An old adage said often when giving a gift, states, “It’s the thought that counts”.

This February, bin the flowers and go with a gift that counts by not only thinking eco-friendly, but offering a gift that is long lasting with minimal upkeep – a living plant.This could symbolise a long relationship, as well as a living plant, representing a “life” together.

Besides gifting the physical plant, ensure you attach a little letter with information explaining why you have chosen it and what it means to you, to add a romantic effect.

Some common types of plants to gift include the Red Aglaonema, the Anthurium and Succulents, amongst others.

Red all about it: The Red Aglaonema

The Red Aglaonema, with its hue of red tinged leaves, provides not only a colourful sight, but it lasts a very long time and is said to be the easiest houseplant. This little beauty is able to grow in low light areas as well as bright rooms and only need watering ever so often, preferably when the potting soil is dry to the touch.

From the heart:  Anthurium

Also known as the flamingo flower, Anthurium is not only bright but it also possesses heart shaped leaves, and has a long life indoors if kept in brighter, humid-rich rooms.

Succulent Succulents

What has fast become a flower of trend – used for coffee table centrepieces, wedding gifts etc, the Succulent is relatively easy to care for if kept in a bright room, and if watered every two weeks – this is dependent on the condition of the soil. It must not be too wet.

According to the Granny Mouse Country House & Spa team in the KZN Midlands, who have not only grown these plants themselves, but have likewise seen them been given as wedding gifts on a few occasions, it is best to follow a few simple watering rules to keep your “love” alive. Avoid too much water, and water the same day every week and prune your little plant by removing yellow or dead leaves. With the plant being indoors, it is also likely that it may gather dust if not cleaned. So when watering, pour water over the plant as well.

Another unique gifting idea is to put seeds of a flower into an envelope enclosed with a letter about the seeds and their symbolism. Seeds symbolise life and growth. Once growing, the seeds could produce flowers which will bloom, which may be a representation of one’s relationship blooming.

This year, make Valentine’s Day one of life and love and give the gift of a potted plant or package of seed with the potential of growth.

For many brides, hosting a weekend wedding, especially on a Saturday, is all the norm, however there are certain factors that come into play when doing so, such as availability. What does a bride do if she is set on a date and the venue is already taken? Or, What if the bride wants to bend the boundaries and make the wedding as unique as she is? She moves it to a weekday.

A weekday wedding is quite unique and is generally only an issue for the guests attending. If a guest cannot take time off to share in your special day, then they may not consider you as special and you consider them. An issue many brides may need to contemplate when drawing up the guest list.

Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider a weekday wedding as supplied by the Granny Mouse Country House & Spa Operations Manager, Ane’ du Preez.

1. ALREADY TAKEN – so the venue you love is booked up every weekend for a year and you can’t get in; here is where a weekday seems like the best option. Having a weekday wedding is likely to allow you to have the entire venue and property to yourself and your guests, as it is not a popular time to get away. It also opens up the opportunity for more availability on accommodation, should your wedding be at a destination or location that is miles from home.
2. IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS – luckily with a weekday wedding you can narrow down your guest list as many RSVP’s are sure to come in declining attendance. This, not unique to this situation, is likely due to guests having to take a day off from work or having to travel too far and not wanting to spend extra money. However, on the bright side, having less numbers allows for a more intimate ceremony and reception and allows the bride to thank everyone for coming, face-to-face, as opposed to doing a general “thank you” during speeches. It may also prove more affordable as many venues only offer catering on a pay per head basis and reducing numbers will allow you to save some cash.

3. OPTIONS, OPTIONS, OPTIONS– having an event during the week also opens up more opportunity for suppliers to be available – especially is they are well sought after. Suppliers also tend to charge more for weekend work, so asking them to help you out on a weekday may also reduce your budget – even just slightly.

4. BREAKING AWAY – hosting a weekday wedding also allows the bride and groom to extend their honeymoon and make use of the forthcoming weekend. (So, less leave days need to be taken from work). What’s even better, if the wedding is strategically set a day before a public holiday – this also works out well for wedding guests travelling and staying over at the venue.

There are many more reasons to consider a weekday wedding, but the choice is ultimately up to the bride and groom. Why consider the norm? Go with the unique and let it carry through to your marriage, to keep it exciting and fresh!