Although it’s a day synonymous with love and romance, Valentine’s Day is not all dinner dates and flowers. Beyond amorous gestures and marriage proposals, it’s a day that’s also linked to disappointment, divorce, and even domestic violence.
This study will look at both the good and the bad when it comes to Valentine’s Day: the spike in happy occasions such as engagements and conceptions, and what happens when love sours.
Before we closely examine specific Valentine’s Day issues, let’s consider some broad statistics regarding what, for many people, may well be as stressful and pressurized as it is romantic.
Valentine’s Day in the United States
YouGov survey data reveals how Americans (who were in relationships when canvassed) planned to spend their 2024 Valentine’s Day (with many respondents choosing more than one option).
- 34% suggested they were likely to dine out
- 25% planned to share a meal at home
- 37% expected to exchange gifts
- 28% said they would exchange cards, and
- 30% planned to have sex.
Another survey, this one from 2025, asked people with partners how important they felt romance was to their relationship. 66% of men and 59% of women suggested that romance is a key part of any successful relationship. And, in terms of Valentine’s Day outlay, women spend on average $57, with men spending an average $249.
Yet, a 2020 study states that 6% of Americans consider Valentine’s Day stressful, and that it involves too much pressure to please their partner. And the YouGov study reveals that, of more than 33,000 canvassed U.S. adults, 48% of women admit to feeling disappointed by a romantic partner on Valentine’s Day (the percentage is 23% for men).
On the happier side, Valentine’s Day represents the perfect opportunity to pop the big question.
Valentine’s Day: A Day For Marriage Proposals
In fact, study data reveal that around six million marriage proposals are made on Valentine’s Day every year, with 36% of Americans agreeing that a Valentine’s Day proposal is romantic. 41.2% of all wedding proposals are between November and February; of all proposal days during that period, Valentine’s Day is the most popular, with 17.2% of those proposals made on February 14th.
To underline just how popular Valentine’s Day is when it comes to marriage proposals, if we combine the percentage of proposals from the two next most popular proposal days (Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), the numbers only marginally exceed the top-ranking total (19.4%).
Here’s a breakdown of the marriage proposal percentages from days between November and February.
| Holiday | % of Marriage Proposals Made |
|---|---|
| Thanksgiving Day | 6.6% |
| Christmas Eve | 10.3% |
| Christmas Day | 9.1% |
| New Year’s Eve | 8.5% |
| New Year’s Day | 3.4% |
| Valentine’s Day | 17.2% |
| Any other day between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day | 44.9% |
So, it’s clear that a day during which much focus is on relationships and partners is also a key day for making serious long-term plans. And on the matter of long-term commitments, it’s worth considering the role Valentine’s Day plays regarding parenthood.
New Arrivals: Ranking Popular Conception Days
According to CDC and Social Security Administration figures, 10,408 babies are born in November following a Valentine’s Day conception.
And, according to MooseRoots, while Valentine’s Day isn’t quite at the top of the list, it ranks as the 6th most popular day to conceive in the U.S. Here’s a full list of the ten most popular conception days.
| Rank | Day | Percentage of Annual Conceptions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christmas | 4.15% |
| 2 | New Year’s Eve | 4.14% |
| 3 | Thanksgiving | 4.11% |
| 4 | Halloween | 4.05% |
| 5 | Presidents’ Day | 4.00% |
| 6 | Valentine’s Day | 3.98% |
| 7 | St. Patrick’s Day | 3.98% |
| 8 | Mardi Gras | 3.98% |
| 9 | Memorial Day | 3.97% |
| 10 | Cinco De Mayo | 3.95% |
(Ranking Methodology: MooseRoots examined death records from 1936 to 2012 to identify the birth dates of over 14 million people.
They then subtracted 38 weeks (the average length of a pregnancy) to pinpoint a conception date, and mapped dates for 14 holidays all the way back to 1936. To account for varying pregnancy lengths, they extended each holiday to include the weeks both before and after.)
Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day isn’t just associated with romantic excitement and subsequent births. It’s also a day subject to a serious uptick in the flipside of conjugal happiness and familial contentment: divorce.
Valentine’s Day Divorce-Related Statistics
A 2014 study from lawyer-matching site AVVO reveals that the number of people seeking divorce-related information on their site rises over 40% in the weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day. A site spokesperson even suggests that the spike is consistent enough to be termed ‘The Valentine’s Effect’. The study goes on to reveal that 67% of those looking for a divorce attorney are women, with people from
Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Phoenix, and Dallas are leading the searches.
Data from Avvo.com suggests that February is the main month of the year when it comes to filing for divorce (around 18% busier than an average month), with people 38% more likely to look for a divorce attorney immediately after Valentine’s Day.
2025 Google Trends February data tells us that February 18th saw the highest number of divorce searches (100), followed by February 5 (97), and February 19th (96).
And the Valentine’s Day downside doesn’t stop with divorce: it’s also significantly associated with instances of domestic violence.
The Valentine’s Day Domestic Violence Link
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime in the U.S, with hospital data confirming that of 21 million assault-related injury visits, 15% occurred over holiday periods.
More than one in three women and one in four men have suffered physical violence, rape, or stalking, with over 20,000 daily calls made to domestic violence hotlines daily, figures that rise up to 22% across all significant U.S. holiday dates.
The heightened stress and expectations synonymous with Valentine’s Day can increase tension in relationships and families, with study data suggesting heavy alcohol consumption often exacerbates difficult relationship circumstances.
Organizations like Women’s Aid see an uptick in abusive dynamics during Valentine’s Day, with societal expectations around love and relationships considered aggravating factors.
Additionally, study data confirms that family law practitioners become especially important during and following Valentine’s Day, as they observe an increase in demands for legal protections like non-molestation and occupation orders. Such legal tools are essential for the safety and stability of survivors who are desperate for help.
Tanner Swanson of A New Leaf, a nonprofit shelter, confirms that Valentine’s Day often means a rise in incidents. ‘Victims might have their past abuser reaching out,’ Swanson said. ‘So it’s absolutely crucial that whoever those victims are, they actively seek out assistance.’
Valentine’s Day: Far More Than Just Amour
Valentine’s Day is a big day in the U.S. calendar, with Americans spending $27.5 billion on the occasion in 2025. It’s also the number one day in the country for marriage proposals, and the sixth most popular day for child conception.
Additionally, it can be a day that exacerbates relationship issues, with 48% of women and 23% of men ‘disappointed’ by Valentine’s Day, and 6% finding the occasion ‘stressful’.
Divorce interest spikes by 40% in the days before Valentine’s, with divorce filings up 18% and divorce-lawyer referrals rising 38% during the same period. And instances of assault regularly flare up during the Valentine’s Day period, with an increase in domestic violence plus far more demand for legal protections like non-molestation and occupation orders.
So, while it’s still a big day for lovestruck couples looking to commemorate their relationship or even start a family, the overall reality is far more nuanced. In many cases, it’s a day fraught with potential stresses, challenges, and even injuries. It’s worth remembering: for some, Valentine’s Day is one to forget.
At Dellino Family Law Group, we believe that working with us is about more than simply hiring an attorney: it should also bring you peace of mind and allow you to continue your life while we attend to your legal matters.
We seek to build a lasting relationship with you and offer you a friend in the legal community you can turn to with questions and concerns – even after your case is concluded. Get in touch with us today for more information.