Valentine’s Day means flowers but it can also blossom with variety

Flowers remain a favourite but there are more adventurous ways to express your love for that very special person.

CARLI PHILIPS

The Lover sweatshirt from Double Trouble Gang says it all

2 min read

12:00AMFebruary 12, 2018

Oh, Valentine’s Day. Love it or loathe it, come Wednesday it’s going to be staring you right in the face. Red decorations in shop windows, heart-shaped confectionary, cupids on Google’s home page, Eau de Parfum/Eau de Toilette from Kim Kardashian/David Beckham/Katy Perry in advertising overload at Chemist Warehouse/Priceline, Gold Class “Lovers” packages at the cinema and restaurants full with candlelit tables for two.

It may not have been exactly what St Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, had in mind when he undertook the noble act of secretly marrying young lovers — but with all the trouble in the world, what’s the harm in a Hallmark Holiday celebrating love and affection?

If you fit into the upwards trend of consumers that value experiences over materialism, RedBalloon offers a smorgasbord of romantic activities like glamping, massages, winery tours and all manner of things to do at sunset.

Valentine’s Day comes in all shapes and sizes though, so if you’re debating how much to spend on one another, just do something together like a helicopter ride or tandem skydiving. It may not be a surprise but at least you won’t have to call on your “I love it!” face. Planning on something extravagant like popping the question with skywriting overhead? Seriously consider the cheese factor before becoming a cliche.

Want to give something thoughtful but without all the bells and whistles? There’s still a lot to be said for flowers and a card.

Cherrie Miriklis-Pavlou, founder of Flowers Vasette in Melbourne says roses are still the quintessential Valentine’s Day bud. “Red roses are traditionally synonymous with Valentine’s Day in Western culture as they represent romance and love, and are considered the ultimate symbol of passionate affection,” she says.

With her store located in the hip “artistic mecca” of Fitzroy, Miriklis-Pavlou says many of her clients are taking a “unique” approach to Valentine’s Day with alternatives like earthy native flower varieties and summer sorbet tones. As for grander gestures, she has created everything from vase arrangements of a 1000 long-stemmed roses to floral styling of entire hotel suites.

Not paired up? Lighten up and treat yourself to a night in with a glass of wine, a dating app and some online shopping. Roses are red, violets are blue, what’s to say this Valentine’s Day can’t be about you?

Or, if you’re feeling game, now’s the time to pluck up the courage and ask someone to be yours. Love is all around, go on and let it show.