Your 2025 Holiday Gift Guide for Couples

Finding just the right gift for that special someone in your life can be a daunting holiday challenge. There’s so much to consider—will your gift show you care without being overly sentimental? Will it express your love and commitment without feeling too intense? Will it be creative enough to show thoughtfulness, but not so extravagant that it feels over the top?

But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. From romantic experiences to practical yet heartfelt gifts, this guide is full of ideas to make your holiday shopping a little easier and ensure your gift captures the spirit of the season as well as the depth of your affection.

Take in Dinner and a Show

How romantic is it to cuddle up in a theatre while enjoying a live performance, or listening to live music over a delicious dinner? Tickets to one of the Tweed & Co.’s live performances at Bancroft Village Playhouse in Bancroft or the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed would make the perfect stocking stuffer, especially when paired with an intimate dinner at The Granite in Bancroft. In Calabogie, Neat Café features live music and comedy acts you can watch while dining on one of their authentic wood-fired pizzas. 

Book a Spa Day for Two

Who wouldn’t love a spa day for two? This gift is ideal if you are looking for a gift certificate idea to enjoy later. Spend the day at the Perth Best Western Parkside Inn & Spa while enjoying a couple’s massage followed by a facial, manicure and/or pedicure. Order a gift card from Maplestone Ranch & Retreat, near Almonte, to enjoy a Nordik-style water circuit experience without the crowds. 

Learn Together

The couple that learns together, stays together (seriously, this is true - learning something new together is a great relationship builder)! Learn how to blow glass at Artech Studios in Haliburton and walk away with a beautiful glass memento you made together. At Yours Outdoors in Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve you can take a course to learn how to learn fun things like making pasta, ice climbing, or igloo building. 

Learn how to create beautiful art together with a workshop from Tree House Art Studio – they run weekly classes at Calabogie Lodge Resort if you want to make it a full creative and romantic getaway. 

Fall in Love with Local

A gift from a small-scale local company is both meaningful and memorable. At Enright Cattle Co., they raise the cattle that they sell for beef and also to make beautiful leather products. Their compact zip wallet or compact mini purse are unique gifts with a story to tell.  

Christmas lives in Hastings County! You can immerse yourself in the festive spirit in the year-round Christmas room at the Old Hastings Mercantile, where you can choose between hundreds of fine Canadian Arts and Crafts, jewellery, vintage, and more. The Rustic Roadside Restaurant in Gilmour will feed your belly and the holiday spirit in their Christmas room, an unexpected (and fun) surprise. Don't miss gifting a unique, customizable Everlasting made in Canada candle from Acorn Home + Apparel in Bancroft. 

Get in the Holiday Spirit(s)

Craft beer and spirit lovers will never turn up their nose at a new and local product. Gift your special someone with a membership to Braumeister Brewing Co.’s beer club and your giftee will get swag, their name on the beer wall, and a free beer on their birthday. Boshkung Brewing Co. in Minden has branched out into hard seltzers with fun flavours to try like Blood Orange or Apfelschorle (?!?). At O’Kenny Craft Spirits, their Mocha moonshine blends local coffee from Ottawa Valley Roasthouse with a smooth corn moonshine with delicious results. Check their website for holiday shopping hours.

Dazzle with Handmade

Handmade gifts are a good way to give a meaningful gift, but you don’t necessarily need to make it yourself. You can choose from a vast selection of locally made pottery, textiles, and other art at Riverguild Fine Crafts in downtown Perth, or at the Etsy-shop-esque Cheerfully Made in downtown Almonte. Also in Almonte is General Fine Craft, a great spot to pick up unique (and local) art pieces. 

In North Frontenac, Back Forty Artisan Cheese is also home to Jenna Rose, maker of beautiful hand illustrated, screen-printed textiles. Order online to pick up at the cheese store and stock up on artisan cheese at the same time. Another unique handmade gift idea is one of the messenger or duffle bags made with repurposed vintage car interior and aviation materials at Mariclaro Designs, also in Frontenac County.