KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON LOVING!
From lovers' tiffs to marriage proposals, Café Rouge reveals the anatomy of Valentine's Day 2010
The average couple will have a lovers tiff at 1.57pm on Valentine's Day and question their relationship shortly after at 2.22pm, new research revealed today.
According to the research, which was commissioned by restaurant group Café Rouge, couples will argue for just over an hour before kissing and making up at 3.09pm.
And while for many Valentine's will be a day of hearts and flowers, the average couple is more likely to do household chores before snuggling under the sheets.
Couples will clean the house around noon (12.15pm) before getting intimate later in the afternoon at 4.05pm.
However the day is likely to start well, with couples tucking into breakfast in bed at 9.27am, sharing a first smooch at 10.28am and saying those three little words "I love you" at 10.55am before exchanging presents at 11.45am.
Anyone expecting a proposal should make sure they are with their loved one mid afternoon when most people said they'd pop the question (3.31pm).
Couples will then enjoy a slap up meal in the early evening (6.12pm), with the majority of people (42 per cent) naming it as the best Valentine's present followed by a card (37 per cent), flowers (35 per cent) and the promise of a weekend away (27 per cent).
Café Rouge will be spreading the love this weekend by donating £1 to Great Ormond Street Hospital's ‘Kiss It Better' campaign for every three-course Valentine's menu it sells over the weekend.
A Café Rouge spokesman said: "Valentine's Day might be a mixed bag of emotions but it's great to see a romantic meal reigning as the treat most people want. Couples can take the pressure off the day by letting us take care of the food, all while they do their bit for charity too."
The research, which was carried out among over 4,000 men and women across the UK, also shows that pop princess Cheryl Cole and Hollywood hunk Brad Pitt are the fantasy sweethearts they'd most like to spend the day with.
Cheryl is followed by fellow X Factor judge and expectant mum Dannii Minogue, TV star Kelly Brook and actress Angelina Jolie. Peter Andre, David Beckham and Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond come in behind Brad.
Wayne Rooney is the man women would least like to be their Valentine while Heather Mills came bottom of the Fantasy Valentine League for men.
The Café Rouge Romance Report also revealed:
- Items to help with DIY or housework are the least wanted gifts (2 per cent) with inflatable balloons (3 per cent) and charity donations (3 per cent) in second and third place
- Items to help with DIY or housework are the least wanted gifts (2 per cent) with inflatable balloons (3 per cent) and charity donations (3 per cent) in second and third place
- Couples are most likely to kiss each other 8 times on the day
- Just under half of us (44 per cent) are planning on celebrating Valentine's Day this year
- A third of us (30 per cent) will spend less than last year due to recessionary woes and uncertainty over current lovers
The anatomy of the day breaks down as follows:
- Wake up - 8.34am
- Breakfast in bed - 9.27am
- First smooch - 10.28am
- First say ‘I love you' - 10.55am
- Exchange presents - 11.45am
- Clean the house - 12.15pm
- Lovers tiff - 1.57pm
- Question the relationship - 2.22pm
- Kiss and make up - 3.09pm
- Propose marriage - 3.31pm
- Afternoon nap - 4.01pm
- Make love - 4.05pm
- Romantic dinner - 6.12pm
- Lights out - 10.57pm
- Ends -