Clichés are the building blocks of our great-love expectations. In Pretty Woman when, Julia Roberts’ knight-in-shining armor is actually a business tycoon in a white stretch limo with roses in his hand (close enough). Or in The Notebook, when Ryan Gosling wrote letters to his love every day for a year to prove his devotion. Yes, these acts of true love are extreme and unrealistic, but not in their entirety…

We are told that clichés are silly and don’t mean a thing, well here at Project Soulmate, the Best Matchmaking Service in New York City, we disagree. Let’s boil these scenarios down to the aspects that should be considered romantic, not silly in the dating world.

Every woman loves flowers. That is a fact. If she says she doesn’t, then she is lying because even if there is a slight chance that she actually doesn’t like flowers, the gesture speaks for itself in a big way. When a man brings a woman flowers it shows her that he was thinking of her and went the extra mile just to make his woman smile a little more. Buying flowers does not have to be such an expensive ordeal either! There are few things more romantic than a single red rose.

Now, the white stretch limo; this is a bit of a stretch… but the point is not lost. The idea of planning a little in advance and showing the extra effort goes a long way. It does not have to be a limo, but making a reservation at a nice restaurant or buying surprise tickets to your significant others favorite show, movie, or sports team is unparalleled when it comes to a loving gesture. Simply showing that you made an effort will create those butterflies that we all search for.

And finally, the 365 love letters from Ryan Gosling. Again, the emphasis is on the point. Writing little notes to each other is very cute and endearing. If you have to leave for work before your partner gets up, leave a little note by the coffee pot that you set up for them, saying ‘have a great day! I love you’ or ‘Hope this coffee brightens up your day like you brighten up mine’. Or leaving a little note in the bathroom telling your partner how beautiful or handsome they look, even if you didn’t get to see them. These little notes are precious memories that can be saved in the drawers of your nightstands or in a scrapbook, and will bring you both happiness and giggles when you look back at them in the future.

I know we are all busy, especially in a city like New York, but do not let that stop you from taking the little steps that make a huge difference. Coming from the relationship experts, clichés are the way a happy, healthy and thriving relationship.

By: Alexia Chicles