Your wedding day is already a showcase of your love, but don’t forget about another romantic day on the horizon. There are many things to love about Valentine’s Day: pops of pink and red, candy, chocolates, flowers and of course, celebrating with your special someone. Take some cues from Cupid and add a touch of Valentine’s Day to your wedding with these ideas:

Beth Appleton describes her personal style as “whimsical, creative and unique,” and that is vividly apparent in her wedding cake designs for Whimsical Wedding Cakes in Milton, Ontario. Last year, her quirky, forest-inspired cake adorned with decorative squirrels was the winner of the Cake Star Face-off Challenge at the Bonnie Gordon Live Cake Contest of 2011. Appleton learned the basics of decorating in her teens at her parent’s Baskin Robbins Ice Cream shops where she scooped ice cream and decorated ice cream cakes. She became interested in fondant cakes when she was planning her own wedding in 2002 and couldn’t find anything to match her “whimsical” style, so she designed her own. A few years later, she attempted her first wedding cake in exchange for a piece of artwork a couple had painted. She then started creating cakes for friends and family and went on to study at the Bonnie Gordon School of Confectionary Arts. She says she loves meeting with brides and taking inspiration from their ideas and personalities.“My goal is to create a truly unique custom designed cake that will reflect the couple’s sense of style… and that will be the talk of the party,” she says. Flavour is also an important element when it comes to picking a wedding cake. Appleton says her personal favourites are lime cream cheese filling and chocolate raspberry. She says many couples are choosing to order two cakes–like a rich, chocolate cake and a light fruit flavoured cake, like lemon or passion fruit– to suit their guests varied tastes. For this year, Appleton says fashion-inspired cakes with ruffles, buttons and bows are in, as well as gold and silver details and romantic colours. “The more delicate the layers and rosettes are, the better,” she says of trends for 2012. “The colours are a little more muted this season, very romantic. I love to see grey and yellow with a hint of pewter to jazz it up or taupe, rose and copper.” Here are five of our favourite cake creations from Whimsical Wedding Cakes:

When it comes to weddings, some brides go for a “bigger is better” mentality, but with the popularity of French macarons, cake pops and bite-sized snacks, it seems “mini”, or even “micro,” is in right now. Adding tiny elements to your wedding definitely adds a cute factor and could also potentially be beneficial for miniature budgets.

Photography Photobolic (photobolic.com).

Your wedding day is a day you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Most likely it will be captured on film, and in your memory, but there are other ways to have creative keepsakes of your day. Here are a few neat ways to cherish your spectacular celebration:

1. Time capsule
Have a keepsake box at your reception for guests to add mementos, letters or photos, then promise to open it on your first, fifth or tenth wedding anniversary. You could even have guests fill out a questionnaire with predictions of where you’ll be and what you’ll be doing during that time. Just don’t be tempted to peek early on!

2. Framing
You’ll probably pick out your favourite wedding photo to hang over your mantel, but why stop there? Frame the lyrics or music of your first dance song, your written vows, a poem from the ceremony or the love notes you gave each other as you were getting ready.

 3. Wine bottles
Pick your favourite bottle of wine or champagne and have guests sign it or keep a bottle of table wine to enjoy on your anniversary. You could even have personalized labels or etchings on the bottle, so you remember which one to store (and not drink right away). Ports and vintage wines last 10-20 years, so pick something that will age well and make sure to store it on its side in a dark, cool place.

 4. Preserving your dress
Your dress is probably one of the most important things you’ll want to keep, so don’t leave it in a crumpled heap in your closet. Have your dress cleaned right away, so stains don’t set, and take it to a professional gown preserver within a few weeks of the wedding. A preserver will make sure the dress doesn’t yellow or decay by cleaning it properly and placing it in an acid-free box.

5. Drying flowers
Drying your bouquet goes beyond the days of pressing petals into a journal. A professional flower preserver can press or quick-dry flowers using silica gel to store in a frame or dome, or freeze-dry your blooms to keep the whole bouquet in tact. You can also preserve the flowers yourself by hanging them to dry, then make an arrangement with the dry flowers and leaves.

6. Freezing wedding cake
Many couples have adopted the tradition of saving a piece of wedding cake for their first anniversary. Some cakes don’t freeze well, so make sure it will stay tasty by wrapping it properly. Remove any decorations or flowers, then let the cake sit in the fridge for a few hours to chill. Wrap the cake up with plastic wrap so air can’t get in, then place it in a freezer bag or box. If you aren’t keen on frozen cake, consider ordering a replica tier in the same flavour as your cake for your anniversary.

 7. Custom wedding art
Hire an artist to paint a custom wedding portrait to hang on your wall. It’s not just limited to a portrait of you and your groom; some artists specialize in bridal bouquet or wedding dress portraits where they create a fine art rendition of your bouquet or dress from a photo you send them.

 8. Something blue
Catherine Middleton had a small piece of blue ribbon sewn into her gown for her “something blue.” Embroider your wedding date, initials or monogram into your dress or sew custom labels inside your groom’s tie or your bridal party accessories. You could even get your wedding party to sign the bottom of your shoes in blue. According to some cultural traditions, the bridesmaids are supposed to sign the bottom of the bride’s shoes and after the night is over, the person whose name has faded most will be the next to marry.

Not sure you’re a four-tier cake kind of girl? Don’t fret. There are plenty of other delicious dessert options available, and if these real weddings are any indication the trend is towards homemade treats and bite-size creations. From cinnamon buns covered in icing (see above) to adorable miniature cheesecakes, we present 10 of our favourite wedding dessert ideas.

On your wedding day, indulge your inner girly girl with a pretty pink wedding cake! From subtle and sophisticated blush to over-the-top bubblegum pink, there’s something for everyone in this roundup of 20 rosy cakes.

Have a knack for words? Show your creative ingenuity by rendering guests speechless with fun and romantic phrases spread throughout your entire celebration.

Photography Carlo Mendoza. First published in Weddingbells Fall and Winter 2011.

Moody hues coupled with romantic roses and and pretty ruffles are quite the striking mix. Inspired by the sophisticated ambiance, often found in British tableware and wallpaper patterns, Weddingbells was inspired to go town with this amazing cakes and flowers shoot. From a six-tiered painted cake to a pillow confection, here are six wedding floral arrangements and sweet treats to help inspire you for your own wedding day style. Enjoy!

First published in Weddingbells Fall & Winter 2011.