Allens Hire's perfect Valentine's Day dinner for two: Part 1

Big events are our bread and butter, here at Allens Hire, and we have provided catering equipment and furniture for a wide variety of weddings and corporate events. But there’s one event that is just as special, if not even more so, when the guest list stops at 2 -- and that’s a Valentine’s dinner.

Valentine’s Day is under a week away, which may mean it’s too late to book a table at a fancy restaurant, unless you’d like to be eating at midnight!

The good news is that it is far from too late to arrange a spectacular and romantic dinner at home. We’re here to tell you how.

Valentine’s dinner for two - Part 1: Table decorations, lights and music

Setting the table

The first step to creating great table decorations is choosing a theme or central colour. For Valentine’s Day that job is almost done for you. All you have to do is choose your favourite shade of red or even pink. You could even mix and match various shades for added depth.

Above all else it is important to keep things simple for best effect. Opt for a sophisticated red table runner, rather than a full red tablecloth, and compliment with gorgeous red linen napkins, adorning the top of your plates; your best china, if you have some.

A bouquet of fresh red roses or carnations makes the ideal centrepiece. Gift boxes or hearts are also popular accents.

All that’s missing is a romantic roaring fire, though if you have a fireplace in the room you might want to light it up. We’re still in the midst of a deep freeze, after all.

Making your playlist

Meanwhile, an often overlooked addition to the perfect Valentine’s dinner is the soundtrack. The right music creates instant ambiance. When it comes to a romantic meal, we think it pays to go with the classics. We’re thinking Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior.

Your musical selection should be laid back, not too energetic or distracting. It should be cool, romantic but not intrusive. It should allow the focus to remain on you, your partner and the beautiful meal in front of you.

Finding the right light

Lighting is essential for Valentine’s Day atmosphere and when it comes to romance, nothing works better than candlelight. You could even create a centrepiece out of a cluster of candles. Alternatively, why not position a number of pretty votives around your dinner space; across tables and window ledges?

Later in the week, we’ll talk about food and drink, including some romantic appetisers and delicious desserts. In the meantime, why not think about how you’ll set the scene; it might even include a present and a homemade card.