5 Lavish Celeb Valentine's Day Celebrations We Swooned Over

Valentine's Day, as we know it, has come a long way from its earliest incarnation. Its romantic roots can be traced back to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, a stirring affair held in mid-February. Every year, Roman citizens would gather to honor Lupercus, the god of fertility, and Lupa, the she-wolf who nursed Romulus and Remus — the legendary founders of Rome — in a ritualistic celebration with feasting, purification rites, and fertility ceremonies.

Later, in the fifth century, the Pope pronounced February 14th as St Valentine's Day, in a bid to evangelize the hangover of pagan traditions. History offers several figures canonized as St Valentine, though the most enduring story centers on a third-century Roman priest who defied the edicts of Emperor Claudius II. Frustrated by a homesick and unmotivated army, Claudius banned marriages — believing emotional attachments weakened the resolve of his soldiers. Valentine, resolute in his belief that love is a divine right and rebellious in his compassion, married young couples in secret, though he was ultimately arrested and condemned to death.

As the story goes, Valentine was described as having fallen hopelessly in love with his jailer's daughter. He left her a note on the day of his execution (February 14th, no less), signed: "From your Valentine." And just like that, a tradition was born. Today, the month turned into an unbridled exhibition of love in its most lavish form, and some celebrities have set the bar for swoon-worthy romance impossibly high.

It turns out Benny Blanco and Selena Gomez aren't just astrologically compatible – they also have similar culinary preferences. The music producer made the "Only Murders in the Building" actor his taco belle on Valentine's Day in 2024, ordering from her favorite fast food fix for their February date less than a year after their love story began. This was no ordinary takeout, though. Blanco also rented out an entire movie theater so Gomez could watch her top movie choice, "Almost Famous." He replaced the standards with a plush couch, so she could enjoy the flick in total comfort. The music producer also deep-fried pickles on-site, whipped up some nachos, and added Hot Cheetos and a candy assortment as the finishing touches.

Speaking to People about how he won over the Rare Beauty founder with his thoughtful approach to planning the perfect date, Blanco explained: "It doesn't mean, like, spending your entire bank account. It means, just like, being attentive, listening to the person, listening to the things they like." It seemed to do the trick; the two announced their engagement just eight months later.

Michael B. Jordan and Lori Harvey's relationship became synonymous with extravagant displays of affection during their 18 months together. But the actor truly outdid himself on Valentine's Day in 2021. Renting out an aquarium, Jordan set the stage for an intimate dinner catered by coveted Malibu hotspot Nobu, complete with flickering candles and rose petals.

Back at their hotel, Jordan had transformed the room into the perfect romantic getaway, scattering rose petals across the bed and bubble bath. Luckily for us onlookers, Harvey Instagrammed everything — showing the kind of Valentine's Day most of us can only dream about.

Then came the pièce de résistance. Jordan surprised Harvey with a certificate showing he had purchased stock in Hermès under the model's name. After all, love is best said with a Birkin bag.

We're so accustomed to seeing husbands and boyfriends orchestrate grand Valentine's Day gestures, but in Dwayne Johnson's case, his family turned the tables in the most heartwarming way. Known as being one of Hollywood's tough guys, The Rock revealed his softer side when he received a floral bouquet and a heartfelt card from his wife, Lauren Hashian, and their daughters. The surprise left him emotional, and even brought him to tears.

Sharing the touching moment on Instagram, Johnson wrote: "Full transparency, I was shocked when this stunning arrangement arrived and I realized they were for ME from my girls. Then I read the card * swipe left * and that's when I MAY have gotten a little 🥺🥺." The card, written in the code he uses with his daughters Jasmine and Tiana — who incidentally lent their voices to his "Moana 2" — made the gesture even more meaningful.

Once he'd collected himself, admitted he was able to take pictures of the adorable array. As it turns out, The Rock has a heart as big as his muscles, and his girls know exactly how to fill it.

When Joe Jonas proposed to Sophie Turner, he knew he had found a love and life worth celebrating. So, in 2019, he pulled out all the stops to combine Valentine's Day with an unforgettable surprise birthday party for his then-fiancée, who was born just a week after the romantic holiday.

The Jonas Brother had invited the "Game of Thrones" star's friends to a lovely and lively affair, clad with heart-shaped balloon displays, entertainers in themed costumes, and an atmosphere brimming with love and laughter. Jonas shared a beautifully curated, vintage-looking slideshow of photos capturing Sophie's delight as she stepped into the surprise. The snaps also showed her laughing with pals over drinks, and cozying up to her husband-to-be like they'd been struck with Cupid's arrow. As he captioned the post, "My Valentine gets a surprise birthday party because she's the f****** best."

Their marriage may not have stood the test of time, as their pair divorced in 2023, but this grand gesture was an unforgettable moment. At least for her 23rd birthday, Sophie Turner was living out the fantasy of many recovering teenage Jonas Brothers fans.

Diamonds are forever, but for Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, pearls are for Valentine's Day. In February 1969, Burton gifted Taylor one of history's most legendary gems, affectionately known as 'La Peregrina' — meaning the 'The Wanderer.' This 55-carat, pear-shaped pearl was first disinterred in 1513 and at the time, was the largest of its kind ever to be discovered. Over centuries, it passed through the hands of Spanish royalty and English aristocracy, and became widely regarded as a treasure of unparalleled status. 

Burton secured the pearl after an intense bidding war at Sotheby's, ultimately paying $37,000 — a figure that today would amount to over $318,000. Ensuring the treasure reached its new home safely, the head of Sotheby's jewelry division hand-delivered it to the Taylor-Burton penthouse suite at Caesars Palace. Never one to settle for ordinary, Taylor enlisted Cartier to design a custom necklace to house the pearl, pairing it with a cascade of rubies, diamonds, and additional pearls. To this day, the Valentine's Day bar has seldom been set higher than with this lustrous gem.