How to Host a Galentine’s Day Party

I’m a total sucker for a happy love story, but I’ll be the first to admit I think Valentine’s Day is slightly overrated. (I know it’s good for the economy, but certain aspects just feel so cliché and expected and, I don’t know, generic.) I absolutely hate the idea that some people without a partner might feel bad about themselves on this day. Plus, like so many people say, shouldn’t you be showing your love every day? (How’s that for a cliché?)

However, Galentine’s Day February 13 is an idea I can totally support. It’s an idea/holiday created by Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler IRL) of Parks and Recreation, and it’s brilliant. According to Leslie, “Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

Host your own Galentine’s party with these ideas and tips:

  • Make a chalkboard reservation sign: “Reserved for gals.” Place it on the table, on the counter, or outside your front door.
  • If you’re going for a theme, how about hosting a “brunch and bubbles” party the weekend prior to Galentine’s Day and serving fancy donuts and egg bake along with a mimosa bar? Think champagne, fresh fruit, and orange juice, mango, cranberry, and pineapple juice. Another fun drink option? A Bloody Mary bar.
  • If you don’t feel like cooking, serve finger foods. Whatever you do, keep it simple. The focus should be on bonding with your best girls, not spending a lot of time off in the kitchen.
  • Buy some flowers. You not only deserve it, but fresh flowers make a room so much more festive (and smell amazing, too). Seasonal flowers are typically the most affordable. Blooms in season in Minnesota this time of year are anemones, amaryllis, hellebores, tulips, nerines, gladioluses and stars of Bethlehem.
  • Make a playlist featuring female artists. Do not play a bunch of sappy love songs. Play upbeat songs about friendship and girl power and taking over the world. (Beyonce!)
  • You definitely don’t need a gift-giving aspect, but if you want to exchange, you can draw names and call it “Secret Cupid” instead of “Secret Santa.” (Your best girlfriends often know you better than almost anyone else and can probably choose a gift you will love.)
  • Play games, make crafts, have a little at-home spa party, and eat, drink, and be merry.
  • Consider decorating a coffee table instead of a dining room table and sitting on pillows instead of chairs.
  • If you’re thinking of dolling up your place in pink and red hearts, an easy way to do this is by cutting out construction paper hearts and hanging them from the ceiling, like this: papertraildiary.com.

Have fun and relax. The intention of Galentine’s Day is to thank your girls for being there; for their encouragement, kindness, laughter, honesty, wisdom, advice, and for understanding you and loving you unconditionally (in good times and in bad). As Leslie says, “Uteruses before duderuses, ovaries before brovaries.” Your tribe, your chosen family, your squad, your sisterhood, your besties—whatever you call your circle—these girlfriends play such a critical role in our lives, they should be celebrated. Happy Galentine’s Day.

 

By Chrissy Sarinske

 

Personal Designer

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