Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year. Photo / Getty
Whether you love or hate it, Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Rebecca Mauger finds out how to make the day special and talks to couples keeping the love alive.
Valentine's Day has always been a special one for Nick and Tanya Trass.
They were married on Valentine's Day 17 years ago.
''It's just the way it all worked out, it was perfect,'' Tanya says.
The Tauranga couple were aiming for a March wedding but best friend and bridesmaid Claire from England could only come earlier in February. February 14 was her friend's birthday and also a Saturday.
Tanya and Nick married at a beach ceremony in Pilot Bay.
Tanya says it was a lovely, relaxed wedding. Family made salads and they had a pig on a spit.
"Our wedding cake was a big heart and the second layer was my friend's birthday cake. We sung happy birthday to her instead of having speeches."
The couple had told guests they didn't need any gifts for the kitchen and somehow received 18 white platters.
"It's so funny, we've given away probably half of them to family members. But I open the cupboard and still see all these white platters," she says.
Their road to romance was a quick one.
Tanya had returned from England and started her first day of temping at Nick's workplace. Nick asked her out and they had "the best dinner date ever" on a Tuesday night.
The stars aligned — Tanya had purchased a house that Friday and Nick had just sold his flat so the two moved in together three weeks later. Tanya told Nick she'd like children.
"Well, we better get married then," Nick had said.
So they were wed within months. They have a daughter Sequoia, now 13.
"Valentine's Day for me means a celebration of the love that I have for my husband. We're more in love now than when we got married."
The couple often celebrates by going out for dinner the day beforehand, or champagne and nibbles on the day (served on one of their many platters).
Nick and Tanya also hand-make their own special wedding anniversary cards for each other.
Ron Melville is the king of surprise wedding anniversaries.
Wife Andre has no idea what they will do for their 34th wedding anniversary which also falls on Valentine's Day.
"It's always a surprise," she says.
The Pāpāmoa couple spoils each other every Valentine's Day, as well as the date of their first blind date. But Ron really pulls out all the stops for their milestone wedding anniversaries.
Elaborate celebrations and overseas trips have included a wedding renewal ceremony on The Strand with multiple couples as part of a Valentine's Day promotion for their 10th anniversary. They holidayed in Paris for their 20th wedding anniversary and in Las Vegas for their 30th.
They once enjoyed a Valentine's Day luncheon aboard the cruise liner MS Statendam.
Whatever they do, it will be special.
The pair keep the romance alive with flowers (Ron sent flowers to Andre every week after they met), special gifts and jewellery. They often go out for dinner and Ron takes the day off work to spend it together.
"I've always found Valentine's Day quite special, it would still be a special day for us even if it wasn't our wedding anniversary."
It looks like the love bug has bitten their son too, who proposed to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.
Valentine's Day is the international day of romance for sweethearts.
It's the day for expressing love and affection and indulging in all things decadent including chocolates, flowers, food, gifts and time together.
However, its roots are more dark than dewy-eyed.
There are a few beliefs of Valentine's Day origin — some believe it is the offshoot of debaucherous early Roman festival Lupercalia where animal sacrifice and match-making combined (young women lined up to be hit with slain animals believing it would make them fertile).
Another belief is a little nicer — two Valentines whose love gestures resonated throughout history. One was a priest who continued to marry young couples after the Emperor Claudius II had outlawed it, believing that single men made better soldiers. Another Valentine was a jailed bishop who sent a greeting to a young woman signing it "from your Valentine".
Either way, both were beheaded.
These days, it's all about love.
Here are some pointers on how to make your day special.
Time
The most important thing about Valentine's Day is to spend time together. Making a plan to spend the entire day together is a wonderful way to reignite that couple connection. Plan the day from start to finish with your favourite food and indulge in outings and activities you enjoy the most.
Food
Indulge. Start your day together with a celebration breakfast like eggs benedict with champagne followed by a picnic at the beach and finish with a beautiful three-course meal as the sun goes down, recommends Tauranga chef Peter Blakeway.
If you plan your menu ahead you will be able to enjoy each other's company instead of being locked to the stove, he says, and the idea is to spoil yourselves without overeating.
"Just remember it isn't really what you eat but how much that will make or break the day. Try to stick to the lighter options as a heavy meal is more likely to make you sleepy instead of attentive."
Science has proved that aphrodisiac foods are a bit of a myth, Peter says.
"And normally I would avoid these as being a bit silly but for one day a year, why not have some fun?"
Chocolates
Unless your partner has "savoury, not sweet" taste buds, you can't go wrong with chocolates. Chocolates are the universal candy of Valentine's Day and shops are often stocked with heart-shaped options. Spend a few more bucks for top-of-the-line choccies for maximum enjoyment and go for recognised chocolate brands.
Cards
Cards can reflect sentiment perfectly and do the talking for you. For romantic souls who haven't yet landed their crush — an adorable way to declare your interest is to send a greeting card asking your sweetheart to "be my Valentine". Making your own cards for one another is extra special.
Gifts
Jewellery, pampering products and scented candles, perfume, soft toys and lingerie are popular gifts. Valentine's Day symbol is the heart so consider heart-shaped keepsakes. A basket of delectable nibbles is a gift you can both enjoy.
Consider writing a poem and have it framed.
Say it with flowers
In case you didn't know, any women love receiving flowers at their place of work. But this year's Valentine's Day is on a Sunday and may look a little different.
Vicky Ferguson has her own Bethlehem Floral Studio staff — with two extras — helping to deliver flower orders on Valentine's Day.
"You're trying to get out 150 deliveries in one day so you use your own people and if we are still running late, I get in my car too."
Ferguson says Mother's Day and Christmas are also busy times although flowers can be delivered in the lead-up. Valentine's Day orders must be delivered on that day.
But this year will be interesting with it being on a Sunday, she says.
"We haven't had it on a Sunday for seven years. Instead of sending flowers to people's workplaces I guess people will be spending the day with each other."
Rotorua's Living Colour Florist owner Nina Healey is not expecting anywhere near the usual amount of orders this year due to Valentine's Day landing on a Sunday.
"There's nobody at work so nobody is sending flowers to 'Angela at reception'. All these sorts of orders are gone."
Valentine's Day landing on a weekend is the one and only time florists can order what they like, she says.
So they have brought in beautiful pink roses instead of red, just for a change.
Western Bay of Plenty District could have fewer councillors to vote for next election.