The Valentine's Special: 10 Geeky Gift Ideas For Your Nerd Partner.
Have you chosen something meaningful for your geeky and nerdy partner yet? I have come up with my top ten ideas for the best geeky gifts that I would have ever dreamed of, and if they excite me, I am sure they would also enthuse all my fellow nerdy friends out there. From LEGO to Star Wars, hopefully, I can inspire you to take time to think about which is your favourite from my list and most meaningful to your partner.
Be warned, my list does not consist of your average gifts like the typical geeky tee – it will make you think hard about your options and broaden your mind to ideas beyond the average – so buckle up.
1. LEGO Proposal
Though this story comes from as early as 2012, for me it is an idea that will always stand the test of time. According to The Mirror, ‘Filmmaker Walt Thompson surprised girlfriend Nealey Dozier with a stop-motion animation featuring a toy groom-to-be holding a diamond ring’. These toys are of course LEGO figures which are loved by kids and adults alike around the world. And what a fantastic idea to pop the question on this most romantic of days!
But, even if you aren’t proposing just yet or you don’t feel you have the talent to create a stop motion video for the one you love, you can always still have buckets of fun with Valentine’s Day LEGO sets which include Valentine Lovebirds.
2. Pokemon Wedding
One of the most popular dates to get married for lovers is Valentine’s day. I decided to write about this idea to celebrate the love between my best friend, Cola and her husband Simon. This is a special mention since their wonderful wedding was completely inspired by Pokemon.
Cola is a multi-talented woman and one of her talents is to knit. She knitted Pokemon characters as the bride and groom sitting as toppers for her beautiful three-tiered wedding cake along with dozens of hand-knitted flowers and leaves. It was the most astonishing sight and you could feel the love poured into this project for the bride who made all these cake decorations lovingly by hand. You can find her little shop of nerdy knitted items on Etsy as Pixelkei.
Meanwhile, like Cola who loves both knitting and Pokemon – why not think of ideas that combine your ‘true loves’ and get inspired to create something from your heart that has a glorious geeky meaning to you and the love of your life?
3. Custom Comic Book
My favourite hobby and my career are both writing and storytelling. So, of course, one of my absolute favourite possessions in the world are my selection of comic books. Whether Marvel heroes or Lady Mechanica, the Sandman or Watchmen, I spend many a day visiting my favourite London comic book store, Forbidden Planet to gaze at comics (and leave with a bag of purchases).
Imagine if you could have a customised couple’s comic book cover done for you? Well, you are in luck! And Etsy is filled with small businesses by talented people you can search and explore for amazing ideas like this. You can even invest that little bit more to get a whole comic book strip love story made personally for you!
Just remember, it is always a great idea to try supporting small businesses on highly commercial days like Valentine’s day – if you are going to follow the trend make sure you do it thinking about social enterprises and small businesses trying to make a living.
4. Nerdy Snaps
This is the best idea ever in my opinion for a gamer geek in your life. Though I was excited to see an idea on GeekGirls.com where people can purchase geeky valentine’s cards featuring well-known geeky gamer girls, I felt that it didn’t have the same personal touch as a couple being featured in their own geeky photoshoot.
Why not take time to explore Pinterest where there is a plethora of photographic ideas from the glamorous and geeky to the world wide web filled with knock-out Nerdgagement photoshoot ideas. All you need is to source a talented photographer and you are well on your way to creating lifelong memories with your nerdy snaps.
5. Creative Crafty Couples (with a difference)
One of the biggest loves of my life – other than storytelling – is art and being creative. Art feeds my soul and one painting or photograph can speak a million words. I am sure what first springs to mind at the mention of ‘art’ is investing in amazing art prints from street artists to contemporary limited editions – especially from the Affordable Art Fair or taking advantage of the Own Art Scheme to help finance your investment a spread the cost.
However, sharing is caring. And what if you and your loved one took the time to create art of your own together?
There are so many creative couples ideas for art-lovers and what’s even better is the ultimate experience and memories created in the meantime. You could purchase a casting kit to make a statue of your hands intertwined which can be decorated in your home and have fun doing it together. It’s all about ‘the essence of togetherness’ and this combined with a geeky streak there are so many fun ideas you can come up with as a couple.
For example, my husband and I both love collage-making and sci-fi. We have decided to work on collages combining cutouts from magazines with Star Trek posters to make our own creative art pieces for geeks!
This could even convert into an Etsy shop idea which is fun and collaborative, further connecting us in other aspects of life. Imagine having your own couples’ small business stemming from a Valentine’s idea? If you want to explore your inner crafting abilities together why not consider these creative hobbies for couples – then you can add your geeky streak to it like Pokemon Pottery or Star Wars Screen-printing.
6. Geeky Memorabilia
Every geeky couple has a collection of memorabilia from their favourite games, books, TV shows, and comics. And what is best is that memorabilia are highly desirable so your obsession turns into an investment as well as an enjoyable part of your life you can share as a couple. Plus, you can express yourselves showing off your collections to friends and family whenever they come round your house.
From fun toys like Transformers and Lego which you can build together, to decorative figurines from Star Wars and Marvel. There is so much out there to explore.
However, I decided to present to you an idea which I feel is both fun and representative of ‘love’ – Valentine’s Specials! I already mentioned Valentine Lego sets, but by far my favourite collection comes from Funko Pop who have made the cutest Star Wars figures in pink and red vinyl holding a heart-shaped gift like the Valentine special Stormtrooper. The nice thing about memorabilia in this case is that it can be an affordable and fun option for Valentine’s day.
7. Curious Adventures
Now, I am not saying you have to book a ticket and fly to Hobbiton in Australia (though that would be a dream of mine) or Dracula’s Castle in Romania. It’s understandable that trips abroad are not only expensive but while the whole world has been plunged into pandemic oblivion it is not easily feasible either. However, living in the UK we can agree I am sure that we are the luckiest people in the world to be close enough to explore some of the world’s geekiest adventure destinations ever to have been created.
My favourite ever epic fantasy books are Tolkien’s Lord of the Ring’s Trilogy, and though I wouldn’t expect my husband to take me all the way to Australia to see Hobbiton, there is a far more realistic and fun option to consider which is ‘Tolkien’s Trail’ in Birmingham and Lancashire. For fanatics like me, make sure to keep an eye out for the Lord of The Ring’s series coming up in September 2022, ‘The Ring of Power’ and if you really want the love of your life to adore you for all eternity, since the next season is said to be filmed not in Australia but the UK, why not go that step further and see if you can get them into being a series extra on set? The ultimate dream!
J. K. Rowling is the number one young adult fiction fantasy writer of all time who has created a long standing legacy around her World of Wizardry with Harry Potter. And if you are a Harry Potter fan what best way to share your passion than with the love of your life. Dress up in your favourite wizarding outfit and make a day of it visiting Harry Potter World in Watford, London. Or you could travel just 6 hours across the ‘pond’ to the Harry Potter Store in New York. Though for the die-hard Harry Potter fans of the wizarding world, you better start saving up now and consider buying special Valentine’s tickets for the new Harry Potter adventure park opening in Tokyo in 2023. But for something more simple and closer to home you could take a picture at Platform 9 ¾ in King’s Cross Station.
One easy treat which your Valentine would surely enjoy and does not need to break the bank is a fun nerdy shopping experience (though leaving with bags full of stuff could break the bank so be aware!). For example, only in central London, you can visit Forbidden Planet with all the amazing toys, comics and books, then pop by the Lego Flagship store in Leicester Square and while you’re at it have a little fun in the M&M’s store too.
Other ideas include days out or weekends away like a visit to Legoland in Windsor or Disneyland Paris which are popular destinations for adults and kids alive. Or have you considered popping down to Madam Tussaud’s to see the Marvel Universe 4D experience?
How about getting tickets to conventions? You only need to look at this comprehensive list to get inspired and what’s best. If you love cosplay you can also have fun dressing up for the occasion. Imagine their face when they open a Valentine’s card and inside are tickets to their favourite convention – and you watch as their eye light up with joy. The best feeling ever.
There are too many wonderful destination ideas for you to choose from so just Google it and see what you come up with for your ultimate geeky Valentine’s experiences? And remember, it is a well-known fact that for the man of your life, usually, men prefer experiences to ‘things’.
8. Sharing is Caring
Though not necessarily a nerd-filled concept, again every geeky couple can put their unique twist to the idea – et voila!
By far my favourite idea is the Heart-Shaped Headphones Splitter which is perfect for the gadget geeks, the music freaks, and novelty nerds. It is cost effective and cute, though what’s best is that you can share what you love with the one you love and together you can stream your favourite gaming videos on youtube and listen to your favourite music together.
By far the geekiest gadgets on the planet are gamer gadgets, so why not invest in the latest gaming gear for hours of fun and laughs, friendly competition, gaming sessions for the two of you and even better you can have a gaming party and share with your beloved friends too.
Fujifilm released the clever little Instax camera, and what I love is their motto: ‘Don’t just take, give’, a clever twist in words there. What is so much fun is that you can share the love instantly with your loved one, and you can both also share it with friends, family and your ‘little valentine’ kids too. Did you know that children are the number one Valentine gift receivers according to research? That’s right.
But ultimately, my little local secret is my favourite for sharing with my husband. And that is Genesis Cinema in Stepney Green, Studios 4 and 5. What is perfect about this little gem tucked in the East of London is that these two studios are specifically set up with 2 seater sofas! Yes, you heard that right. One of the most meaningful experiences for Valentine’s specifically for me is being given a Valentine’s card with 2 tickets to my favourite movie, to geek out watching the big screen, pop-corn in hand, on a two-seater leather sofa, covered snuggly with a blanket, putting my feet up and having a sneaky glass of wine. Just heaven on earth. If you know any other cinema’s with such a cosy set hit me up as I would love to visit.
9. Express Your Geekdom through Fashion
I know that yet another t-shirt or book is a boring option. Usually, the go-to easy fix Valentine’s option is to go for flowers and chocolates and for our geeky lovers that funny t-shirt or the usual for our bookish lovers. And that is fine because it is all about the personality of the one you love and if they enjoy the simple things in life, then you are definitely onto a winner every year without fail. This list does not always have to be about unique ideas.
Personally, as a woman that is both glamorous and geeky, I love the idea of fantasy inspired and gothic jewellery. Now, jewellery is an obvious idea for a woman, especially one that has a taste for sparkly things and gems. My husband regularly buys me unique jewellery from the most unlikely artisans and I adore them. But, ideas need not break the bank, for example, you can buy jewellery one charm at a time, for example, this gorgeous Grogu charm from Pandora for your Star Wars geek girl.
Etsy is the go to for all things unique and geeky, though I would also recommend having a browse on the fabulous Geekcore website for ideas ranging from clothing to accessories and everything inbetween related to Geekdom. You are spoilt for choice.
Some geeky girls love bags and shoes. Accessorising is the ultimate geeky fashion expression and some of the most wonderful brands selling unique shoes are Sugar Thrillz, Joe Brown Couture, Irregular Choice, Hot Chocolate Design, Ruby Shoo to name a few (that rhymes!). Though if I had to pick my favourite pair of shoes it has to be this pair of ‘Building Love’ ankle boots by Irregular Choice or their ‘Play Date’ pair of heels or for the more comfortable and sporty option this pair of ‘Colourful Kingdom’ trainers. Super geeky and all inspired by Lego! For an even larger selection of amazing shoes and bags I would wholeheartedly recommend Lottie’s Atik.
10. Nerdy Pandemic Ideas
My ultimate guide to Valentine Geekdom would not be complete without thinking about what ideas we could come up with during a time when we have all been taken hostage by the pandemic.
Ever the nerds some of us have thrived on the ‘idea’ behind the pandemic spending hours watching Zombie movies and post-apocalyptic series on Netflix, or even watching horror and pandemic inspired movies. In my search for some quick ideas I came across this short story, an extension of the 12-book ‘The System Apocalypse’ series by Canadian LitRPG author Tao Wong: ‘Valentines in an Apocalypse’ – how fitting.
If you are like one of my best friends Ed who loves World Zombie Day and celebrates it on the Zombie Pub Crawl through Leicester Square in London, you are bound to miss doing that. Sorry guys, but not being real Zombies means we are stuck at home, though a solution would be to drown your sorrows and drink in with this selection of Walking Dead Wines. With the pandemic guidelines gradually easing, why not try one of the plethoras of survival experiences advertised by experience providers – just have a quick search on Google and you can have fun with anything from Horror to Zombie survival experiences to quench your thirst for blood and brains.
My personal favourite as a bookish geek is the novel ‘Hamnet’ by ‘2020 Women’s Prize for Fiction’ winner and author Maggie O’Farrell, ‘a fictional account of Shakespeare's son, Hamnet, who died at age 11 in 1596’ during the time of the Black Death which was estimated to have killed 200 million people across the globe.
Another is the sequel to Victoria Hislop’s best-selling book ‘The Island’ which she wrote during the pandemic when she buried herself in work when her mother died, which is called ‘One August Night’. These two books are based on the Leprosy colony of Spinalonga just off the shores of Crete. Of course, being Greek myself I adore Hislop’s work and eagerly awaited the release of this book.
For all my bookish geeks out there, if you plan to buy literature for Valentine’s day can I try and inspire you toward supporting social enterprises, sustainable business and local bookstores? My recommendation would be to visit Bookshop.org.
Written by Maria Nicolette
Hello! I’m Maria Nicolette, a writer and contributor to The Everyday Magazine.
I’m an ambitious disabled woman and fan of all things Geekdom. I write about my passions in an authentic voice and absolutely abhor toxic positivity, while I drown myself in fantasy and sci-fi imagination through books and story-writing.
My topics of interest are:
• Diversity: disability and female empowerment,
• Wellbeing: mental health, gardening, hobbies
• Art and culture: across the board!
• Luxury lifestyle: fashion, travel, beauty
• Entertainment: movies, music, gaming.
• And my favourite: Geekdom!
I volunteer as a Creative Content Writer, offering my copywriting, editing, public engagement, social media, communications and PR skills. I have volunteered my time for charities including The Children’s Trust, Ignite Hubs, and Enhance the UK.
My love for art and culture has led me to spend my time on interesting projects like Sci-Fi London as I am insane about film and have worked as an extra in Mission Impossible 5. I also work with Talks by Megan an influencer on invisible disabilities who is a bright and beautiful disabilities and diversity advocate. No one day is the same, and every day is interesting – which is how I love life!
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