Ideas for Valentine's Day Weddings

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays and also one of my favorite days of the year to get married. I love red roses, chocolates, romantic dinners, hearts and being in love. If you're like I, you may be a true romantic, and Valentine's Day would be an ideal wedding date for you.

Saturdays are still the most popular day of the week to get married. If you want to get married on Saturday as well, you're in luck if you're planning to marry within the next year, since Valentine's Day happens to fall on a Saturday in 2009. If you don't mind getting married on a Sunday; February 14 falls on a Sunday in 2010. However, Valentine's Day is very popular day to get married, therefore, book the day as soon as you decide on it.

Now that you know what day you want to get married, you now need to decide what time of the day you want to tie the knot. Late afternoon and evening weddings are popular on Valentine's Day, since they give off the romantic feeling. A ceremony at 5 p.m., followed by the reception would be a great idea if you're going for the romantic feel. Mornings aren't as popular on Valentine's Day. Evening ceremonies and reception look even more romantic when illuminated with lots of candles.

Deciding where to get married will depend on where you live. Since Februarys are usually chilly in the northern states of the country, you will probably not want an outdoor wedding. However, if you live in sunny California where the temperature is 75 degrees in February, an outdoor wedding is not out of the question. There are a number of different venues that can turn your Valentine's Day wedding into a dream come true. You'll need to decide on your theme and style before searching for a venue. Once you've settled on a theme, you'll be able to find a venue that will help complete the look, instead of clashing with it. Try to find a place that will allow you to have lots of candles as well, which will really set the mood for an evening reception.

There are many different theme options to choose from when planning a Valentine's Day wedding. You could go with a classic color scheme, such a red or pink, with red or pink roses and red or pink hearts. Or, you could go with a unique theme, such as "Famous Couples." If you are going to use red roses, or any color of rose, keep in mind that they are going to be pricey this time of the year, since Valentine's Day is the most popular occasion to buy roses. If you are determined to have roses, try to purchase your flowers from a wholesaler, instead of an independent floral shop. You could also look into other red or pink flowers, such as tulips or hydrangea.

After deciding on a theme, carry it out through all of your wedding festivities. If you're having red roses, find an invitation style that incorporates red roses. Plan to have all of your girls wear red to the Bachelorette party. Serve chocolate covered strawberries on a dessert platter at your reception. The possibilities are endless, keep your imagination open.

For decorations, you should have no problem finding decor for your big day. A lot of craft stores put their red candles on clearance right after Christmas, so you can plan on stocking up on votives or tapers, and even candle holders. A lot of other red decorations may be going on sale after Christmas, such as red tablecloths or red cocktail napkins. Keep your eyes open, because you may be able to get a great deal on decor that is normally expensive during the rest of the year.

To add special touches to your big day, and to carry out your Valentine theme, you may want to purchase special Valentine items. Confetti, favors, ring pillows, picture frames, and more can be found at craft stores as well as online. A great site to visit is http://www.bridalpeople.com/valentines-day/ which has a vast selection of Valentine wedding items.

Wedding cake options are also endless. My favorite idea is a plain white, 3-tiered cake with fresh red flowers on each tier, or a decoration of red hearts on each tier. The inside of the cake would be white with a strawberry or raspberry fruit filling. However, you don't have to use that idea, you are free to have any kind of cake you want - from rich chocolate ganache, or even spice cake, if you wanted it. Your local cake baker will most likely have great ideas as well, and will be able to work with your visions to create a wedding cake masterpiece.

Last but not least, after deciding on your venue and theme, it's time to decide on your wedding apparel. Many brides who are having a Valentine wedding are using red, either in their gown or on their bridesmaids. One of my favorite ideas is to have the bride wear a white gown, with red accents around the bottom and neckline, along with a beautiful red flower bouquet. The bridesmaids would contrast her by wearing red dresses and carrying a white flower bouquet. The Groom and groomsmen would wear black tuxes with white shirts, red ties and red flower boutonnieres. The flower girl can either follow the bride's look, or the bridesmaid's look.

Your choices for a Valentine's Day wedding are endless, depending on your budget. Be creative, be romantic, and your big day on Valentine's Day will be unforgettable.