Valentine Wedding Ideas

First of all, congratulations! But I've gotta tell you... getting married on Valentine's day comes with a certain sense of responsibility. You can't have the same invitations or shoes that you would if you were getting married on any other random day of the year. Here are ten ideas to help inspire you to make the most of your Valentine's Day wedding.

These simple cupcakes are cute as can be and scream Valentine's Day. Pair a red velvet cake with strawberry frosting. Use festive cupcake papers that are Valentine themed or that match your wedding colors. Top with heart-shaped sprinkles or gorgeous maraschino cherries. Cupcakes are gaining popularity on the wedding scene and these colorful cuties are sure to impress your guests.

Wearing red shoes isn't necessarily a new trend for brides but it makes perfect sense for a Valentine's Day wedding. Colorful shoes really pop with a white or cream wedding gown and can make for some absolutely lovely wedding photos. If you're having a hard time finding the perfect ruby red wedding slipper, check out my tutorial for making your own glitter shoes. I made my own for my wedding day and they were a hit.

Don't have the same wedding invitations that everyone else does. Having said that, don't have the same invitations that you'd have if you were getting married on any other random day of the year. Valentine-inspired wedding invitations can be as simple or busy as you see fit. Making your own is a snap-- see my tutorial here. Use classic red tones, cute cursive handwritten fonts, and lovey dovey images that pay special tribute to Saint Valentine and your big day.

To really set the mood for your V-day wedding, use vintage Valentines in place of a guestbook. Have your guests "sign in" and write little messages on the Valentines and then drop them in a little mailbox or Valentine box. (Check out my tutorial for inspiration and tips when making a Valentine Box). I purchased 1950s vintage Hallmark Valentines (pictured right) from Etsy.com. These are small but can be mounted on postcard-sized cardstock to give your guests more room to write. Read my article Do I Have to Have a Guestbook at my Wedding? for more info on this idea.

Candy buffet tables are one of my favorite wedding ideas and when a Valentine's Day wedding is in the making, it's a match made in Heaven. As a nod to tradition, there are candies that are a must-- chocolate covered cherries, colorful Necco message sweatheart candies, ringpops, and red foil-wrapped chocolate lips. Use any other red or pink candies you can get your hands on and be sure to use at least a few heart shaped candy dishes. For more info, read about the candy table at my wedding.

Heart-shaped glasses are fun to wear and will make for some very cute and memorable wedding photos for you and your guests. These shades are festive, retro, and an interesting conversation piece that your guests will have fun talking about and playing with. All of your guests will be snapping instagrams of themselves wearing these cute glasses, uploading them to facebook and "checking in" to your wedding venue. When you see everyone has changed their profile pic to a picture of them sporting these shades, you'll know you picked a winner for a wedding favor.

My husband and I designed this heart-shaped wedding program using Microsoft Publisher, scrapbook papers and a brad to hold the four hearts together. Our wedding was actually closer to Halloween but these heart programs are perfect for a V-day wedding. Four hearts hold all of the info including the event cover, wedding party names, and a special message from the bride and groom. It's easy to open and close and can double as a fan. Use double-sided scrapbook paper designs for a truly unique program that's guaranteed to get attention and be saved as a keepsake.

Most of your guests will remember this classic paper toy from his or her childhood. These can be made in advance or simply supply your guests with instructions, square paper, pens, and Valentine's day stickers and they can make their own. This is a great little project to keep your guests entertained while the wedding party is busy with the photographer. Using multi-colored heart or other V-day themed stickers eliminates the need for colored markers and gives it a unique and festive look. I made these from cardstock cut to 8.5" x 8.5" Visit my tutorial, Cootie Catcher Conversation Starters, for an instructional video for folding a cootie catcher as well as pictures and ideas for decorating and using cootie catchers.

This centerpiece is cute, quick to make, and inexpensive. Glass coke bottles are the perfect size and color but any will work. Use gold spray or ting ting purchased in the floral department and string on fake crafting pearls. Using a decorative paper punch, punch out hearts from pink and red papers. Make two slits in heart and slide onto gold spray. Keep your bottle centerpiece from tipping over by partially filling with fake pearls, beads, or glass marbles. The little paper pierced hearts remind me of Cupid Valentine's Day decorations and the hearts at the tops of the sprays even look a bit like fletchings on an arrow. I made this centerpiece in about ten minutes and enjoyed it.

Valentine banners made from paper hearts are a simple and nostalgic item that can help tie your theme together. Use die-cut card stock hearts or cut out your own. Attach hearts with eyelets or brads and make as short or long as desired. Use a variety of red or pink Valentine-esque scrapbook paper or card stock to reflect your wedding theme and colors. Customize the banners with the initials of the happy couple, black silhouettes, the wedding date, or sayings and quotes that are meaningful to the bride and groom. Use the banners on tables, above doorways, or to make a lovely backdrop for a makeshift photo booth area.

• Planning an Inexpensive Wedding
• Do-It-Yourself Wedding Planning
• The Guestbook: Do I Have to Have a Guest Book at My Wedding?
• Using Peacocks and Peacock Feathers in your Wedding Motif and Theme (with pictures)
• Valentine Wedding Ideas
• DIY Martha Stewart Glitter Shoes & Heels
• How to Set up a Candy Buffet Bar at your Wedding- a table of sweet treats for your special guests with pictures
• How to Create Unique Wedding Invitations
• A Disneyland (or Disney World) Honeymoon: advantages for Bride & Groom

An Arizona native, Heather lives with her husband and doggy in the desert. As a journalism graduate, Heather loves to write-- especially about what she's baking in her kitchen and her new DIY projects. She works in a local mom-and-pop family bookstore which she describes as one of her all-time dream jobs. You can read her articles and tutorials here on Hubpages as well as her bookstore blog, Get Popcultured! with Heather Rode.