So listen - I get it Valentines Day can be forced and manufactured. But truly is there anything wrong with having a day where you are pushed to share your love and affection for another? Especially in our live's today. Work, Work, Work and never any fun - we all forget to take the time to share our loving feelings for others. SO I SAY - Thank Goodness for Valentine's Day! The God's of LOVE are forcing us to take some time out - and enjoy LOVE!
That said you don't have to bust your wallet doing it. Of course coming from me Flowers are the best and most romantic gesture but there are ways to to show that passion without breaking the bank - and it saves some for candles and champagne.
Hints for Wallet friendly Giving:
Supermarket Flowers are fine - there I said it! Just for this day though - that's it. Honestly, the super market, especially high brow ones, are a perfect resource for quick and easy flower selections. If your grocer doesn't have the best flower department try the Local Gourmet Market, Mom and Pop Grocer or drive the distance to a larger chain store that has a larger department. Small gourmet shops generally have a better curated collection of unique fresh cuts at reasonable prices. At supermarket prices you can buy twice as many too.
If you must say it with roses keep the vase Clear and Tight. A narrow cylinder or cube vase at a average height allow stem flowers to spray outward giving the appearance of a much larger gathering of flowers.
Wrapped Bunches - whether the super market, farmer's market or garden shop choose fresh cut bundles of flowers and ask for them wrapped. This saves the time of the vendor having to arrange the flowers (which you are going to re-do anyway) and the vase can add to the cost significantly. Rummage around at home a bit I'm sure you will find a unique vessel of your own. Take a look at a wine goblet or a jar in a different way - they can make great vases for unique arrangements.
There is more to love than a Red Rose - if you are truly trying to stay budget friendly steer clear of the Red Rose. They are beautiful but can be triple their regular price and cliche at best. Pink roses are gorgeous and mixed with other flowers are unique. Tulips are a buyer's best friend - buy them in varied shades of hot pink to light pink and arrange them in a varregated color palette. Other beautiful selections; Ranunculus, Posey Calla Lilly, Hydrangea, Amaryllis, and in some locations Dutch Lilac and arranged right carnations can be beautiful to.
Go Green by buying a few stems of fresh cut flowers and arrange with beautiful and textural greens like eucalyptus, fern, salal (lemon) leaves, bear grass, english ivy or even cut blooming branches. Often the Supermarket Florists will have pre-gathered bunches of cut greens that will mix beautifully. English Ivy is a versatile green that lends itself to unique style.
Simple is Powerful - if you can't afford a lot of flowers buy a few stems of red or pink roses, pop the heads off the stems and float them in a vase. Fill the bathroom sink with water early in the morning and float rose petals and candles. Lick your finger and trace a heart on the vanity mirror - when the shower steams up - your message is made clear.
Let candle light to the work - a few flowers surrounded by a lot of candles is a powerful statement. Candle light is romantic and passionate. Whether its a dramatically set dinner table, surrounding a drawn bath or leading a path up the stairs, candle light with simple rose petals is a statement maker
Know your Valentine - My favorite way to arrange flowers is in unique vessels. If your valentine has a collection of something unique or a passion for something special try to incorporate that in the gift giving. I love vintage trophies, so a small arrangement of valentine flowers in a gifted vintage trophy is a great gift. Vintage jars or vases, teapots or trophies - each of them can make a very special gift and vase.
