February 14th. It’s a day that lives on in our minds as a day for paper hearts, chocolate strawberries, and big, sweeping romantic gestures. It’s also a day that is almost guaranteed to make you feel left out if you are flying solo. That’s why all the single ladies have come to rally around the idea of Galentine’s Day.
The holiday, started by Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation, is a day to celebrate all the female friendships in our lives the day before Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re in a relationship or single, a fan of Parks and Recreation or not, it’s the perfect excuse for a girl’s night. Here are our top tips for hosting a fabulous Galentine’s Day party.
Decide on Your Party Style
On the TV show, Leslie Knope celebrates Galentine’s Day with a waffle brunch and gift-giving. But that doesn’t mean you and your girlfriends can’t celebrate in your own way. There are an unlimited number of party styles to choose from. Here are a few to get you started:
- Karaoke night
- Painting and wine night
- Costume party
- Baking day
- Rom-com movie marathon
- Game night
- Slumber party
- Roller rink or bowling alley night
Just because Galentine’s Day is associated with Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you have to focus on it. You can also use the time to celebrate other holidays going on near that day. For example, take the time to celebrate Black History Month or celebrate the Lunar New Year a few days early.
Prepare Your Place
Once you have your party idea in place, it’s time to set the stage. Just because Galentine’s Day isn’t a real holiday doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare your house like it iswhen you have company coming over.
Your exact decorations will depend on the style of party you choose. But typically, you can use Valentine’s style decorations with your own little twists. For example, you can put up “Happy Valentine’s Day” banners and cross out the V with a sharpie and replace it with a G for a cute and unique decorative piece.
Build Your Menu
No party is complete without food, and the same is true for hosting a Galentine’s Day party. Depending on how you like to party, you can make dinner or brunch for your girlfriends, order take-out, or have a potluck. Otherwise, you can always just stick to snacks, apps, and sweets.
While you can always pick foods based on you and your gal pals’ favorites, you can also try making some Galentine’s specific treats, like:
- Chocolate fondue
- Waffle bar
- Heart-shaped pastries
- Macaroons
- Ice cream sundae bar
You can also create your own Galentine’s bar where you and your friends can create your own signature cocktails.
