Valentine's Day Might be the Most Polarizing Holiday for the Sexes

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- It probably comes as no surprise, but many women place value on how the men in their lives treat them on Valentine's Day. Fear not, gentlemen. It's Just Lunch, the premier dating service for busy professionals, surveyed over 2,300 singles to chart the safest path for men this Valentine's Day.

Ninety-one percent of women surveyed expect the man in their life to plan a date for Valentine's Day if they've been together a month or longer. That's the easy part.

Forty percent expect a gift if they've been dating at least three months, but 40 percent say they aren't looking for a gift unless they're in a committed relationship. Some want flowers and a handwritten card, while others say the ideal gift is a spa package or jewelry. They're nearly equally divided on reservations at a nice restaurant versus cooking at home together.

What's a guy to do?

Don't feel badly, guys. Even the original bachelor, Alex Michel from Season 1 of ABC's hit show The Bachelor, says he struggles to unlock the code.

"Navigating Valentine's Day can feel like navigating a minefield. Women seem to have a secret recipe for how they want us to celebrate Valentine's Day, but they never tell us what that recipe is, and we end up disappointing them."

Fret not. The professionals of It's Just Lunch have you covered, gentlemen.

The date:

• If it doesn't completely freak you out, feel free to ask for a first date on Valentine's Day. Sixty-two percent of women said "Sure, why not?" when asked if they'd accept a first date on Valentine's Day.
• What if you've only been on a few dates when the big holiday rolls around? Twenty-nine percent of women said they expect a date on Valentine's if you've been dating for one month. Only 9 percent expected a date for the holiday after dating just one week.
• If you want to play the odds, plan on taking her to a nice restaurant. Nearly 50 percent of women considered that the perfect Valentine's date. Make those reservations early, however, because some of the most popular restaurants started taking reservations 364 days in advance. Too late? A solid Plan B is a night at home cooking together, which 40 percent of women said was the perfect way to spend the holiday.

The gift:

• Think taking her to a nice dinner is enough? Not if you're in a committed relationship. Thirty-seven percent of women said they expect a gift if you're in a relationship. Unless you're only a couple of weeks in, it's probably time to go shopping.
• You can skip the chocolates, as only 4 percent of women said it was the ideal gift. Sorry, but a last-minute stop at a drug store probably isn't going to cut it.
• If there's a box opened that contains lace and garters this Valentine's Day, it should be from her not you. Only eight percent of women said they would consider lingerie a great Valentine's Day gift. After all, let's be honest about who it's really for.
• When in doubt, flowers and a card with a handwritten note are the safe bet. Over a third of women said that would be the best Valentine's present. If you want to splurge a little, try a spa package or a nice piece of jewelry, which nearly equal amounts of women favored.

Don't have someone special to take out on Valentine's? Just in case you need a rocket scientist to figure it out: "Phone It's Just Lunch and start planning for the next one," said Dr. Jaymie Matthews, a Mission Scientist at the Canadian Space Agency (yes, a real rocket scientist).

About It's Just Lunch

It's Just Lunch is a specialized dating service for professional singles.  It's Just Lunch's dating specialists save singles from the frustration of having to search through seas of online profiles, or play endless e-mail tag.  The company, which has arranged over a million first dates over the past 22 years, handles everything in a personalized and efficient manner – from finding the right matches to making all the arrangements for lunch, brunch or after-work drinks.  It's Just Lunch was founded in 1991 and has grown to service over 150 cities within the U.S. and internationally, and has many wonderful success stories.  For more information, please visit www.itsjustlunch.com.

SOURCE It's Just Lunch