Table for Two - Valentine's Dinner

Nice restaurants are the perfect place to enjoy a Valentine's Day dinner. Good food, great ambience and, for me, they always bring the special occasion vibe. But this year, we opted for dinner at home! We planned a snowboarding trip for Valentine's Day weekend since it landed on President's Day Weekend (which is a 4 DAY WEEKEND for us!) and had an early, quiet Valentine's dinner at home. The kids went down early, the house got quiet, and I set the table for two.

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There is something about a simple Valentine’s dinner at home that feels special — no reservations, no rushing, just a quiet night and good conversation. I layered an adorable heart table runner (HomeGoods find) over my a white runner and dark wood table and immediately the whole dining room felt softer. The blush and red detailing felt classic, not too Galentine-y — romantic but still timeless.

In the center, I filled my Rosy Check vase with red roses — nothing groundbreaking, just dozens of traditional roses done well. Sometimes the most classic choice is the right one! I flanked them with brass candlesticks (mine are vintag eBay finds, but I have and love these too) and tall navy taper candles for a little contrast, which tied in the blue from the napkins.

Each place setting was layered with my red striped dinner plates (similar here), a soft pink Rosey Check charger beneath that matched the vase, and gold flatware (I always use these but have been eyeing these- so beautiful) for warmth. I added the smallest pink heart dish at each setting and tied navy ribbon around our heart-shaped wine glasses for that subtle detail I love so much.

We started the night with dirty martinis — extra cold, stuffed with bleu cheese olives — and lingered over them longer than usual. I had to pull in more blue with these amazing martini glasses, and if you know me, you know that I don't need an excuse for a dirty martini!

Dinner was garlic butter pasta, filet, lobster, and a Caesar salad, served with a bold red wine. Nothing complicated. Just really good ingredients, cooked well, and enjoyed slowly (and quietly....without the kids!)

When the table is set and the candles are lit, you automatically slow down. You sit a little longer. You talk a little deeper. You remember why you're here in the first place..and how you got here!

Hosting doesn’t always have to mean a full house. Sometimes it’s just creating something meaningful for the person sitting across from you. A quiet Valentine’s at home, done intentionally.