“The honey’s sweet, and so are you. Thou art my love and I am thine; I drew thee to my Valentine: The lot was cast and then I drew, And Fortune said it shou’d be you” Gammer Gurton’s Garland (1784)
With our florist shops gearing up for Valentine’s Day, the female contingent at Flowers for Everyone got talking ‘backstage’ (as we do) about what their most romantic date would be. Read on for a florist’s perspective, in no particular order, on the perfect date.
Well to be more precise, a Gold Class movie. Including dinner and wine. And preferably a chick flick or romcom. And to top off the date? Pre-arrange with the cinema waitstaff for a bouquet of roses to be delivered with dessert.
Keep it simple. Nothing says I love you more than a home cooked meal (and the house cleaned and the dishes done!). Concentrate on the small details, such as scattering rose petals up the footpath or hallway, lighting scented candles and/or incense, playing romantic music, placing fresh flowers on the table, and if the night goes well, throwing in a bonus massage… Now if you are not a master chef, remember it’s the thought that counts. Tip: ‘Tuna Surprise’ goes down well with an excellent quality glass of sparkling.
Investigate what acts are playing in town. A dimly lit bar with cool jazz and blues tunes or soulful folk and acoustics, accompanied by a balloon glass of red wine and a cheese plate, is most deserving of a big high five (at the very least, wink!) And for added sass – organise an arrangement of red roses to be delivered to her home (or ‘your home’) in the afternoon so they are waiting on the doorstep when you arrive back from the date. It’s all in the element of surprise. Just saying!
This could be on a picnic rug, in your lounge room, a hotel room, in a restaurant, on a park bench. The key element here is candlelight. It might seem cliche, but a candlelit dinner is a sure fire way to wow your date. For added flourish, send a bouquet of red roses to your date at work with a note about where and when to meet for the evening. If at home or in a hotel room, time her arrival with your ‘special song’ playing in the background. Hearts will melt.
Like I said, this list is in no particular order. Holding your girl’s hand and walking her down to the beach with takeaway fish and chips and a bottle of champers in hand cannot be looked down upon. Of course this will only work if you live near the beach. Otherwise a lake? Or a park? Just don’t forget to whip out the red rose from your man bag once you’ve poured the sparkling. Bringing along beautiful champagne glasses is a great way to show the thought you’ve put in too… A box of chocolates afterwards is a nice touch as well!
Have a bit of spare cash? Arrange with your date’s boss in advance for them to leave work early / get the following day off. Hire a convertible (or the like), turn up to their work with a red rose, order them to turn off their computer, and head to a romantic B&B. Does it come with a spa? Pre-arrange to have rose petals scattered around the bath and an ice bucket of bubbly waiting on arrival. Enough said.
Okay. This is the big kahuna of romantic dates. In the words of Beyonce, if you like her you than you had better put a ring on it. What better day than surprising your love on Valentine’s Day with an engagement ring (using one of the date tips above!). And if already betrothed, why not get in touch with a marriage celebrant to renew your vows privately, or with close friends and family let in on the secret? There may be no wedding dress involved, but you can always arrange for a bouquet of flowers for her to hold!
