Ben Higgins prefers to spoil girlfriend Jessica Clarke every day, not just on Feb. 14.
“This is going to be really corny, but I really do mean this: I really don’t love Valentine’s Day, and I’ll tell you why, because I believe every day is Valentine’s Day,” the former “Bachelor” star recently told Page Six Style at Kendra Scott‘s Soho boutique.
“I think doing something special on Valentine’s Day — like giving jewelry or something — is nice, I think it’s a good gesture, but I really think stuff like that can happen any day,” he continued.
Higgins, 30, who appeared on ABC’s long-running reality series back in 2016, also shared that while he has his eyes on a few pieces for Clarke — including the “Fallyn” hoop earrings in gold ($68) and the “Shannon” 14k gold collar necklace with diamonds ($850) — time spent together is the best gift of all.
“Jessica and I don’t get to spend a ton of time together, so when we do it’s really, really special,” Higgins said. “So just being together, honestly, I know that sounds lame, but it really is. The essence of our relationship is just time spent.”
Higgins is set to kick off the “Bachelor Live on Stage” tour Thursday in Mesa, Arizona, where he’ll be joined by fellow Bachelor Nation favorite, Becca Kufrin. And while Kufrin’s fiancé, Garrett Yrigoyen, will hit the road for some time as well, the “Bachelorette” alum plans to make the most of their time together.
“I’m really going to try to reserve as much time alone with him as I can,” Kufrin, 29, told us. “We both have a lot of things going on, tour aside, and work can take over and all of the craziness in the world can take over and so, to just turn off our phones, maybe go for a walk together, just have those quiet moments alone.”
As for her Valentine’s Day plans, Kufrin, like Higgins, believes the special moments shouldn’t be reserved for one day out of the year.
“I don’t think you need one specific day to show how much you love someone,” Kufrin said, noting she and Yrigoyen “just chilled” last year.
“I think we bought a bottle of champagne, we made a good pasta dinner,” she said. “Those are my favorite dates, when we can just cook together and share a bottle of wine and cozy up next to the fire.”
Though Kufrin quipped “jewelry is fine,” should Yrigoyen decide to expand her jewelry collection with some “Ellie” stud earrings ($60) or a “River” gold and diamond bracelet ($600), his support is what she appreciates the most.
“One thing too that I need to keep at the forefront is always telling Garrett how much I appreciate him, because to be so supportive of me to leave for three months is one thing, and I really want him to know how much that means to me, how much he means to me … I couldn’t do it without his support,” Kufrin said.
The couple got engaged on Season 14 of “The Bachelorette” in 2018.