Valentine’s Day - a perfect day for love locks

Valentine’s day

Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody! I hope that, unlike myself, you are together with your significant other, the love of your life, your love-object.

And hi, honey, we will be reunited soon and have our own romantic get-together then, ok?

Attaching your own love lock for Valentine’s Day

But enough about me/us and back to you, dear readers, romantics, loveaholics, Valentinos and Valentinas. What special plans do you have for your Valentine?

May I give a suggestion? What is more romantic and symbolic than attaching your very own love lock and throwing away the key?!

This can be done in many cities all over the world.

I wrote about Seoul’s love locks (in endless numbers; an impressive sight) and about Singapore’s love locks (a very modest quantity so far). We attached a love lock in both locations.

I have also seen them in Zandvoort in the Netherlands (this was clearly a new location, because there were not many locks yet).

Did you know that the Pont-des-Arts bridge in Paris is succumbing under the weight of it’s love locks? Crazy, right?! In fact, all over the world, there is now a controversy about love locks, because of the damage that’s sometimes done to the environment. In different cities and countries, action groups have even started to remove love locks.

Anyway, check if there is any controversy around the location that you are going for. No matter how fun attaching a love lock may be, preservation of bridges and other environments is key, of course (pun intended, hahaha).

Guide for customizing and attaching your lovelock

In some locations, like e.g. in Singapore, things are so organized, that you can buy your love lock on location. I would not recommend that though, because a standardized lock is not really personal, is it? No, you better:

• buy your own love lock: either buy one that is ‘different’ and/or…
• … personalize your lock. Paint it, attach colorful things, a picture of your couple, a toy, whatever you like. Make it stand out from the rest of the locks.
• mark the lock with the date and with your surnames, e.g. with a waterproof pen.
• whatever you do to, on, or with the lock, remember that it is going to be exposed to the elements, so make it waterproof and durable, if you want your personal lock to look good for a long time. Choose a lock that will not rust, if you want it to stay preserved and not turn all orange from the rust.
• do the whole ritual of buying, preparing/customizing and attaching the lock together as a couple. It’s fun to do.
• take lots of pictures of the whole process; a cool memory for you both.
• throw away the key together.
• follow the rules that may be indicated at the love lock location, like where to (not) throw your key and where to (not) hang your lock. After all, it is a nice, romantic ritual, but crumbling bridges and all cannot be the intention, can it?

Two must-reads for romantics

Don’t forget to read my ode to romance that I wrote for Valentine’s Day 2014. And did you know that South Koreans are super-romantic? No? Well, they are. Very special! You’ll be surprised!

I hope you have a romantic day and wish you lots of love and happiness!