Love Advice - How to Be Romantic

Learning how to be romantic isn't that difficult, with the right attitude and a little creativity. All you need to do is to keep your partner's happiness as your number one priority. Simple, right? Actually, it is. The most important thing to remember is that it's all about your lover's happiness. Yours will come as their's blossoms. Once you have that down, these five simple tips will be everything you will ever need to know on how to be romantic.
The first thing you need to know is your partner's likes and dislikes. This may seem like an obvious step (and I certainly hope that it is), but many people get so caught up in an idea that it drives everything else from their minds. This approach usually leads to a disaster, however well intentioned the original idea may have been. So, for example, if your lover doesn't like roses, then roses should not be a part of your romantic plans. You may even want to go so far as to make a cheat sheet of likes and dislikes that you can refer to later, when you're caught in the flow of your own brilliance!
Once you have that list, let the creative juices flow! Start thinking of new ways to combine their likes into something wonderfully romantic, and tailor made to them. If your partner likes flowers and teddy bears, perhaps giving them a teddy bear, gift wrapped in a box padded with flower petals would be the way to go. Creativity and imagination are the rule here. Even if your initial ideas are not A-grade, make a list of them. Looking over the list will often spur new, better ideas, until you find one that is A-grade.
Once you have the perfect romantic idea, map it out, paying attention to the little details. Trust me when I say that it's these details that will make or break your plans. You may plan out a new dinner idea for your special someone, but forget the candles, and all of a sudden it's gone from a "romantic" dinner, to a "nice" dinner. That's fine, as far as it goes, but not exactly the result that you're trying for.
And speaking of candles, make sure you set the mood well in advance. Make sure that the atmosphere includes all the usual accessories such as candles and firelight, but actually start setting the atmosphere well in advance of the event. Prepare your lover well ahead of time, making sure that he or she knows that you have something wonderful planned for them. This includes surprises! Build a sense of excitement and anticipation ahead of time, and the occasion will be all the sweeter for it.
Once you have set the wheels in motion, let the momentum build naturally, with an incredible climax of your own devising at the end of it. Just remember that your goal is your lover's happiness, and their happiness will build yours in equal measure.
Marc Berry and his wife of 22 years provide useful and timely romantic advice from the trenches for couples young and old at The Incurable Romantic.