Flowers, Chocolate, Jewelry Top Gifts for Valentine's Day

By: Stephanie Morrissey - Email

Updated: Thu 6:00 AM, Feb 14, 2013

Valentine's Day is the international holiday of love and it's coming up quickly. If you haven't gotten your sweetheart a gift there's still plenty of time.

Candy, flowers, and jewelry -- they can only mean one thing. It's time to celebrate Valentine's Day and the capital city has all you need to that.

For the loved one with a sweet tooth, chocolate is the answer but be careful, quality does matter.

"Seems to me good chocolate is hard to find. At least there's a lot of sub par chocolate for sale. When people buy gifts for special occasions they take that into account. A special occasion deserves a little higher quality," said Sean Blue, owner of Chocolatier Blue in Lincoln.

One of the most popular Valentine's gifts isn't edible. The Hy-Vee on north 27th Street has more than 500 flowers ready for delivery and that number doesn't even include in-store purchases.

"It's a luxury item. Not something you get everyday," said Jennifer Pinyan, Hy-Vee Floral Manager.

Florists say there's only one flower in particular that represents love.

"The number one thing we sell is red roses. We get in colored roses but everyone really wants the red roses," Pinyan said.

If you're searching for a gift that will last a lifetime, you'll have to get something that sparkles.

"Girls get flowers and chocolates and flowers die after a week and chocolates are gone after she eats them, but jewelry is something she can keep forever in her jewelry box and be reminded of you," said Jordan Hamann of Sartor Hamann Jewelers.

No matter the gift, these local businesses all agree, Valentine's Day is the perfect time to do something sweet for those you love.