What better day to celebrate your wedding and your love than on Valentine’s Day, the “it” day for love? Valentine’s Day weddings can be romantic, special and unique, but the wrong decisions on décor, color palettes and food options can make your day feel dated and predictable. To avoid this possibility, steer clear of overdoing the obvious Valentine’s Day motifs: hearts, red-and-pink everything and cherubs. So what should you opt for instead? The experts at Long Island’s Crest Hollow Country Club have come up with five ways to ensure your Valentine’s Day wedding is chic and memorable in only the best way.
Be wary of your color palette.
Think of pink and red as accent colors instead of the main players, and use them sparingly throughout your overall color scheme. For example, a deep burgundy gives you the red you crave in a classic shade. Want a pop of pink? Choose an ombré wedding cake that starts in a dark, dusty rose before fading to white. Incorporate accents of red into an otherwise black-and-white color scheme by wrapping red ribbons around a tier wedding cake, votive candle centerpieces or bouquets and boutonnieres for the wedding party. For a unique twist, light up your night with a venue that’s equipped with LED lighting—in whatever hue you desire—for a chic hint of color.
Pick a venue with romantic surroundings.
Just because your Valentine’s Day wedding is in the winter, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the outdoors in. You can opt for an indoor venue that features an outdoor view for you and your guests to enjoy—even if you live in a cold climate. Not only will your guests be pleasantly surprised, but you’ll also have the opportunity to snap some unexpected pictures during your reception next to a geothermally heated, LED-lit pool, under a palm tree or kissing your loved one next to an elegant waterfall.
Choose sexy cocktails and cuisines.
Your drink and food choices are a fun place to highlight the sensual foods associated with Valentine’s Day. Enlist the bartender to create a fun, flirty signature cocktail, perhaps one with a swirl of chocolate. Serve spiked hot chocolate topped with whipped cream—and miniature marshmallow hearts. For appetizers, consider oysters, cheese plates and steak tartare; for dinner, filet mignon, salmon, quiche or pasta. And of course, your dessert course should include a chocolate fountain complete with strawberries and other fresh fruit for dipping.
Opt for unexpected bouquets.
Most people associate Valentine’s Day with red roses. To avoid this cliché, choose flowers such as peonies, anemones, orchids or hydrangeas, which all come in gorgeous shades of pink or red. For a different twist on the traditional rose bouquet, incorporate succulents to give your bouquet fairytale flair.
Let Valentine’s Day traditions shine—in certain places.
Photo booths bring out the silly side of many guests, so be sure yours is stocked with an abundance of Valentine’s-themed props: heart-shaped sunglasses, Sweetheart candy-shaped hats, red and pink feather boas, giant lips. And whatever your music preference may be, ask your DJ to incorporate some love song favorites, such as “Lady in Red,” “I Just Called to Say I Love You” and “You’re the First, My Last, My Everything.”
Looking for more ways on how to make your Valentine’s Day wedding uniquely chic and not predictably cheesy? Contact the wedding planning professionals at the Crest Hollow Country Club.