There are few relationships in Gilmore Girls that enraptured audiences the way that Luke and Lorelai's love story did. Long before Luke made the first move toward developing their romantic relationship, he was going out of his way to make Lorelai happy.
Luke's acts of kindness toward Lorelai and Rory never came with any expectations, just the comfort of knowing they had whatever they needed. Although Luke has several other romantic gestures that prove his love for Lorelai, there are ten that stand out among the rest.
The Santa Burger
After being uninvited to the Gilmore family Christmas party, Lorelai decides to have dinner at Luke's, requesting something festive to cheer herself up. The last thing she expects Luke to make is a burger in the likeness of Santa Claus, complete with olive eyes and a cream cheese beard.
Though the burger is less than appetizing, the sweet — and artistically impressive — gesture lifts Lorelai's spirits. While viewers had previously seen Luke make a birthday coffee cake and balloons for Rory's birthday, the Santa burger is the first gesture that Luke makes specifically for Lorelai.
Supporting Lorelai At The Hospital
When Lorelai gets news of her father's heart attack, Luke drops everything to drive her to the hospital despite his diner full of customers. Combatting his fear of hospitals and enduring backhanded comments from Emily, Luke stays with Lorelai while they wait to hear about Richard’s condition.
Though he could have brought Lorelai to the hospital and left to go back and tend to his diner, he stayed as long as she needed his support. Luke appeared to be the best love interest for Lorelai from the start, but his handling of a family emergency proved that he would go to no end to look after Lorelai.
The Ice Rink
While Luke often grumbles or has a sarcastic response about the things that Lorelai finds fun, her sudden hatred of snow changes his point of view. Luke surprises Lorelai with an ice rink outside of her house, similar to the one his dad built for him as a child, to help rekindle her relationship with snow.
Lorelai doesn’t explicitly explain what caused her bad mood but Luke doesn’t need a reason to do something special for her. His ability to read Lorelai better than any of her previous boyfriends and make the effort to help her feel better proves Luke and Lorelai have the best relationship.
Building The Chuppah
Luke struggles to accept Lorelai’s relationship and impending marriage to Max Medina, taking his frustrations out on the customers at the diner. Although Luke doesn’t like Max, he never voices his distaste for him to Lorelai and even builds a ceremonial chuppah for the couple to use on their wedding day.
While the beautifully carved chuppah featuring Gilbert the goat doesn’t get used after Lorelai calls off the wedding, it stands as a symbol of Luke’s devotion to Lorelai’s happiness. Even as Luke grapples with the reality of Lorelai getting married, he goes out of his way to ensure her wedding would be special.
Luke & Lorelai's First Dance
Asking Lorelai to be his date for Liz’s wedding was the best decision Luke could have made toward developing their relationship. The carefree Rennaissance theme of the wedding allowed them to keep the date casual while also giving Lorelai the opportunity to see Luke in an entirely new light.
Luke continues to surprise Lorelai by inviting her onto the dance floor for a waltz, leading to one of the most memorable and romantic scenes between the pair. Luke and Lorelai's first dance marks the beginning of their journey as a couple and finally breaks Luke's pattern of silently pining for Lorelai in the background.
Buying The Twickham House
As their relationship progresses, Luke begins planning his future with Lorelai. After the death of Old Man Twickham, Luke does his best to get on Taylor’s good side by volunteering for the historical Stars Hollow History Museum installation.
Luke endures Taylor’s meticulous instructions in an attempt to buy the Twickham house for him and Lorelai to live in. After jumping through numerous hoops and convincing the town elders to take his offer over Kirk’s, Luke is finally able to buy the house for their new life together.
Luke’s planned date night at Sniffy’s Tavern is one of the most important episodes for Luke and Lorelai as a couple. While discussing the first time they met, Luke reveals that he did exactly as she had asked eight years before: he held onto the horoscope Lorelai made him and it would bring him luck. The small gesture holds immense meaning for Lorelai, proving that their connection was palpable all those years ago.
Luke's romantic gestures are never flashy or expensive the way Christopher and Jason's were. Instead, Luke pays attention to what Lorelai cares about most, remembering the important details, and always showing up when she needs him.
Tracking Down Lorelai's Jeep
Even in the midst of a grudge, Lorelai and Luke are never apart for long. After Lorelai's Jeep breaks down for the final time, she reaches out to Luke in an effort to find a new car and mend their relationship. While the initial exchange at the dealership is awkward for both of them, they gradually fall back into their usual banter, leading to one of the funniest arguments between Luke and Lorelai.
When it becomes clear that Lorelai won't be happy settling for any car other than her beloved Jeep, Luke goes out of his way to track down the exact model of her Jeep. After having the engine inspected by Gypsy and even haggling down the price on her behalf, Luke once again presents Lorelai with the perfect solution to her problem.
Renovating Lorelai's House
When Lorelai realizes she doesn't want to move into the Twickham house and leave her home, Luke doesn't pressure her to change her mind. Despite the effort that he had put into buying the Twickham house and appeasing Taylor, Luke scraps his original idea and begins planning a renovation that would allow them to comfortably live together in Lorelai's home.
Whereas Max and Christopher fought against the idea of staying in Lorelai's house and adjusting to life in Stars Hollow, Luke instantly understands the attachment she feels for the house and adapts to a new plan that would fit both of their needs.
Rory's Graduation Party
When Rory’s sudden job offer forces the town to cancel her graduation party, Luke enlists the help of Sookie and the rest of Stars Hollow to create the perfect going away party for her. After Babette warns Luke of the impending storm, he stays up all night sewing tents, coats, and sleeping bags together to build a makeshift cover for the town square.
Luke works nonstop to plan the perfect party to celebrate Rory’s graduation and her exciting new adventure. Although on the surface, the event is for Rory, Luke organizes the party so Lorelai has a chance to see the impact she has had on the town. The devotion Luke feels to Rory and Lorelai’s happiness is undeniable and cements their position as the best relationship in the series.