How to Write the Perfect Love Letter for Valentine's Day
Most people feel as though the days of crafting love letters are dead and gone but I, a hopeless romantic, disagree. One of my favorite things to do for my husband is writing love letters! As a military spouse, I think writing love letters is a bit of an art form that we really get used to. I started becoming fond of them when my husband would be away in training at West Point the first summer we were together. Even though we got to talk for a bit on the phone most nights, we both enjoyed the love letters and we still have a collection of all the ones we’ve written over the years!
Since Valentine's Day is coming up I figured sharing my process for writing love letters would be a great way to get you guys in the mood for Valentine’s Day! I am definitely NOT one of those people who hates Valentine’s Day or think it’s pointless. I think any reason to celebrate the ones we love (whether that’s your girlfriends, significant other, or family member) is a good thing!
Growing up, my parents both made sure Valentine’s Day was special for me. I remember getting tons of chocolate and cards with handwritten notes in them from my parents each year. Now writing love letters has become my go-to for sending that little extra something whenever my husband needs a pick me up. I especially love to surprise him with a handful of love letters when he's least expecting it!
But crafting love letters can be a bit of a challenge. If you haven’t been together very long, you could be afraid to say too much. Awkward. If you’ve been together awhile or frequently write letters, it can feel like you’ve already said all that there is to say. It can definitely feel a little overwhelming. Here are some tips that will get you closer towards crafting the perfect love letter!
Set the Mood
As with anything romantic, the setting can really make or break it. Turn down the lights and find a good playlist of love songs to listen to while you write. You can even go as far as to light some candles and uncork a bottle of wine (like we need an excuse). Seriously though, I can’t stress how important setting the mood is for crafting the perfect love letter. Do you really think you’re going to be able to write a bunch of sweet nothings to your significant other if you’re watching something on Investigation Discovery? Probably not (unless you’re glad they aren’t a serial killer).
Pick a Theme
This is what I do every single time I write a letter to Justin. Every letter has a theme and I stick to that theme throughout the letter. Picking a theme to stick with makes the writing process so much easier! Some ideas for themes include:
reflecting on your first date and/or how you met
writing a letter about the future
songs that remind you of your S/O
something you’re looking forward to doing together
See how simple that makes writing your letter? Once you’ve picked a theme the thoughts should just start flowing (and if they don’t, you can always do some more brainstorming). I promise it’s not as hard as it sounds!
Get Creative
Just because you’re writing a love letter doesn’t mean they have to be a boring piece of college ruled notebook paper stuffed in a basic white envelope. Get creative and put your own little spin on things! One of my favorite “letters” to Justin was created using some mad crafting skills (wink, wink). Basically, I got some USMA/Army colored cardstock, some Army scrapbook stickers, threw a couple different things together, and got some pretty adorable looking cards. I’ve even been known to slip a few surprises into the letters or make a game out of them (like that time I included a card and envelope for him to write me a letter… I’m still waiting on that one). Open When letters seem to be the go-to for military girlfriends and those in long distance relationships and they take the whole love letter thing to the next level. If you don’t know where to start, Pinterest seems to be a never-ending resource for letter ideas or you can check out the OG Open-When letters post from Jo! My Gosh.
Actually Write Your Letter
I can’t really help you out much here, other than to say, make a draft or two first. The last thing you want to have happened is to make a mess of whatever pretty stationary you’ve picked out. This also comes in handy if you want to get creative with your lettering. If you’re still not sure what to write about, there’s actually a wikiHow on writing love letters, complete with drafts. When you’re writing, focus on your feelings about that person and your relationship. Try not to get caught up in whether or not it’s cheesy or riddled with cliches (mine almost always are).
It’s the Thought that Counts
Above all, remember this. Your significant other is going to love the fact that you took time out of your busy schedule to actually sit down and write something to them (and if they don’t, then maybe you should rethink your relationship). Love letters have always been considered intimate, but I think in the modern age when we can communicate at lightning speed via text message and email, that love letters have become even more intimate. Take the time this Valentine’s Day to craft the perfect love letter for your S/O!
Have you ever written a love letter to your significant other?
