How to Micromance the Person You’re Dating, Based on Their Love Style

Boomboxes in the rain, lavish surprise parties, and other grand romantic gestures have officially gone out of style! 

According to Bumble’s 2025 Dating Trends Report, modern love is all about the little things. After surveying thousands of Millennials and Gen Zs, the dating app found that a staggering 86% of people prefer to show affection through what they've termed ‘micromances’.

A micromance is a small, meaningful gesture that shows someone you care—think sending a meme that reminds you of them, doing the dishes without being asked, or surprising them with a playlist of their favorite songs. These actions don’t require much (if any) money or effort, yet they can make a huge impact on your relationship.

But before you start scrolling for funny videos or putting on your rubber gloves to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you’ll want to step back and consider your and your partner’s Love Styles. 

Love Styles: A Quick Overview

What’s a Love Style? A modern take on Dr. Gary Chapman’s five love languages, the Love Styles refer to the seven ways we each like to give and receive love—basically, the different kinds of ‘micromances’ that make each of us feel truly special. 

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Activity: People with this Love Style feel most loved when you actively engage in their interests and make an effort to spend meaningful time together. For them, love is about shared experiences and doing things that bring you both closer.
• Appreciation: Thoughtful compliments and words of affirmation are key to making people with this Love Style feel valued. 
• Emotional: People with this Love Style need someone who’s there for them during the tough times, offering comfort, understanding and reassurance. 
• Financial: These folks value generosity, but it’s more than just about gifts. For them, love is about investing in the relationship and sharing resources. 
• Intellectual: People with this Love Style thrive on deep, thought-provoking conversations that stimulate their mind. 
• Physical: Physical affection speaks volumes to these individuals. Whether it’s a spontaneous hug, holding hands or simply being close, they feel most loved through touch.
• Practical: Love is shown through actions that ease their everyday life. Helping out with the little things makes them feel supported and valued in a way that goes beyond words.

Marrying Love Styles and Micromance

The seven Love Styles show just how expansive and versatile love can be—and how easy it is for things to get lost in translation. 

For example, if you tend to ‘micromance’ by tackling practical chores (the Practical Love Style), but your partner longs for deep, meaningful conversations (the Intellectual Love Style), your well-intentioned gestures might not land as you hope.

The good news? Once you understand each other’s Love Styles, it’s easy to tailor your micromances so that they truly resonate.

With that in mind, here’s how to customize your micro-mantic gestures for each Love Style.

Activity

Quality time is key for people with this Love Style. They want to connect, make memories together and know their partner enjoys spending time with them—but that doesn’t mean you need to plan a big romantic weekend away. Micromancing people with this Love Style is actually incredibly easy: 

• Take a leisurely walk together to catch up on the week.
• Start a new TV series together, making a pact to only watch it when you're both there.
• Cook a new meal side by side.
• Set up a joint calendar that makes it easy for you to schedule quality time.
• Join them in one of their favorite hobbies.
• Have a ‘device-free’ lunch or dinner together so you can really talk.  

Appreciation 

People with the Appreciation Love Style need to understand that you love them through your words. But that doesn’t mean just paying lip service. These individuals want to know their partner is paying attention to their personal qualities and what’s going on in their lives. Try out small gestures like: 

• Send an encouraging text before they have a big event or important work meeting.
• Celebrate their small wins by telling them you’re proud of them.
• Leave a note on the fridge, telling them how important they are to you. 
• Make appreciation part of your routine. For example, each morning you could say or text, “you’re amazing and I’m grateful for you.” 
• Write a letter, expressing your appreciation for them. 
• Compliment them before they head out for the day. 

Emotional

When the going gets tough, people with the Emotional Love Style really need their partner. This style needs emotional support during challenging times to feel loved. Small, meaningful gestures for them include:

• Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions to genuinely understand how they’re feeling. 
• Take their problems seriously, even if they don’t resonate with you personally. 
• Practice active listening by giving them your full attention and reflecting on what they’ve said. 
• Check in regularly with texts to let them know you’re there when they need you.
• Plan downtime together in your diary, so they have the space to process and talk through their emotions. 
• Remind them that you care about them and that you’re always there. 

Financial

The Financial Love Style is about way more than buying gifts (although these are undoubtedly appreciated). Really, it’s about investing in the relationship. People with this style want to feel like you’re a team, sharing resources and creating a balanced partnership. Here’s some ideas on how to micromance them: 

• Treat them to a coffee when you’re out together.
• Surprise them with flowers or their favourite chocolates for no special reason.
• Share your work perks and loyalty program points with them—like air miles, retail discounts and freebies. 
• Curate a playlist of their favorite songs, or songs that remind you of them. 
• If you go to a new city or abroad, bring them back a small trinket to show you’ve been thinking of them. 
• Get crafty and make them something: a scrapbook of photos, a hand painted mug or—if you’re better in the kitchen—a batch of brownies or cookies. 

Intellectual

People with the Intellectual Love Style crave a meeting of the minds. Nothing delights them more than engaging in thought-provoking, stimulating conversations with their partner. To micromance this type: 

• Send them a podcast on a topic you know they’re passionate about, and suggest discussing it together afterward.
• Take an interest in your partner’s perspective by asking for their thoughts on current events. 
• Share a quiz like our TypeFinder and Enneagram Test to spark a conversation about psychology and human nature.
• Lend them a non-fiction book you've enjoyed and think they'll appreciate.  
• Make game night a regular habit by playing board games like chess or Scrabble. 
• Plan a visit to a museum or exhibition together. 

Physical

For people with the Physical Love Style, care and appreciation come from being physically close. We’re not just talking about sex. People with this Love Style crave affection and intimacy in all its forms:

• Plan a cosy movie night with blankets, candles and cuddles on the couch. 
• Give them a kiss on the cheek when you’re together. 
• Design and print personalized ‘vouchers’ offering thoughtful gestures like back massages or foot rubs.
• Hold hands when you're out, whether it’s during a walk or just running errands together.
• Make it a routine to greet each other with a kiss hello and goodbye
• When you’re apart, prioritise FaceTime over texting to build connection. 

Practical

If your partner has the Practical Love Style, they’ll feel cared for when you help lighten their load. For them, actions speak louder than words. They want to see you take the initiative and proactively help make their lives stressful—and more enjoyable. To micromance them: 

• Take on chores that you know they don’t enjoy—like the dishes, changing the bedsheets or laundry.
• Make breakfast or a packed lunch for them when you know they’ve got a busy day.
• Ask them how you can help out, and follow through on what you say you’ll do. 
• Get up a little earlier than usual and bring them coffee in bed. 
• Take care of the groceries when they’re running low on food. 
• Brighten up their room with fresh flowers or by lighting a scented candle. 

Discover Your Love Style 

Haven’t taken the Love Styles quiz yet? Discover how you and your partner like to give and receive love with our free test. And don’t be shy about sharing your results! Knowing each other’s Love Styles is a great way to deepen intimacy in your relationship. After all, it’s the little things that count—and understanding each other’s styles will help you both get those little things right.