Valentines Day is 14th February - you need ideas, right? When Valentines Day is, how to get a date, what to do and where to go. You have questions - Mr D has answers. Read on for some expert Valentines tips and advice.

When is Valentines Day?

Every year it lands like clockwork on 14th February. 2012 is no exception. This year it falls on a Tuesday (not well known as the most romantic day of the week, but we can work on that).

What is Valentines Day?

That depends entirely on your perspective. If you're a restaurant owner, it's the day you make a sackful of money on couples dining out on expensive champagne and, most likely, oysters. If you're a man in an overly-settled relationship, you've probably dispensed with expensive tastes like champagne and oysters and will probably be hoping to make as little effort as you can get away with.

For everyone else, Valentines Day is a great excuse to get a date with whoever you've had your eye on, get out there and have a good time. You don't need to get sucked in to the whole commercial element - take it for what it is and roll with it.

How to get a date

With Valentines Day so close, it's too late to hit the gym and beef up. It's not, however, too late to sort out your wardrobe. Something which I find is best achieved at the shops, not at your actual wardrobe. So, you'll need some stylish gear:

1. A collared shirt;
2. Fitted trousers or jeans;
3. A smart pair of shoes; and
4. Accessories - cufflinks, sunglasses, watch, belt, jacket, etc.

This is your date night outfit. More or less...

In the meantime, you need to up your game everywhere - sort your grooming out, your demeanour and make time to socialise and get yourself out there in the build up to Valentines Day - you're going to need a date.

Dating is a tricky game, but the rules are simple:

• Definitely meet ladies through your friends - if you trust your friends.
• Don't be shy - talk to any woman you'd like to go on a date with.
• Remember - your odds of a yes are 50:50 - those are excellent odds. Take them.
• There's nothing wrong with internet dating - repeat. There's nothing wrong with internet dating.
• Don't mix business with pleasure - that probably speaks for itself.

What to do on Valentines Day

First things first, tidy your place up. Because a good night ends there and you want it looking sharp.

Make sure you have plenty of classy breakfast ingredients in your fridge. Enough for two.

So, you have a date lined up ahead of time. Do you want to send her a card full of love quotes? No. That's an easy one. Avoid love quotes. A card is fine, if you know the woman well enough. If not, e-cards (in good taste, good humour, etc.) could work wonders.

Should you buy flowers? Yes. Don't send them to her work and embarrass her, and avoid bringing them on the date - she (or worse, you) will have to carry them, which takes at least one hand out of the equation for the rest of the evening. Not good. Send them to her home or, better yet, drop them off when you pick her up.

I highly recommend you have a plan. The fact that you have one makes it a good plan. Now let's make it great. A good date starts in a bar - if it goes downhill here, you're not overly committed and can call it a night. If it bombs at a restaurant, you'll have to see it through. Have a range of bars in mind, know where they are. Book a table if needed. You're best off visiting a few bars in rapid succession first - you need to keep things moving and the more things you do, the 'fuller' her night will seem, and the more she'll be impressed. Fact.

At this point you need to eat - book a restaurant or two, classy but not excessive, crucially you need to have a decent handle on her tastes for this to work. Restaurants with a view impress, lively spots will help distract if your conversation slows at any point.

You can substitute the cinema, a gallery, a show or some live entertainment instead of dinner if you prefer - this takes the pressure off making conversation and requires extra thought to get tickets. This too will impress.

Throughout the evening, you should ideally be making your way closer to home, so that ultimately at some point you're able to suggest a night cap at yours. Get her there and the rest is up to you.