- - Caitlin O’Connor Says Joe Manganiello Is the ‘Best Valentine’s Day Date’: He ‘Loves a Grand Romantic Gesture’ (Exclusive)

Sarah JonesFebruary 13, 2026 at 11:00 PM

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Caitlin O'Connor and Joe Manganiello.

Araya Doheny/Getty

Joe Manganiello's fiancée Caitlin O'Connor opens up about what Valentine's Day means to the couple

"He's the best Valentine's Day date," O'Connor tells PEOPLE exclusively

The couple, first linked in 2023, announced their engagement in October 2025

Caitlin O'Connor is shedding some light on the "grand" romantic gestures fiancé Joe Manganiello has surprised her with throughout their relationship and why she considers him the ultimate Valentine's Day date.

"Valentine’s Day has become a special holiday for me since I met Joe," O'Connor, 36, tells PEOPLE. "I once considered it a little cheesy, but I secretly always wanted to celebrate. Joe has turned February 14th into a day I genuinely look forward to."

"I always wanted a partner who took it seriously and put in the effort…not in an over-the-top way — just someone who understood that being in love and appreciating each other matters," she continues. "Joe does exactly that — he puts in the effort and is always very thoughtful and very romantic. He is the best Valentine’s Day date."

Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor.

Joe Manganiello/Instagram

For their first Valentine's Day together, the couple saw their favorite band Tool in Los Angeles. "We knew they would be playing in LA, so I asked if we could see the show and Joe planned a whole staycation for us in downtown LA," she recalls. "He surprised me with a large bouquet of roses waiting for me at the hotel when we arrived."

Last year, the True Blood star, 49, once again pulled out all the stops. "Joe planned a very romantic dinner date at a beautiful restaurant," O'Connor says. "He had a giant display of roses set up for me when I walked into the restaurant. He knows how to be a great Valentine and always does something very thoughtful."

"I flexed my green thumb last year and kept those roses alive and looking beautiful for almost a month!" she adds.

But for the television host, the gestures are about more than flowers and dinner reservations.

Caitlin O'Connor and Joe Manganiello.

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

"Beyond the romantic surprises, what matters most is the intention," she explains. "This year is still a surprise but maybe cooking together at home and exchanging handwritten cards. It can be simple with meaning. I just love the ritual of celebrating love. Life goes by so quickly, and having a night set aside to appreciate your love is important."

"Small and consistent acts of love mean more than anything else, but Joe is the best partner and loves a grand romantic gesture and I love him for it," she continues. "With busy lives and careers, it’s easy to assume that love is understood between you, but Valentine’s Day is a chance to say it out loud. Even if you think Valentine’s Day is cheesy, it’s an excuse to celebrate and be cute and create memories together."

As PEOPLE previously reported, O'Connor recently recalled the exact moment she knew Manganiello was the one for her.

"We were holding hands in a crowd rushing by us and someone tried to cut through us and cause us to stop holding hands while the crowd rushed by," she says. "Joe protected that hand-hold and wouldn’t let the person cross in between us, and that is when I knew he was the one!"

The couple, who have roots in Pennsylvania, recently moved from Los Angeles to a Pittsburgh suburb, O'Connor told PEOPLE. A source says that the pair recently spent time together in Cape Town, South Africa while Manganiello filmed season 3 of the adventure series One Piece. (Season 2, which debuts March 10 on Netflix, features the actor's debut as the antagonist, Crocodile.)

Manganiello and O'Connor first sparked romance rumors in September 2023, and later confirmed their relationship in December that same year.

They announced their engagement in October 2025 after two years of dating. They both shared the news in posts on Instagram, adding in their captions that the proposal took place on Tuesday, June 24.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”