Across the country, Australians are puckering up for a romantic Valentine’s Day. According to Yellow Pages data, searches for restaurants and florists hit their peak in the week before the big day. So, in order to get your pick of the romantic hot spots, you’ll need to be organised and book a restaurant well in advance.

While candlelight and white linen is the time-honoured tradition for a romantic evening, a long lazy brunch rates high on our list of romantic potential, especially if Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend.

Order a hamper online or head to your nearest deli to fill your basket with delicious picnic goodies. Throw in a chilled bottle of wine and a picnic blanket, and you can let the whole afternoon stretch ahead of you, without the pressure of knowing there’s another seating at the restaurant scheduled for 9pm.

It’s not just restaurants that take bookings well in advance. Ordering flowers ahead of time will guarantee the perfect bouquet. Leaving it to the last minute gives you fewer flowers to choose from – you can be sure those long-stemmed red roses will sell out fast. Besides, a last minute bouquet always looks so… last minute. Instead, a bouquet full of thoughtfully chosen flowers and colours will make a stunning – and personalised – impression. 

Another necessity for a romantic Valentine’s Day is child care. Available babysitters evaporate as fast as a box of chocolates at Bridget Jones’s house, so book in your babysitter, pronto. Let them know you’re planning a late night, so you don’t feel like you have to rush home by 10.30pm.

Sprucing yourself up for the night is all part of the fun. If you’re planning a special night you’ll want to look your best, so you’ll need to schedule a booking with your salon a few days ahead for waxing and beauty treatments, and book a spot at the hairdresser on the afternoon before your big night.

Gorgeous new lingerie goes hand in hand with a big date, and many people splurge on something lacy for themselves or as a gift, to really set the mood. If new lingerie is the perfect way for you to get the "Love is in the air" feeling, find your perfect set of smalls in specialist online retailers or at any number of lingerie boutiques or department stores.

If you want to really make an impression this Valentine’s Day, Yellow Pages can help you do the ground work. You’ll find everything from top-notch restaurants, florists, chocolates shops and beauty salons, to help you organise the night and really impress your date. All you’ll need is to shower, shave and show up, knowing that all the hard work is behind you. Enjoy.