How to plan the perfect Galentine’s Day party
Roses are red, violets are blue, celebrate friendship at a party with your crew! Galentine’s Day, much like Valentine’s Day, is a holiday all about showing love and appreciation to the people in your life you care about most. But unlike Valentine’s Day’s more romantic angle, Galentine’s Day—typically celebrated on the day before Valentine’s Day, February 13th—is all about honoring female friendships.
While it may not be recognized as an official holiday (yet!), Galentine’s Day has become a popular tradition in recent years after gaining prominence on a 2010 episode of the sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” And it’s no surprise that it’s caught on like wildfire—who doesn’t love to throw a love-filled party with their best friends?
Whether you’re single this Valentine’s Day and would prefer to get together with a group of gals, or you plan on celebrating both holidays back to back with both your besties and your significant other, a Galentine’s Day party is the perfect way to raise a toast to your inner circle, share laughs over delicious nibbles and sips, and make memories that last a lifetime.
Looking for Galentine’s Day party ideas to properly honor your BFFs this year? Look no further. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through planning and hosting the best February-friendship-festivity yet, from Galentine’s Day activity ideas to décor suggestions, unique recipes, and more.
Table of Contents
Decide on a theme
While it’s true that the theme of your Galentine’s get-together could always just be “best friends hanging out,” why not make it even more special with a unique theme that gets everyone in the Galentine’s spirit?
- Pajama party. Host a sleepover-themed soirée at home with all-you-can-eat popcorn, screenings of the most iconic rom-coms, and everyone dressed in their cutest PJs.
- Classic pink and red. Use the traditional Valentine’s Day aesthetic to inform your friendship fête, because isn’t Galentine’s Day an even more appropriate occasion for donning pink hearts and red ribbons?
- Girl’s brunch. Whether you’re cooking up your signature dish at home or reserving space at the group’s go-to restaurant, brunch is a perfect way to enjoy quality time—and quality mimosas!
- Cocktails or wine night. ’Tini, time, anyone? Keep the drinks flowing—and the tea spilling—when you serve up delicious cocktails. Or channel your inner sommelier and provide a wine-tasting flight for each guest.
- Self-care soirée. You and your friends deserve to kick back, relax, and enjoy a little pampering. Either at an actual spa or at home, put on those mud masks, choose the perfect pedicure colors, and light some soothing candles to really set the mood.
- Creative crafting. If your group has been bitten by the artistic bug, enjoy each other’s talents with a night of scrapbooking, pottery, painting, embroidery, or anything else that sparks that creative spirit.
Choose a venue
Once you’ve selected a theme for your Galentine’s Day party, it’s time to decide on a location. Hosting at home is a great option, even if you live in a small apartment—the cozier the vibes, the better the bonding. If you want to keep things low-key and casual, a girls’ night in is the perfect Galentine’s Day idea for kicking back, getting comfortable, and making memories with your squad. Ideal for game nights, pizza parties, wine tastings, and more, hosting at home is an easy option with no reservations required—and as a bonus, you all can get as loud and rowdy as you want!
Reserving a table or renting out a private room at a restaurant, bar, or event space are also great Galentine’s ideas for a celebratory bash (plus, you avoid a lot of the setup and cleaning). If you’re hosting at a restaurant or bar, just make sure to finalize your reservations well in advance to guarantee there’s enough seating and that the venue is prepared for your group.
If you want something different, explore hosting your Galentine’s Day party at an alternative location such as a spa, public garden, paint and sip class, or elegant tea room. Wherever your celebration takes place, being there with your best friends will make it that much more perfect.
Send sweet invitations
Whether you’re planning a bottomless brunch where the mimosas are flowing or an elegant cocktail party with everyone dressed to the nines, make sure to send out your Galentine’s Day invitations with enough advance notice so that everyone can mark February 13th (or whatever date you choose) on their calendars.
Paperless Post has a wide variety of Galentine’s and Valentine’s Day invitations to choose from that you can easily customize and send to everyone on your guest list in minutes via email, text, or link. Set the mood for your get-together in style, and communicate everything your guests need to know, such as the time, date, and location, as well as any helpful event details, like directions, dress code, or schedule of events—which you can include in helpful Blocks on your event page. Include a Photo Gallery Block to share memories from previous years’ Galentine’s Day parties to get everyone excited.
Send out your Galentine’s Day invitations about two to four weeks in advance to give guests enough time to prepare, and to ensure you get a proper headcount to plan the party accordingly. You can even set an RSVP Deadline for your guests on your Paperless Post invitation, if the restaurant or venue has a specific date they’ll need to know the final tally by.
Plan the refreshments
If you’re hosting Galentines’ Day at your home, impress everyone with adorable and on-theme treats to enjoy throughout the party. Whip up some snackable appetizers, like a bouquet of Bacon Roses by Delish, or put together a Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread by Taste of Home.
For an interactive entrée option, invite everyone to make their own Heart-Shaped Pizza by Kitchen Treaty. And don’t forget the treats! Sweeten up your gathering with Hard Candied Strawberries by One Sweet Mama or write cute, personalized messages on these Valentine’s Day Cookies by Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Cocktail hour is a vital ingredient in any Galentine’s Day party—add a pop of color with these Cherry Lime Dirty Shirleys by The Inspired Home, or elevate any brunch table with a Strawberry Rose Bellini by Ree Drummond.
Make sure to take advantage of our helpful tools with your Paperless Post Galentine’s Day party invitation. Enable Guest Questions to gather any dietary restrictions or send out multiple-choice surveys about food and drink preferences. Everyone will appreciate your thoughtful planning just as much as they appreciate all the incredible treats (well, almost as much).
Decorate your space
Whether you’re decking out an event space, a private room in a restaurant, or your own home, make your Galentine’s Day party feel fun, flirty, and festive with decorations and party supplies that match your theme. Browse Paperless Post Party Shop to find elevated décor in pink and red hues, hang up shimmering or floral garlands and banners, and throw in some balloons as well for a celebratory feel.
Provide colorful or witty wine glasses to accompany the libations, and take things up a notch with personalized napkins, matchbooks, or shot glasses, for a little Galentine’s keepsake. Make your cleanup a breeze by setting out tablecloths and runners in pink or pastel, and be the host(ess) with the most when you hand out goodie bags at the end of the night containing candy hearts, sweet trinkets, temporary tattoos, and anything else your friends would get a kick out of.
Prepare fun activities
In addition to chatting and noshing with your besties, have some exciting Galentine’s Day activities prepared to make your gathering as entertaining and unique as your friend group.
- Organize a gift swap. Presents aren’t just for the holiday season! Encourage everyone to bring a Galentine’s Day gift, whether you exchange them White Elephant style, or make it a Favorite Things party where each guest brings one or multiple of something they’re loving right now. Set a price limit for gifts that makes sense for your guest list and headcount, and encourage homemade items as well!
- Make friendship bracelets. You and the gals are in your best friends era, so show off your love with homemade friendship bracelets you can have fun crafting together. Write a cute message in letter beads, pop on some fake pearls, and exchange them at the end of the night for a token everyone will cherish.
- Host an at-home nail salon. If you’re opting for a zen spa night in, make it a luxury experience with manicures and pedicures, complete with bedazzled nail art or sticker options. Everyone can paint their own, or take turns decorating each other’s for the full pampering effect.
- Play your favorite games. Keep it classic with a night of board games, rousing rounds of Charades, Salad Bowl, and other fun party games. Alternatively, get competitive with poker and other card games, or take it back to childhood slumber party vibes with a little Truth or Dare.
- Model for a photoshoot. Don’t let your cute Galentine’s Day outfits go unseen; set up a glittery or colorful backdrop and pose for a grid-worthy photoshoot to capture the memories sure to last a lifetime (or at least get a lot of likes). Use a disposable or instant camera for a vintage look, and provide glamorous and funny props to add a little flare.
- Break out the karaoke mic. Whether your friend group is Broadway-bound or just enjoys belting classic ’90s hits at the top of their lungs together, karaoke is always a hit. Set up a “stage” area, if space permits, and cheer each other on as you sing your hearts out to ballads and bangers alike.
Celebrate love and friendship with Paperless Post
Make your Galentine’s Day one you and your friends will never forget with a cozy night in, a delectable brunch, or an extravagant dinner party. Whatever your hosting style, Paperless Post has the invitations to set the tone for a memorable get-together, and the management tools to make sure it all goes off without a hitch. Keep the season’s celebrations going when you send thoughtful Valentine’s Day cards to friends, family, or that special somebody. Looking for more Valentine’s Day ideas? We’ve got you covered there as well.
Whether you’re hosting a party, sending a thank you message after, or just letting them know you’re thinking of them with a sweet card, Paperless Post has everything you need to send love, any time of year.
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