It’s that time of year again when Cupid’s arrows strike true and love is the result.

This year is extra special for Collin Porter and his betrothed, Emilie Eide, who are planning to tie the knot on the day of love itself, Wednesday, Feb. 14.

San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk Jordan Marks is helping couples like Porter and Eide, welcoming walk-in weddings across San Diego County for couples seeking to get hitched on Valentine’s Day, or those wishing to “take the leap” on leap day on Thursday, Feb. 29, which only happens once every four years.

Porter, originally from Connecticut, who lives near Gaslamp Quarter, and his bride-to-be Eide, who hails from Sweden, first met 2 ½ years ago in Hawaii. “I was just on vacation for a month, and she was just starting to study there,” said Porter acknowledging their relationship was right from the start. “My one-month vacation turned into a two-year stay,” he said adding “We liked each other and we could talk.”

Fast-forward to this past summer when the couple got engaged in the Canary Islands, a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, before moving to San Diego. “We just got a puppy together and we enjoy San Diego,” Collin said.

Of their upcoming Feb. 14 wedding ceremony, Porter said “We want to be married first, just us.” He added they intend to have a full ceremony at a later date with both of their families present.

As to why they chose Valentine’s Day, Collin noted, “It’s a nice symbolic day and Emilie had that day off.” He noted they intend to spend their wedding night in La Jolla adding they both feel fortunate and look forward to their first memorable day and night together as a married couple.

Valentine’s Day happenings:

FLOWERY VALENTINES

Neighborhood florist, Little House of Flowers at 1017 Rosecrans St. y 6090 Friars Road is there for Valentine’s Day season with floral arrangements. Little House is curating a collection of bouquets and arrangements. From classic red roses to unique and vibrant mixes, each creation is meticulously crafted to convey heartfelt emotions.

Little House of Flowers is holding an Instagram giveaway @little_house_of_flowers. One winner will receive a red rose bouquet, 10 units of botox from Beauty Energy Exchange, and a heart-shaped four-pack macaroon box from Cafe Daph, announced on Feb. 9. Contact: LittleHouseofFlowersSD.com.

ESTACIÓN DE LA LIBERTAD

• La Galleria: Say “I Love You” with gifts from around the world. Shop from a variety of curated handcrafted jewelry, home décor that inspires, personal adornments, custom water features, floral designs, and more.
• THATCH: Show that special someone in your life how special they are with handmade and female-designed jewelry pieces. From traditional heart pendants and delicate pendants to bold rings and the popular constellation collection. Shoppers can also customize their pieces with engraving or build their necklaces from a variety of pendants and chains.
• Ristorante Solare: Enjoy a taste of Italy no passport required with classic Antipasti, house-made pasta such as handmade ravioli filled with short rib, wood fire pizzas, and traditional Italian desserts like Tiramisu and panna cotta.
• Carruth Cellars: Give the gift of award-winning wine sourced from California’s best appellations including Paso Robles, Sonoma, and Napa. Wine-loving loved ones can also have wine shipped to them directly.
• Ana Galena Floral Studio: Create memories that bloom forever at the Blooms & Romance: Petal Date Night with Ana Galena happening from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9. Couples are invited to come together and turn a simple flower arrangement into a symbol of their love during this romantic workshop.

HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY

The origins of Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts, is somewhat obscure though it’s believed it may date from the Roman festival of Lupercalia held in mid-February. The festival, which celebrated the coming of spring, included fertility rites and the pairing of women with men by lottery. Valentine’s Day however did not come to be celebrated as a day of romance until about the 14th century.

Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 270 CE by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, the priest signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and, by some accounts, healed from blindness.

Other accounts hold that it was St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop, for whom the holiday was named. Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare their husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love.

Formal messages, or valentines, appeared in the 1500s, and by the late 1700s, commercially printed cards were being used. The first commercial valentines in the United States were printed in the mid-1800s. Valentines commonly depict Cupid, the Roman god of love, along with hearts, the seat of emotion. Traditional gifts include candy and flowers, particularly red roses, a symbol of beauty and love. The day is popular in the United States as well as in Britain, Canada, Australia, and many other countries.