5 Easy Steps to Throw the Perfect Galentine’s Party
By: Sophia Hughes
Whether you’re in a relationship or single, it’s always important to make time for your besties. And what better way to celebrate the love you have for your friends than by throwing a Galentine’s party?
If you are struggling with the planning process or don’t know how to make the day special for your girls, here are my five easy steps to planning and throwing the perfect Galentine’s party.
Credit: Unsplash
Step 1: Pick a date and set your theme/dress code
Obviously, find a date and time that works for everyone. If people have dinner dates already planned with their partners, you can plan your Galentine’s the day before or the weekend after. An event in the morning might work better for some, and you could go out to brunch or cook at your place. A Friday evening after the end of a long week might work best for your get-together. Whichever time you pick, this will help you plan the right themes and activities.
Themes and dress codes could be serious, or they could be fun! You may want to go out for afternoon tea with your girls and wear your best and brightest floral dresses, focusing on a more light-hearted, romantic theme. Or maybe you want a more sultry and sexy, late-night theme where everyone comes in their best cocktail dresses, dark red lipstick, and cute heels. If no one wants to dress up and you would rather stay comfy and cozy instead, then have the dress code be pajamas only.
For a less serious dress code, have everyone dress up as their exes, their current partners, or their celebrity crush. I even saw a TikTok trend recently called the “nowhere to wear it party,” where everyone had to pick out something from their closet they haven’t worn in a long time, because there hasn’t been a specific occasion for them to wear the item. Some people wore old prom dresses, graduation gowns, old Halloween costumes, or even an outfit that might be too bold to wear to work or school. This trend is so fun because people show up in the most unexpected and unique outfits. Tailor the dress code and theme to fit your friend group and your style so everyone can be comfortable and have fun!
Step 2: Plan your activities
Now that you’ve figured out when, where, and what the theme is, you can plan the activities. What do you and your friends usually like to do? My friends and I love playing board and card games, so we bring our favorite games and chat while playing a few rounds of different games. But if board or card games are not your thing, you can try “Hot Celebrity Bingo” by making your own Bingo boards with celebrities the group finds attractive. Just make sure they are all the same celebrities on everyone’s board, possibly by having everyone submit their favorites, so you can put them on a wheel, spin to pick which names are called, and ensure everyone has a fair chance of winning.
Another option would be to find a rom-com or Valentine’s-themed trivia on a website like Kahoot, where all everyone needs is their phone to answer the questions on the screen. You could even make your own trivia about your friend group and have everyone submit questions and answers related to exes, embarrassing dating stories, or even funny moments that happened in your friend group.
Like many others, my friends and I also enjoy a good karaoke session. Maybe someone in your group has a karaoke machine or microphones that you can borrow, but there is nothing better than screaming at the top of your lungs about how someone broke your heart or how deeply in love you are with a special someone.
For something more heartfelt, you could make friendship bracelets or necklaces, or make affirmation jars where everyone writes sweet affirmations for each other. You could also make vision boards with cutouts from magazines while you discuss your hopes, dreams, and goals for the rest of the year.
Step 3: Prepare the food and drinks
Credit: Pexels
Will you be setting up a build-your-own pancake or waffle bar? Are you going out to eat at a restaurant as a group and need to make a reservation in advance? Will it be potluck style and everyone brings a designated drink, entree, side, or dessert? Are you having an at-home bar with various sodas, juices, and your alcohol of choice? Are you having catering delivered to your house, or do you need to pick up the food before the party?
Whatever the situation is, make sure you have the right ingredients for what you’re making, or that you have made a reservation well enough in advance to eliminate potential issues. Send out a spreadsheet where everyone can write what they are bringing, so that you can keep track of how many desserts or entrees there might be. If someone needs the oven preheated or if something needs to be kept cold in the fridge or over ice, make sure that is communicated as well.
Step 4: Set the vibe
Wherever the party is being hosted, whether it is at your place or a friend's, don’t be shy with the decorations. Decorations do not have to be expensive or tiresome, and I would recommend using what you have first before buying anything new. You could make paper chains with colored construction paper (or even plain white paper) to hang from the ceiling or in doorways. Tall candles can act as table centerpieces next to flower bouquets with pink or red ribbons tied around the vases. You could create adorable name tags to place on plate settings at the dining table. If you want to buy decorations second-hand, I would recommend thrifting cute frames for pictures, printed out drink menus, or even sweet handwritten messages for your guests.
Don’t forget to light delicious-smelling candles, dim the lights, and play your favorite love songs to set the mood! In my opinion, there is no such thing as going over the top for your friends.
Step 5: Let the party commence!
Now that everything is finally in order, it’s time to sit back and have fun with your girls. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and catching up with your besties. Don’t forget to take lots of pictures and videos to post on social media!
