Valentine's Day Love Letter: How to Write One This February 14

A Valentine's card says 'be mine.' A Valentine's Day love letter says why you'd choose them again. It's the easiest way to make February 14 personal without a big budget, and it works for a first Valentine's together or a seventeenth. Below you'll find how to write a valentine letter for him or her, when and how to give it, original openings and sign-offs, a template, and two examples: a playful one after seven years and a short, romantic one for a first Valentine's Day.

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When to give it
Morning of February 14, or left out the night before
Ideal length
One page (300-400 words), or 150-200 inside a card
How to deliver
With flowers, on the breakfast tray or mailed to arrive on the 14th
Works for
Boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or partner

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Valentine's Day love letter examples

Each example below was written by Toastful from the answers shown under it, so you can see exactly how your own stories turn into a finished letter. Names and details are fictional.

Example 1: To her partner of seven years, playful, about one page

395 words

My dearest Jonah,

Happy Valentine's Day. Or, as we say in our house, happy Pie Day.

I still think about that terrible speed dating night in Seattle seven years ago. Neither of us matched with anyone. Somehow that was the luckiest thing that ever happened to me. We went for pho afterward and stayed until they started stacking chairs around us. I didn't know it yet, but I had already met my person.

I knew for sure a month later, when you showed up to help me move with a rented van and a playlist called "Lifting Songs for Priya." Who does that? You do. You make hard things feel like a party.

That is what I love most about you. You are endlessly kind and endlessly calm. You take my anxiety seriously without ever making it a big deal. And you laugh at your own jokes before you reach the punchline, which makes me laugh harder than the joke ever could.

I treasure the small things. Sunday mornings, when you make masala chai from my mom's recipe, the one you learned from her on a video call. Your spreadsheet of every board game we've played, which I'm happy to remind you shows me ahead. And the way you warm your hands before you hold mine in winter. You probably think I don't notice. I always notice.

I will never forget the Olympic Peninsula, when we got completely lost looking for a beach and ended up at a roadside stand eating the best blackberry pie of our lives. And I will never forget the Valentine's Day we both forgot, ordered takeout and declared it Pie Day. Best holiday we ever made up.

When my dad was sick, you flew to New Jersey with me twice. You slept on my parents' lumpy pull-out couch and never complained once. I won't ever forget that. It meant more than I can say.

This year we are buying our first place. I can't wait to leave our little Ballard rental for a kitchen big enough for two people to cook in, and maybe a little garden. I'm looking forward to chai in our own kitchen and a lot more Pie Days.

Thank you for seven years of kindness, laughter and warm hands. I'd pick you again at any terrible speed dating night.

Happy Valentine's (and Pie Day).

Love, P.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter
Writer
Priya, to my partner
How Met
We met at a terrible speed dating night in Seattle seven years ago. Neither of us matched with anyone, so we went for pho afterward and stayed until they started stacking chairs. I knew a month later when he showed up to help me move apartments with a rented van and a playlist he'd titled 'Lifting Songs for Priya.'
What You Love
He's endlessly kind and endlessly calm. He takes my anxiety seriously without ever making it a big deal. And he laughs at his own jokes before he reaches the punchline, which makes me laugh harder than the joke ever could.
Little Things
He makes masala chai on Sunday mornings using my mom's recipe, which he learned from her on a video call. He keeps a spreadsheet of every board game we've played and who won (I'm ahead). He always warms his hands before he holds mine in winter.
Memories
Our trip to the Olympic Peninsula, when we got completely lost looking for a beach and ended up at a roadside stand eating the best blackberry pie of our lives. And the Valentine's Day we both forgot, ordered takeout and declared it 'Pie Day' instead, which is now our official tradition.
Support
When my dad was sick two winters ago, Jonah flew with me to New Jersey twice and slept on my parents' lumpy pull-out couch without a single complaint.
Looking ahead
Buying our first place together this year. I'm looking forward to a kitchen big enough for two people to cook in, a little garden, and many more Pie Days.
Extras
Together seven years; we live in a little rental in Ballard. Our Valentine's tradition is pie instead of a fancy dinner. Sign off: 'Happy Valentine's (and Pie Day). Love, P.'
Write mine with my stories

Example 2: To his girlfriend, first Valentine's, short and romantic

228 words

My dearest Tasha,

Happy first Valentine's Day. I've been trying to figure out where to start, so I'll start where we did: a pottery class in October, and your bowl collapsing on the wheel. You laughed so loudly the whole room turned around. I think part of me turned around for good that night.

I knew a few weeks later. You handed me a lopsided mug with my name carved into it, spelled wrong. It says "Bne." I drink my coffee from it every single morning, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I love how warm you are with everyone you meet. I love how you turn a plain errand into an adventure. And I love how brave you are, even when you don't notice it. You moved to a new city alone. I'm so glad it was this one.

I love the song you send me every morning before work. I love that you steal my hoodies and swear they were always yours. I love that you order dessert first.

I will never forget our first snowstorm, walking down to the lake at midnight. The whole city was silent except for us laughing.

I can't wait for our first summer, and for that drive up the North Shore you keep talking about.

Thank you for choosing me, misspelled name and all.

Your Bne.
Happy Valentine's Day.

What the writer told Toastful to get this letter
Writer
Ben, to my partner
How Met
We met in October at a beginner pottery class in Minneapolis. Tasha's bowl collapsed on the wheel and she laughed so loudly the whole class turned around. I knew a few weeks later when she gave me the lopsided mug she'd made, with my name carved into it and spelled wrong.
What You Love
She's warm with everyone she meets, and she turns ordinary errands into adventures. She's brave in ways she doesn't even notice, like moving to a new city alone last year.
Little Things
She sends me a song every morning before work. She steals my hoodies and claims they were always hers. She always orders dessert first.
Memories
Our first snowstorm together, when we walked down to the lake at midnight and the whole city was completely silent except for us laughing.
Looking ahead
Our first summer together, and the trip up the North Shore she keeps talking about.
Extras
I drink coffee from the misspelled mug every single morning. It says 'Bne.' Sign off: 'Your Bne. Happy Valentine's Day.'
Write mine with my stories

How to structure it

  1. 1

    Skip 'Happy Valentine's Day' as your first line

    The card already says it. Open with a scene instead: 'It's February 13th, you're asleep, and I'm writing this at the kitchen table with your cold tea.' It instantly feels personal.

  2. 2

    Go back to the start

    How you met and the moment you knew. For a first Valentine's, this is most of the story. After many years, keep it to a line or two and spend more time on now.

  3. 3

    Pick one ordinary day from this past year

    Valentine's is about grand gestures, so a small memory stands out: the grocery run, the snowstorm walk, the night the takeout was wrong and you laughed anyway. Describe it in detail.

  4. 4

    Name what you love, with proof

    Two or three things, each with an example. 'You warm your hands before you hold mine in winter' is more romantic than any rose.

  5. 5

    Mention your traditions, or start one

    If you have a Valentine's ritual, like pie instead of fancy dinners, celebrate it. If you don't, the letter is a good place to invent one: 'Every February 14th from now on, I'm writing you one of these.'

  6. 6

    End with the year ahead

    Look forward to something specific before next Valentine's Day: the trip, the move, the first summer together. Then sign off with your pet name or inside joke.

Opening and closing lines

Ways to open

  • “Roses are red, and I'm terrible at poems, so you're getting a real letter instead.”
  • “It's the night before Valentine's Day, you're asleep, and I'm at the kitchen table trying to say this right.”
  • “This is our [FIRST / NUMBER] Valentine's Day, and I've been thinking about what to give you for weeks. It turned out to be this.”
  • “Everyone else is buying chocolate today. I wanted to give you something that won't be gone by lunchtime.”
  • “I don't need a holiday to love you, but I'll take any excuse to write it down.”
  • “Happy February 14th to the person who [AN INSIDE JOKE OR HABIT, e.g. STEALS MY HOODIES AND DENIES IT].”
  • “A year ago I didn't know your middle name. Now I can't picture a Valentine's Day without you.”
  • “If I had to pick one day from this year to live again, I know exactly which one. Let me tell you about it.”
  • “Forget the reservations and the overpriced roses. Here's what I actually want to say to you today.”

Ways to sign off

  • “Will you be my valentine? Asking for this year and every one after. Love, [Name].”
  • “Happy Valentine's Day. I'd pick you on any day of the year. Yours, [Name].”
  • “Same time next February? I'll bring the letter, you bring the [YOUR TRADITION, e.g. PIE]. Love, [Name].”
  • “No chocolate could say this, so I wrote it down. All my love, [Name].”
  • “To many more Valentine's Days, and all the ordinary days in between. Love, [Name].”
  • “Thank you for being my favorite part of every season, not just this one. Yours, [Name].”
  • “This is my first love letter to you. It won't be my last. Love, [Name].”
  • “Keep this one until next year, when I'll write you a new one. Happy Valentine's, [Name].”
  • “Be mine. Wait, you already are. Lucky me. [Name].”

Fill-in-the-blank template

Prefer to write it yourself? Copy this and replace everything in [brackets].

Dear [WHAT YOU CALL THEM],

It's [WHEN AND WHERE YOU'RE WRITING, e.g. THE NIGHT BEFORE VALENTINE'S DAY AND YOU'RE ASLEEP IN THE NEXT ROOM]. I wanted to give you something better than a card this year, something you can keep after the flowers are gone.

I still remember [HOW YOU MET]. I think I knew when [THE MOMENT YOU KNEW].

If I had to pick one day from this past year, it would be [AN ORDINARY DAY OR MOMENT, WITH ONE OR TWO DETAILS]. Nothing fancy happened. You just [WHAT THEY DID], and I remember thinking how lucky I am.

Here's what I love about you. You [QUALITY OR HABIT, WITH AN EXAMPLE]. You [SECOND QUALITY, WITH AN EXAMPLE]. And you [A SMALL THING ONLY YOU NOTICE].

[IF YOU HAVE A VALENTINE'S TRADITION: A LINE ABOUT IT. IF NOT: A NEW ONE YOU'D LIKE TO START.]

Before next February, I can't wait for [SOMETHING AHEAD, e.g. OUR TRIP, THE NEW APARTMENT, OUR FIRST SUMMER TOGETHER].

[CLOSING LINE, e.g. WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE? THIS YEAR AND EVERY ONE AFTER].

[SIGN-OFF, e.g. ALL MY LOVE], [YOUR NAME]

Tips and mistakes to avoid

Do

  • Write it a few days ahead; February 13th at midnight is not when your best lines show up.
  • If you're mailing it, send it at least three or four days early so it arrives on the 14th, not the 16th.
  • Valentine's Day on a weekday? Leave the letter by their coffee or in their work bag so it starts their day, and save dinner for later.
  • Pair it with something small that connects to a line in the letter, like a single flower from the market where you had your first date.
  • First Valentine's together? Keep it light and warm, focus on the months you've had, and don't jump to big future plans.
  • In the UK, valentines were traditionally sent anonymously. A love letter is the opposite, so sign it clearly, maybe with a cheeky 'guess who' above your name.
  • Start a tradition: one letter every February 14th, all kept in the same envelope or box.

Avoid

  • Don't fill it with Valentine's clichés like 'be mine,' 'cupid's arrow' or 'roses are red' unless you're making fun of them on purpose.
  • Don't make it about the holiday itself, the restaurant or the gift; make it about them.
  • Don't compare this Valentine's to past ones with exes, even jokingly.
  • Don't use it to bring up something heavy, like a move or a proposal timeline, unless it's already been discussed.
  • Don't make it sexual or racy; keep it romantic, the kind of letter they could leave on the counter.
  • Don't leave it until the last minute and scribble it in the restaurant bathroom; they'll be able to tell.

Frequently asked questions

What should I write in a Valentine's Day love letter?

Start with a scene from right now instead of 'Happy Valentine's Day.' Then share how you met, one ordinary day from this year that you loved, and two or three things you love about them with real examples. Mention your Valentine's tradition, or start one, and end with something you're looking forward to before next February, plus a sign-off in your own voice.

How long should a Valentine's letter be?

One page, about 300 to 400 words, is perfect for a Valentine's Day love letter. If you're writing inside a card, aim for 150 to 200 words so it fits without tiny handwriting. Longer isn't better on Valentine's Day; they'll likely read it over breakfast or before dinner, so a page they can reread a few times beats three they skim.

What's the difference between a valentine card and a Valentine's letter?

A card is a sentence or two under a printed message. A Valentine's letter is your own words, usually a page, with a memory, specific reasons you love them and a look at the year ahead. Many people do both: the card goes with the flowers, and the letter is tucked inside or left somewhere they'll find it alone.

It's our first Valentine's Day. How serious should the letter be?

Warm, but not heavy. Focus on the months you've had: how you met, the moment you knew you liked them, a favorite date and a few things you've noticed about them. Skip big promises about the future. A short, sincere letter on a first Valentine's often means more than an expensive gift, because it shows you've been paying attention.

Can I write a valentine letter for him that's funny?

Yes. A playful Valentine's letter built on your inside jokes can feel more like the two of you than roses and hearts. Tease him about his singing or his bowling record, then turn sincere near the end with one or two lines that say exactly why you love him. The same works for a valentine letter for her.

When should I give a Valentine's Day love letter?

The morning of February 14th is classic: next to their coffee, on their pillow or in their bag. If you're celebrating with dinner, give it before you leave so they can read it privately. Long distance? Mail it three or four days early, or plan a video call where they open it. Leaving it out the night before also works.

Can Toastful write my Valentine's Day love letter?

Yes. Choose who it's for (boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife or partner), type Valentine's Day as the occasion, and answer a few questions about how you met, what you love about them and a memory or two. Toastful writes a personal draft in about a minute, free to preview. The full letter is $9.95, or $17.95 with a card-sized version and an alternate-tone version. One-time payment, 30-day money-back guarantee.

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