Love is in the air...

Millions of red roses are shaking in their thorns. Bottles of champagne are chilling, strawberries are taking baths in chocolate, and men everywhere are descending upon jewelry stores with trepidation. Yes, Cupid is circling the neighborhood as Valentines Day is less than a week away. As you’re planning your wedding this year, the question is shifting from what chick flick you and your girlfriends will see (He’s Just Not That into You, no matter who you are, it’s a goodie) towards how to make this day romantic and special for you and your fiancé. There will be many Valentine’s days in your future, and it seems like every year the search is on for the perfect dinner, perfect present, etc…

First and foremost, remember that you’re madly in love. With that, any Valentine’s Day is sure to be wonderful. As you’re juggling through lists of caterers, florists, and every other vendor that a wedding requires, you have all these great resources to help you out. After all, these are experts in flowers, cakes, candy and catering.

Most local restaurants offer amazing Valentine’s Day deals. One look at the unique 19th century church, white tablecloths and candlelight of The Refectory is enough to make a reservation for two. One bite of the food however is enough to never want to leave. If a romantic dinner is what you had in mind, The Refectory might be just what you need.

If your fiancé has more of a sweet tooth, MJ's Candy Bar is a great resource for finding a great original gift. Maybe his favorite candy growing up was Bottle Caps and Candy Buttons, or perhaps he has more of a mature appreciation for dark chocolate. All of these are options at MJ’s, with my personal favorite being the Candy Topiary Trees ;).
A new survey that was done by the ladies bible, Cosmopolitan, shows that a majority of men enjoy receiving flowers. So if you’re wanting to try something new, or even give your guy a great florist to keep in mind for the future, The Daisy Basket is one of Columbus’ best resources for beautiful and original flowers. Be warned, he might be accepting of flowers, but probably not of pinks, purples, or an over abundance of satin ribbon. Simple arrangements with clean lines in blues or whites can say I love you without too much fuss.
So whatever the gifts, whatever the meal, just remember that very soon you and your fiancé will be enjoying a lifetime together and that’s the best gift you could ever give or receive. For those sappy romantics out there I thought I would include my all-time favorite poem, in case you are still in need of some inspiration for the 14th or possibly your wedding day.

I Seem to Have Loved You...
~ Rabindranath Tagore
I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times, In life after life, in age after age forever. My spell-bound heart has made and re-made the necklace of songs That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms In life after life, in age after age forever. Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, its age-old pain, Its ancient tale of being apart or together, As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge Clad in the light of a pole-star piercing the darkness of time: You become an image of what is remembered forever.You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount At the heart of time love of one for another. We have played alongside millions of lovers, shared in the same Shy sweetness of meeting, the same distressful tears of farewell- Old love, but in shapes that renew and renew forever. Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you, The love of all man's days both past and forever: Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life, The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours- And the songs of every poet past and forever.