtful but casual and inexpensive strikes the perfect tone — and, often, comes in the form of food or drinks. Make him a batch of cookies you think he'd love, or pick up a bottle of wine you want to try with your new partner.

Make Other Plans

Doing this prevents you from losing your mind, hinting around the subject, and feeling helpless as you wait for him to ask you out for The Big Day. Planning something fun with girlfriends is a great option. One year, when I was single in my 20s, I organized a huge dinner with all my close single girlfriends and had a contest to see who'd had the worst date ever. It was a blast. The winner was treated to dinner and a bottle of wine. (Don't worry, I didn't drink the whole bottle at once.)

Regardless of how things play out, you potentially have your whole future to share Valentine's Days together, so don't make this a barometer of your future relationship. Respect the gray zone, and to avoid sitting home alone feeling resentful, make sure you have something fun planned — whether with him or not.

In Hump Day, award-winning psychotherapist and TV host Dr. Jenn Mann answers your sex and relationship questions — unjudged and unfiltered.