In pictures: Valentine's Day around the world

A Thai couple swing out on rappelling ropes during their wedding ceremony on Sunday, Feb 13. -- PHOTO: AP

IT'S Valentine's Day today, and all over the world, people are readying flowers and chocolate to shower their loved ones with gifts.

Say what you will about Valentine's Day, but there's no doubt that it's one of the busiest days of the year for florists and restaurants, as they brace for the inevitable drove of lovey-dovey couples looking to mark the occasion.

Have a look at some pictures of Valentine's Day preparations around the world and, and get in the mood for love.

A Pakistani employee arrange a Valentine's stall at the lobby of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad on February 5, 2011. With Valentine's Day around the corner, the youngsters are seen gearing up their preparations in the capital to express their warmth and love for their dear ones. -- PHOTO: AFP

A woman prepares bouquets of red roses on February 11, 2011, at a flower farm in Cajica, near Bogota, Colombia. For sweethearts everywhere it's the season for roses, and many of them come from Colombia. In giant greenhouses outside of the capital Bogota, the flowers are clipped and shipped worldwide, accounting for 65 percent of the roses imported in the United States and many of the bouquets delivered in Europe. The hours ahead of Valentine's Day are a boom period for Colombian growers, who expedite their exports so romantics worldwide can say 'I love you' with flowers. -- PHOTO: AFP

A woman prepares bouquets of pink roses on February 11, 2011, at a flower farm in Cajica, near Bogota, Colombia. For sweethearts everywhere it's the season for roses, and many of them come from Colombia. In giant greenhouses outside of the capital Bogota, the flowers are clipped and shipped worldwide, accounting for 65 percent of the roses imported in the United States and many of the bouquets delivered in Europe. The hours ahead of Valentine's Day are a boom period for Colombian growers, who expedite their exports so romantics worldwide can say 'I love you' with flowers. -- PHOTO: AFP

Performers gather during a senior citizens parade celebrating Saint Valentine's Day in Guatemala City, Friday, Feb. 11, 2011. -- PHOTO: AP

A performer has her dress fixed during a senior citizens parade celebrating Saint Valentine's Day, Guatemala City, Friday, Feb. 1, 2011. -- PHOTO: AP

Lebanese women shop for the upcoming Valentine's day at a gift shop in Beirut on February 11, 2011. -- PHOTO: AFP

Veiled Pakistani women choose Valentine's Day gifts at a shop in Peshawar on February 11, 2011. A number of shopping centers in Pakistan are full of gifts including cards, stuffed toys, chocolates and miscellaneous items for Valentine's Day celebrated on February 14. -- PHOTO: AFP

School children walk behind three-dimensional letters spelling out the word love on display for St. Valentine's Day celebrations at a mall in Jakarta on February 11, 2011. Many shops in the Indonesian capital added attractive displays for the day of the lovers following last week's Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. -- PHOTO: AFP

Mainland Chinese visitors sit in a jewellery store promoting gold and platinum accessories for the upcoming Valentine's Day in Hong Kong February 9, 2011. Gold was barely changed on Wednesday, after rising 1 percent in the previous session, as investors and other physical buyers in Asia hugged the sidelines following China's second interest rate increase in just over six weeks. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture specialists uses a magnifying glass to inspect flowers for any foreign pests or diseases at the Miami International Airport February 3, 2011 in Miami, Florida. As Valentine's Day approaches, 272 million cut flower stems pass through the airport, which handles about 85 percent of fresh flowers imported into the United States. Most of the flowers come from South American growers. -- PHOTO: AFP