A V-DAY TO REMEMBER: SPECIAL DATE IDEAS FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and you know what that means: it’s time to buy the same roses and chocolate hearts and make the same fancy dinner reservations. If you’re bored of the same old V-Day plans or you want to impress your boo with a date as special as they are, this year, why don’t you ditch the dinner reservations? These unique date ideas are sure to wow and make this Valentine’s Day one you’ll never forget.

1. Get Married

Yep, you read that right — if you’re going to celebrate Valentine’s Day, why not go big? This V-Day, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens will be officiating a mass wedding in the heart of Atlanta at Piedmont Park’s Greystone building. Expected to be one of the biggest mass weddings to take place in Atlanta, “Marry We” was created to offer a unique experience for statement-making couples who are straying away from conventional nuptials or vow renewals. The unique celebration will include a mass ceremony, reception with entertainment and dancing, dinner, an open bar, and dessert. The cost of the marriage license will be included in the package, and each couple will receive an official wedding portrait and gift compliments of the event organizer.

Packages for the “Marry We” ceremony are only $1,000 and open to all couples regardless of sexual orientation, nationality, and religion. You can register at marryweevents.com.

2. Wild at Heart at Zoo Atlanta

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the only venue in the city where an elephant may stroll by as you’re toasting your special someone. Guests will enjoy a delectable dinner and dessert buffet, plus a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and one other beverage of their choice (along with access to a cash bar), all while overlooking Zoo Atlanta’s Savanna in the Michael & Thalia Carlos Ballroom in Savanna Hall. Following dinner, the Zoo’s Ambassador Animals Team — joined by live animals — will treat guests to an exclusive presentation centered on the relationships between animals and their care team members. Finish off the evening on the dance floor with a live DJ.

Reservations are $234/couple for Zoo Atlanta Members and $260/couple for nonmembers. Reserve your spot and view the menu at zooatlanta.org/heart.

3. A Casual Night of Darts

If you like a game of darts, you’re going to LOVE Flight Club Social Darts, a new interactive experience that just opened in Howell Mill. Enjoy craft cocktails and delicious bites while playing darts like you’ve never played it before. A high-tech dart board tracks your points onscreen and guides you through different games — throw your dart to roll the dice in a game of Snakes and Ladders or hit your assigned area to kill your opponents — all while taking photos and videos for you to remember a date night you’ll never forget.

Learn more and make reservations at flightclubdarts.com.

4. Dance by the Water

Roses are red, the ocean is blue, get out of your seat and put on your dancing shoes!

Join the Georgia Aquarium for a special Valentine’s Day dance class with an aquatic view. Fred Astaire Dance Studio instructors will teach the dance, suitable for all experience levels, in the Oceans Ballroom alongside incredible views of manta, white sharks, and more.

Tickets are $25 and the event begins at 6:30pm. Learn more at georgiaaquarium. org/events/event/dance-by-the-water-salsamerengue.

5. Valentines in the Garden

This event celebrates your love for both your sweetie and your city! On February 11, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens will showcase what Atlanta is best known for. SCAD Honeybees and Georgia Tech Goldrush Dance will perform on the Great Lawn; Atlanta’s worldfamous drink comes to life in the “Cola Sweetheart Diner,” a 1950s-themed diner featuring the Infinity Band; Skyline Garden transforms into a vibrant dance party celebrating Atlanta’s renowned hip-hop scene with dance by break-dance crew Burn Unit; the Piedmont Strings Quintet plays throughout the evening, Alexis Seminario and Gretchen Krupp of the Atlanta Opera will perform, professional swing dancers will teach guests to get their groove on, and Atlanta’s finest caterers will offer small bite tastings throughout the Garden.

Upgrade your ticket to VIP to get exclusive access to the VIP lounge with special entertainment and unlimited hors d’oeuvres, two complimentary drinks, a special VIP swag bag, and a complimentary parking pass.

The event will be held from 7pm to 11. Tickets start at $70 for general admission. Learn more and buy tickets at atlantabg.org/calendar/valentines-in-thegarden-2.