If you’re trying to decide on the perfect day for your wedding, why not consider one of the most romantic days of the year: Valentine’s Day. Here are some ideas that could help you create a magical Valentine’s Day wedding.

A Romantic Location

While you always want to choose a wonderful location for your wedding, a Valentine’s Day wedding calls for something a little special. Obviously, you want something romantic. You could choose to be married in a garden full of blooming roses or in an old, gothic-looking church. Or why not return to the location where you first met, had your first date, or got engaged to share your vows? You can’t get much more romantic than that.

Try to plan for a nighttime ceremony so you can have plenty of scented candles burning as you exchange your vows.

Valentine Wedding Invitations: Sharing the Theme

Your wedding invitations should always introduce the theme of your celebration. Pick red, pink, white, and gold for your invitation colors because these hues are closely identified with the holiday of love. For designs, consider something with two hearts joined together – the heart is a symbol of the holiday and their unity symbolizes your marriage. You could also choose cards decorated with cupids, arrows, or bouquets of flowers.

When you’re adding extra touches to your invitations, think of silk hearts, small bouquets of flowers, and luxurious satin ribbons. Consider springing for the costs of calligraphy, too. There’s something very romantic about such an artistic style of writing.

Dressing the Bride for Romance

If the bride isn’t going for a traditional white dress, then a soft pastel pink gown would be perfect for this holiday wedding. If she does want something white, consider adding embellishments that celebrate Valentine’s Day. A red sash, for example, or red lace just visible below the dress’s hem or under the train adds a splash of well-placed color that will make the dress seem even whiter and more beautiful.

Of course, the bride could opt for an all-white gown, then accentuate the dress with a ruby heart-shaped necklace or with bouquets of red flowers, such as roses. She might also want to wear a pair of dyed red slippers.

Wedding Reception for Valentine’s Day

Not only should your ceremony reflect this special holiday but so should your reception. Choose a menu full of romantic foods. You might want to serve oysters and champagne during the happy hour. Cornish hens, strawberries covered in chocolate, and other decadent pleasures would make excellent food choices. For your wedding cake, consider a red velvet cake with chocolate or butter cream frosting. Decorate the cake with roses, cupids, and candy hearts.

For your entertainment, hire a deejay who can perform a mixture of love songs from several generations. Consider doing a time line of romantic music starting with songs from the oldest generation represented at your reception to the youngest. You could also make a montage of romantic movie clips and add photos from your own love story to the mix.

Romantic Valentine Décor

Roses and Valentine’s Day are almost synonymous, so decorate everything you can with red versions of the flowers. Add them to vases for centerpieces or have shallow bowls filled with water on the tables with blooming roses or rose-shaped candles floating on the surface. Cover the floors in rose petals.

As gifts for the guests, give away small boxes of chocolates in heart-shaped boxes or champagne flutes with small bottles of champagne.