Valentine’s Day is about more than just red hearts and pink roses. The holiday celebrates love itself–and what better time is there to take inspiration for the details of your upcoming wedding? While it can be tricky to hold your nuptials directly on a holiday, you can still use a Valentine’s theme if you’re planning a wedding within a month or so of February 14. Take romance as your inspiration and plan a wedding that celebrates true love.
Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate!
You’ve heard that the fastest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but guess what? It works for women and guests of all ages, too. Even though you’ve already won your sweetheart’s undying love, there’s no reason to skimp on the chocolate. Give your gathered friends and families a treat when you serve up a generous helping of decadent, sugary goodness at your nuptial celebration.
Fondue fountains are a perfect opportunity to include some molten chocolate that can act as an eye-catching centerpiece as well as a dessert delivery vehicle. What’s more, the fountains will act as a central focus point to get your guests mingling and discovering all of the things they have in common.
If you’re wondering about ways to get your guests socializing, this is a great place to start. You can dress your fondue fountain up with gourmet additions like caramel, mint or raspberry extract, or even flavored liqueurs to make your fountain truly one-of-a-kind. Don’t forget to set out platters of fruits, cookies, and other dippable treats!
Candy buffets are another wonderful way to celebrate the spirit of Valentine’s Day. Give your guests attractive, reusable bags to fill with their favorite sweets, and they’ll be able to keep the bags later as wedding favors.
Valentine’s Day Colors
Pink, red, and white are well known as the colors of romance, and they also look beautiful when combined in your wedding color palette. What’s more, vivid red pomegranate and cherry blossom pink are two of the top wedding colors trending in 2013. There’s never been a better time to indulge in the sweeter side of the spectrum.
If you want to take a subtle inspiration without your décor screaming “Valentine’s Day!” you can choose only ruby red and white as your wedding colors. These timeless colors add elegance and depth to any room, and can be echoed in dramatic red lips, fingernails, candles, and other small accents.
If you’re looking for unusual pink and red blooms, try pink anthurium, blood lilies, and red cockscomb flowers. The usual floral picks, such as roses, orchids, and carnations, also come in red, pink, white, and “blended” varieties.
If you’re looking for something more unique, such as a bouquet made of pink and red hearts, you may wish to commission a work of art that’s made from crocheted flowers, antique buttons, or even glow-in-the-dark wire.
Don’t forget your wedding cake colors! If you’ve had an urge to eat a red velvet wedding cake ever since you saw Steel Magnolias, now is the perfect time to make it happen. (Just don’t shape it anything like an armadillo unless you’re intentionally going for laughs.) Another great way to incorporate Valentine’s Day colors is by baking a layered color wedding cake in shades that darken from pink to red. Top it with raspberries, cherries, and strawberries for a decadent display.
Other Romantic Details
Take your inspiration from the little details that delight on this holiday. Have you always been charmed by heart-shaped candy with little messages like, “Be mine?” Use heart-shaped invitations with similarly sweet messages for your guests (such as “Be Our Valentine!”). You also may want to include a few heart-shaped candies with each invite as a sweet taste of the celebration to come.
Did your sweetheart ever surprise you with a romantic teddy bear? Give your guests the same warm feeling by sending them home with little teddies bearing a message. It can include your favorite romantic quote or it can be as simple as your names and wedding date.
The combination of red and white brings to mind Valentine’s Day…but it also brings to mind a nice glass of wine! Let guests take home bottles of their preferred color with a personalized label to remind them of your special day.
No matter how you choose to decorate your venue or entertain your guests, ultimately the holiday is about love. Celebrate your union by encouraging your guests to celebrate the love in their lives as well–be it romantic love or the platonic love of deep friendships. After all, it is the love they show by gathering for your wedding that makes the day most meaningful, and that is worthy of celebration any day of the year.
Meet Lisa, the talented and dedicated editor of our wedding, health, relationship, and lifestyle blog. With her keen eye for detail and her passion for all things related to love and wellness, Lisa is an essential part of our team.
As an expert in all things wedding, Lisa knows how to help couples navigate the often-overwhelming process of planning their big day. From choosing the perfect dress to selecting the ideal venue, she understands that every detail matters when it comes to creating a memorable and magical wedding experience.
But Lisa’s expertise doesn’t stop at weddings. She’s also a health and wellness enthusiast, always on the lookout for the latest tips and trends in self-care and mindfulness. Whether it is advice on healthy eating, fitness routines, or ways to reduce stress, Lisa knows how to help readers live their best lives.
