Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, which makes it a dreamy choice for a wedding. But when it comes to incorporating romantic ideas into your big day, there’s a fine line between classic and cheesy! Less is often more! That’s why we’ve put together 14 unique romantic wedding ideas inspired by Valentine’s Day, featuring real couples and our amazing Bridebook suppliers. Whether you’re planning a special Valentine’s Day wedding, or simply looking for some romantic ideas to share with your partner, we hope you’ll find plenty of inspiration here!
1. Incorporate a romantic theme
Follow a heart theme as an obvious nod to Valentine’s Day in your decor, cake design and stationery. You can carry it out in all the little details, from your napkins to your icing to your invitations. To make more of a statement, consider smoke bombs, or smoke flares. They’ll add so much drama to your couple portraits, and a super fun pop to your day. This romantic shot by Ashley Hemsley Photography is a great example: “A little bit of help from the red arrows created this stunning heart smoke shape”. There are also various alternatives to hearts: love birds, cupid’s arrows, love locks, XOXOs, love knots, love letters, the infinity symbol, and love trees.
2. Create a romantic ambience with lighting
Work with your photographer, or a lighting company, to create romantic shapes with light (whether outside, or as a dramatic ceiling pattern). This shot by Jennifer West Photography is particularly striking and romantic. We love the multi-coloured neon sign and heart-shaped light trails. According to the photographer: “The evening was warm and balmy and as the music filled the air, Luke and Kirsty say it was one of the most special memories of their wedding.”
3. Recreate a scene from a famous romantic movie
Why not recreate a romantic scene from your favourite romantic movie? We love this photo, captured by Heather Bailey Photography and Film, which recalls Noah and Allie’s iconic boat ride in ‘The Notebook’. What a fun and dreamy romantic wedding idea! Though, according to the photographer herself, it was quite an anxiety-provoking shot to capture: “In reality, I’m not sure who was more anxious – my couple, who worried about capsizing the relatively small boat, or me, the photographer leaning over a high balcony with my camera just begging to fall in the water!”
4. Take inspiration from nature
Taking inspiration from nature and animals for your wedding can be a creative and unique way to add an subtle romantic touch to your big day. Consider a romantic silhouette shot like this one captured by John Price Photography: “The bride and groom requested an evening sunset silhouette shot. I noticed two real swans posing perfectly just slightly apart – and had to edit and bring them in together to form the perfect heart.” There are many other romantic animals that can inspire a magical Valentine’s-inspired atmosphere. For example, doves and wild horses, or butterflies (which symbolise transformation), and dolphins (which embody playfulness).
5. Roll out the roses
Use rose petals in your bouquet, or consider a unique heart-shaped bouquet. You can also feature roses throughout your tablescape, or have them as wedding favours. For striking and unique floral designs that are inspired by the seasons, check out Tide Flowers. Ethical florist, Cat Allen, will personally guide you through the whole process to create the dreamiest floral displays.
6. Say it with the sweet stuff
Sweets and chocolate are among the highlights of Valentine’s Day. After all, it’s not just about the love and romance, but also the fun and indulgence! Set up a sweet buffet or dessert station at your wedding reception, like this one by Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, or go with a funfair and candyfloss theme. For fun sweet station reception ideas, consider a doughnut wall, popcorn bar, S’mores station, cupcake and cookie tower, macaron bar, or mini desert shots.
7. Say it with signage
Celebrate the theme of love with a large LOVE sign at the entrance to your reception, or in your ballroom as a romantic backdrop to your first dance. We love this dreamy shot, captured by Anesta Broad Photography, of the happy couple dancing: “It’s the happiness of the couple, the delight of the guests in the background and the beautiful setting at Blake Hall that makes this photo feel special. It is a beautiful moment.” For something more subtle, consider dotting some smaller signs around your venue, like near the bar or the sign-in table, featuring romantic love-inspired quotes.
8. Get creative with your catering
Carry your Valentine’s Day theme into your food by asking your catering team to get creative with colour and shapes and finishing touches. From heart-shaped garnishes to heart-shaped skewers, to a colour palette of pinks and reds, there are so many ways to enjoy a special romantic wedding meal. What’s important is to hire wedding caterers who specialise in creating bespoke, innovative dishes. We particularly love The Full Spoon, who are experts in creating original, personal menus.
9. Create a signature cocktail
Create a signature cocktail for the occasion with ingredients that are symbolic of love, like champagne and strawberries, or with known aphrodisiacs, like chocolate and chilli. Or go one further, and create little puns to accompany your cocktails, for example, “Love Potion” or ‘Cupid’s Cocktails”). This will give your drinks a romantic and whimsical vibe. For expertly hand-mixed, bespoke cocktails, we highly recommend Fabulous Fizz Bar. They’ll create a bespoke menu for you to fit the style and theme of your wedding, whether that’s Valentine’s Day or something more personal. You can even have your signature cocktails renamed to further personalise them.
10. Romanticise your wedding entertainment
Delight your partner and guests with some Valentine’s-inspired entertainment. For example, you can exchange love notes with your partner before the wedding ceremony, or ask the Maid of Honour and Best Man to write an original love poem for the bride and groom to read out during the speeches. Other ideas include splashing out on a themed photo booth with props that are inspired by love and Valentine’s Day. We particularly love Smartpicsuk Photo Booth: in addition to your choice of background for the images, you can also choose the design and text on the prints to compliment the style and theme of your wedding and create something that is truly unique.
11. Hand out Valentines-inspired gifts
Surprise your partner with a sentimental gift like a locket or custom-made piece of jewellery before the ceremony, or treat your guests to special heart-shaped favours with a sweet note. Heart-shaped cookies and cake-pops work well, or chocolate-dipped strawberries presented in a cute bag. Quintessential Cookies & Cakes create gorgeous bespoke cookie wedding favours, that can be personalised to you and your special day. Celebration cakes, macarons, cupcakes, cake-pops and mini doughnuts are also available, and will make stylish, memorable and delicious gifts!
12. Use a special romantic wedding hashtag
Over 55% of couples incorporate a wedding hashtag into their big day, so why not create a special Valentine’s-inspired one? Include it on your save-the-dates, invitations or even cocktail napkins, so everyone can get tagging and tweeting those romantic photos and mobile phone footage!
13. Have a romantic meal
Instead of the usual breakfast in bed, why not try something a little more romantic? Set up a table for two with a candlelit breakfast, or have a special breakfast delivered to the bridal suite. Alternatively, end the day with a special dinner at a romantic restaurant like on date night. For a luxury catering experience like no other, look no further than Lettice Events. From delicate canapés to feasting tables to midnight treats, they have the perfect recipe for a romantic wedding day.
14. Have a special exit
For a twist on the classic confetti shower, have a romantic Valentine’s-inspired exit with a shower of real rose petals. The Real Flower Petal Confetti Company specialises in beautiful, natural, biodegradable flower petals, handpicked and mixed to your bespoke requirements – perfect for a romantic themed wedding! You can effortlessly create a mixture to suit your style and theme. There’s a large range of other accessories too, including personalised confetti cones and sachets, pretty paper envelopers, flower girl baskets, and handmade wedding horseshoes.
These 14 romantic wedding ideas are sure to make your wedding day extra special and memorable, whether it’s on Valentine’s Day itself or not! Let us know your favourites in the comments!
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