A romantic dinner for two at home is a great way to tell the one you love how much they mean to you. The table setting you create should reflect the romance of the evening and be a personal representation of how you feel. While a dozen roses and some candles has become the accepted romantic table setting standard, there are other place setting and centerpiece ideas that are more creative, unique and customizable.

More Than Just Flowers: Romantic Centerpieces

Anyone can pick up a dozen red roses from the florist but it takes a bit more attention to detail and forethought to pick out an arrangement of someone’s three favorite blooms or what they carried in their bridal bouquet. To create a thoughtful and personalized centerpiece, try arranging your significant other’s favorite flowers in a vase of his or her favorite color.

Some people, men in particular, may not have a favorite flower or even a color. In that case, draw on your experiences with that person. Choose flowers that reflect a beloved memory from your relationship. For example, if you went on a trip to Hawaii together, put together tropical flowers in a Hawaiian inspired vase.

Setting the Mood: Romantic Place Settings

The place setting your significant other is served at is just as important as the meal they dine on. Subtle personalization and whimsical references to shared experiences are easily carried from the centerpiece to the place setting, creating a pulled together and intentional looking table setting design.

If you are drawing from memories gathered over the years of your relationship for the table setting of a romantic dinner, there are some unique touches you can add to a place setting. For example, you can contact the publisher of the newspaper printed in the town where you met one another. Ask for a copy of the paper that came out on the day you met. Next, either scan the front page at home or bring it to a print shop and have it screen printed onto linen napkins, place mats or even the plates themselves. Not only will the recipient of the romantic dinner be surprised by the detail but impressed by the extra thought, time and effort involved in creating such a one of a kind keepsake.

Arranging the table setting for a romantic dinner is less about the physical aspects of the space and more closely related to the thought and intention of the evening. Rely on memories and emotions for the inspiration of a romantic and intimate table setting.