The Flower Market in Prince Edward was crowded on Saturday as hundreds of people packed the place in search of the best bouquets for their loved ones on Valentine's Day.

One romantic, Kwan, said he had been buying flowers every year for more than two decades.

"I picked 12 roses and the colour is a bit special this time, light red, because I don't want it to be just normal red roses every year. It represents everlasting love," he said.

"For us, every day is Valentine's Day. My wife keeps telling me there is no need to buy flowers and not to waste money, but I insist on buying them.

"I think it is a small token of my affection and this will never change."

A couple, the Tangs, were shopping for flowers for the Lunar New Year, with the husband saying he would hand over cash to mark the day instead of a bouquet.

"I take a more practical approach, and cash is the most practical of all. She can buy whatever she wants," he said.

The Tangs shared their secrets to keeping the chemistry in their 45-year-old marriage alive – generous doses of give and take and a perennial desire to keep the wife happy.

In spite of the crowds, a vendor, Wong, said business was down 30 percent this year due to Valentine's Day falling so close to Lunar New Year.

"Some married couples prefer to buy flowers for the New Year rather than for Valentine's Day," she said.

"Supplies were also very expensive. For example, prices for roses have doubled... and it's also hard to find wrappers as some of them may refuse to wrap Valentine's Day bouquets if they have to deal with the ones for the New Year."