Lovebirds express themselves differently on Valentine's Day this year

Petaling Jaya (The Star/ANN) - A couple in their 20s, parents in their 40s and grandparents in their 60s - they are not going to celebrate Valentine's Day the same way.

Still, Feb 14 will be a day they express profound love for each other in their own special ways.

For Calvin Soo and Celene Lai, both 24, Tuesday will be their third Valentine's Day together.

And they have decided on something extraordinary - reward themselves with an outdoor photo shoot by a professional photographer.

"We want to make it memorable instead of just going for dinner and exchanging gifts," said Soo, a college lecturer here.

The couple decided to split the cost of the 900 ringgit (US$297) "gift", which comes with an album engraved with their love story.

"It is nice to have a day to make her feel extra special," Soo added, pledging to keep celebrating Valen­tine's Day for "20 straight years".

Danielle Lee, 43, who has been married for 13 years, said she and her husband believed in expressing love the simple way on that special day.

"Even when we were courting, love was about holding hands and making an effort to meet as often as we could," said the mother-of-three from Shah Alam. The couple will not buy each other gifts.

"Instead, we will spend the day remembering the love we share and how we have stood by each other throughout all the challenges," said Lee.

For grandfather Mohan Rajendran, 63, from Ipoh, Valentine's Day is all about family.

After 35 years of marriage, four children and two grandchildren, he said he intended to "cherish the love".

"When our children were growing up, it was a family tradition to send each other cards, flowers or gifts," said the retired teacher, saying the extended family intended to keep the tradition alive by at least calling each other this Valentine's Day.