How to Surprise Your Girlfriend

Co-authored by Courtney Quinlan and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 18, 2023

Whether you’re planning for her birthday, celebrating your anniversary, or just showing your love and appreciation, a fun surprise for your girlfriend is always a good idea. It’s easy for a couple to get so caught up in their lives that they forget to show their love for each other.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Courtney Quinlan
Matchmaker & Dating Coach
Expert Interview. 27 August 2021.} That’s why we’ve compiled a list of cute and romantic surprises that you can use to wow your girlfriend and make her feel special.

1

Write a love note.

Your girlfriend will love a sweet hand-written note. Sit down and write about all the things you love about her, and don’t be afraid to get specific! When you’re done, seal it inside an envelope and give it to her when she least expects it.^{[2]
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- Don’t live near your girlfriend? No problem! Send her your letter in the mail for a lovely surprise.
- You could also write little notes and leave them throughout your house! Try putting a few love notes in her coat pocket, her coffee cup, or underneath her pillow.

2

Run her a bath.

Let her lounge in a warm bathtub full. Run a bath full of warm water, and don’t forget a body-safe bath bomb! Light a few candles in the bathroom and leave some soap on the side. Let her soak for as long as she wants, and bring her a snack if she gets hungry.
- Play her favorite music or read her a book while she sits in the bath.

3

Make her a playlist.

A mix of her favorite songs is sure to make her smile. Curate a playlist on Spotify or YouTube full of songs you think she’d like (or ones that remind you of her). Send it to her or play it for her the next time you see her to watch her face light up with joy.
- This is a great long distance gift idea! Since you can send a playlist anywhere, you don’t have to be in-person to give her this gift.

4

Watch the sunset together.

This romantic date is super easy to do. Pick your girlfriend up and drive to the highest spot near you, but don’t tell her where you’re going! Park in a spot where you can see the sunset clearly, then sit back and watch as it sets.
- Don’t forget to bring a few snacks!

5

Do a few of her chores.

Let your girlfriend relax by taking on some of her tasks. If you know your girlfriend has been super busy with work or school, surprise her by doing the dishes, folding some laundry, or vacuuming the house. She’ll probably be super grateful, and you two can relax together afterwards.
- You could also run an errand for her if she hasn’t had time, or go pick up some groceries for her.

6

Engage in some PDA.

A public display of affection lets your girlfriend know you love her. If you don’t usually engage in PDA, try surprising your girlfriend with a quick kiss or a hug the next time you two are out. If she likes PDA, she’ll be happy that you’re showing her affection where other people can see.
- If you or your girlfriend aren’t into PDA, that’s totally fine! Pick a different surprise that she’ll like instead.

7

Cook her dinner.

Show off your chef skills and make your girlfriend happy. Head to the store and buy all the ingredients for something delicious that your girlfriend will love. Surprise her by cooking her a full meal, and don’t forget to clean the kitchen afterward!^{[3]
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- Try making pasta, lobster, or steak.

8

Make her breakfast in bed.

If you’re a morning person, use your time to surprise your GF. Wake up before she does and whip up something delicious, like pancakes, eggs, or bacon. Present it to her in bed on a tray so she can eat yummy food while she wakes up.
- Pair your meal with a cup of coffee or tea to make it extra special.

9

Have a picnic.

Move your lunch or dinner outside to make it extra special. Pack up all the things you’ll need for a meal, and bring along a big blanket to sit on. Spread your food out at the park or in your backyard and enjoy a meal with a view!
- If the weather is crummy or you don’t feel like going out, have a picnic inside instead! Spread out a big blanket in your living room and eat off of paper plates to make things feel special.

10

Leave her a treat in the fridge.

Surprise her with something yummy that she’ll really like. Grab her a delicious dessert or make her a nice dinner, then leave it in the fridge. Put a note on the outside that says “Open me!” When she comes home, she’ll probably be really excited about her special surprise.
- You could also grab her a milkshake, a coffee drink, or some ice cream.

11

Bring her lunch at work.

If she forgot to bring food to work, take her something delicious. Text or call her ahead of time to make sure it’s okay, then show up with her favorite food. If she has time, you could even sit and eat with her for an impromptu date while she’s on her lunch break!
- Try packing a sandwich, some chips, and a drink for an easy lunch option that she’s sure to love.

12

Put a hot water bottle on her side of the bed.

Give her something warm and cozy to fall asleep with. If your girlfriend’s on her period or it’s just chilly outside, fill up a hot water bottle with water and place it on her side of the bed. When she comes in the room, let her know that it’s there for her to cuddle with as she drifts off to dreamland.
- You could also use an electric heating pad.

13

Build or make her something.

Use your trade skills to create something special for her. If you’re good with your hands or you know how to do a craft, try creating something! A special gift that was made with love is sure to make her smile, and it doesn’t have to be perfect.
- For instance, if you’re good at woodworking, you could make her a cutting board or a nice wooden box.
- If you know how to knit, you could try making her a hat or a cozy scarf.

14

Create a slideshow of memories.

Walk her down memory lane from the beginning of your relationship. Head into Google Slides or PowerPoint and put together a few minutes of pics of the two of you. Start at the beginning of your relationship and keep going all the way up until the present to reminisce about sweet memories together.
- If physical photos are more your thing, get a bunch printed out and go through them in-person together instead.

15

Frame a photo of the two of you.

Give her a gift she can hang on her wall. Find a good picture of the two of you, then get it printed out at your local print shop. Pick up a nice frame and wrap it up, then hand off your surprise when she least expects it.^{[4]
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- You can get photos printed fairly cheaply at most drug stores.

16

Make her a scrapbook.

Compile a ton of fun memories into one sweet book. Get some photos printed out and then glue or tape them into a scrapbook. Fill it with your fondest memories, and don’t forget to make it look nice! When you give it to her, you can spend some time flipping through the pages together.
- Use stickers, patterned paper, and Washi tape to make your scrapbook extra special.

17

Buy a bouquet of flowers.

This classic gift makes almost every girl smile. If it’s a special occasion or you just want to show your GF some love, stop by a florist and grab a bouquet of flowers. Give them to your girlfriend to cheer her up and make her happy.^{[5]
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- To make those flowers last, buy a vase and keep them in water.

18

Fill a gift bag with her favorite things.

Show your girlfriend that you remember everything she likes. Grab a gift bag and fill it with fun goodies, like snacks, treats, and makeup. When she receives her gift, she’ll be so happy that you remembered her favorite things!^{[6]
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- You could also buy notebooks, pens, stickers, nail polish, or stuffed animals.
- For some cheap and easy gift ideas, visit the dollar section of your local home goods store.

19

Give her a full body massage.

Relieve her stress and make her feel relaxed. Have your girlfriend lay down and slowly massage her legs, her feet, her back, and her shoulders. If you really want to make things calming and cozy, light a few candles and turn on some soothing music.^{[7]
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- Use some lotion to make your massage extra sensual and smooth.

20

Give her lingerie.

Get your GF in the mood with some new underwear. If you want to surprise her with a sweet but sultry gift, pick out some lingerie that you think she might like. When she opens it, tell her how excited you are to see her in it the next time you two get intimate.^{[8]
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- In a long distance relationship? No problem! Order her some lingerie online and have it delivered to her home.

21

Set the mood with candles.

Make your home extra relaxing with dim lighting. While your girlfriend is gone, turn down the lights and light a bunch of tea lights (or turn on battery-powered lights). When she comes home, have some relaxing music playing so she feels calm and tranquil.
- This is also a good way to set the mood before getting intimate with her.

22

Sprinkle rose petals on the bed.

Make your next time in the bedroom extra special. While your girlfriend is out of the house, get some rose petals and sprinkle them on top of the bed. Add a few in the pathway leading up to the bedroom, then light a few candles. When she comes home, she’ll be surprised by all the planning that went into this romantic gesture.
- Dim the lights and play some mood music to really get the vibes right.

23

Plan a day of pampering.

Book a day at the spa to let your girlfriend relax. If it’s in your budget, call a local spa or salon and sign your GF up for a massage, a facial, and a pedicure. Drop her off for a wonderful day of relaxation with no obligations.
- Don’t have a spa day in the bank? That’s okay! You can pamper your girlfriend at home. Buy a few face masks, some nail polish, and some fancy lotion, then offer her the same services that a salon would.

24

Send her on a scavenger hunt.

Plan a romantic treasure hunt that ends in a candlelit dinner. Write out cute clues that lead her around town, and leave little gifts at each one. At the end of the night, meet up with her and have a romantic dinner, just the two of you. Use clues like:
- “I’m in the kitchen, and you’ll never eat me, but the dog sure loves to greet me.” (The clue is in or near dog food).
- “Turn out the lights in the room and go rest your head on me. I’ll help you fall fast asleep.” (The clue is under her pillow).

25

Recreate your first date.

Relive your fondest memories by taking her out for the “first” time. Think about where you two went when you first met. Then, take her out on the same (or extremely similar) date, down to what you eat! Reminisce about all the fun times you’ve had, and don’t forget to share your “first” kiss all over again.

26

Plan a romantic weekend away.

Surprise your girlfriend with a hotel or an Airbnb. Make reservations for somewhere nearby, like at the beach or in the mountains. Ask her to clear her schedule, but don’t tell her why! Then, you two can take a romantic road trip and spend the weekend together just relaxing.^{[9]
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- Make sure you double check her schedule before making any plans. Otherwise, there could be scheduling conflicts.

27

Host a surprise party.

Celebrate your girlfriend with her friends and family. If your girlfriend’s birthday is coming up or she just achieved one of her goals, plan a huge party, but don’t tell her about it! Invite her closest friends and family members, then have them jump out when she least expects it.
- Get your girlfriend out of the house by taking her on a shopping spree. Have a friend decorate the place while you’re gone, then come home to a party that your girlfriend will never forget.

28

Check off something on her bucket list.

What’s something your girlfriend has always wanted to do? If you really want to surprise her, make plans to check off that one thing she’s had in mind for years. It might take some planning, so start early!^{[10]
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- If she’s always wanted to go skydiving, sign her up for a lesson.
- If she’s always wanted to travel overseas, buy plane tickets for the two of you.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I make my girlfriend feel loved?

Courtney Quinlan
Matchmaker & Dating Coach
Courtney Quinlan is a Matchmaker and Dating Coach and the Owner of Midwest Matchmaking. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in finding individuals a compatible partner, providing guidance throughout the dating process, and crafting events for singles in the Midwest. Courtney holds a BS in Broadcast Journalism from The University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Courtney Quinlan

Matchmaker & Dating Coach

Expert Answer

Get her small gifts to remind her that you're thinking of her, like a bouquet of flowers or a gift card to a spa. You could even save up to get a her a gift that she's had her eye on.
Question

What kind of a surprise gift can you get for your girl if she's far away from you?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

You could send her a fun care package full of her favorite things, like snacks, candy, stickers, or nail polish. Or, you could simply send her a sweet letter telling her how much you miss her!
Question

How do I surprise my girlfriend on her birthday without spending much money?

wikiHow Staff Editor
Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

wikiHow Staff Editor

Staff Answer

If you're handy or crafty you could always make her something! If you're artistic, try drawing or painting something she might like. Pick her some flowers from the park, make her a cake at home, and write her a letter to show how much you love her.