Four Party Ideas for Celebrating Galentine’s Day

“It feels like the guys I know don’t get that it’s supposed to be fun and silly,” Anne C. says with a sniff. “Not so with your girlfriends. Here’s a day that is shiny, pink, covered in frosting, dipped in chocolate, with sparkles on top.”

Lauren H. agrees—wholeheartedly: “Even if you’re receiving oodles of Valentine’s Day stuff from a significant other, it might not be the true deep dive into girly hearts and pink frosting you desire. If you’re the type that is delighted by sugar-coated, glittery heart-shaped things, then you can fully indulge at a Galentine’s Day party.

PARTY ACTIVITY OR THEME:
Slumber Party
Mani/Pedis
Dance Party

MOVIE WATCH LIST:
Clueless
Mean Girls
Romi & Michelle’s High School Reunion
Legally Blonde

MUSIC PLAYLIST:
Beyonce
Cindy Lauper
Katy Perry
Meghan Trainor
Demi Lovato
Madonna

DRINKS:
Champagne
Rosé
Cosmos
Strawberry Margaritas

PARTY SNACKS:
Chocolate
Heart-shaped cookies
Cupcakes with pink frosting

DRESS CODE:
Fabulous

PARTY FAVORS:
Nail polish
Cute wine glasses
Handwritten notes

“There are few influences in a woman’s life as valuable as other women who lift them up and encourage them,” Kelly R. tells us. “Galentine’s Day is a special way to celebrate the special bonds between us.”

“They [my girl friends] love me,” Melvina Y. agrees. “The whole of me. Good bits and jerky parts, too.
“Also, an all-ladies affair is way more fun than some co-ed couples cocktail-hour B.S.,” adds Megan H.

PARTY ACTIVITY OR THEME:
Couch drinking and loud girl talk
Rowdy games, like Catch Phrase or Cards Against Humanity
Beer or whiskey tasting

MOVIE WATCH LIST:
The Heat
Aliens
Jackie Brown
Kill Bill
Ghostbusters

MUSIC PLAYLIST:
Aretha Franklin
Dixie Chicks
Tina Turner
Pat Benatar
Mary K. Blige
Melissa Ethridge

DRINKS:
Craft beer
Whiskey
Red wine

PARTY SNACKS:
Pizza
Wings
Charcuterie platter

DRESS CODE:
T-shirts
Yoga pants or sweats
Note: This is a bra-free zone

PARTY FAVORS:
You Are A Badass: The Many Reasons You’re My She-ro book
Glassware with funny and/or sarcastic sayings
Spotify playlist

“I’ve got artsy, crafty friends,” Lindsay T. says—and that means she throws “a crafter-noon” Galentine’s Day party. “It’s a reason to gather. Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday if you keep it lighthearted and about chocolate and exchanging handmade gifts.”

Stephanie A. echoes the idea of an afternoon spent making stuff. “You don’t have to dress up or prepare really—you can just be yourself and visit and relax.”

PARTY ACTIVITY OR THEME:
Make Valentines or decorate shoeboxes
Sketch, doodle or color
Decorate heart-shaped cookies

MUSIC PLAYLIST:
Jazzy, romantic music
Spotify Valentine’s Day playlist
Note: Our crafty friends were way more focused on the activity than the music.

DRINKS:
Mimosa bar
Craft cocktails
Sangria

PARTY SNACKS:
Things on sticks or toothpicks (so your hands don’t get messy)
Fancy chocolates

DRESS CODE:
Pajamas

PARTY FAVORS:
Whatever you made!

“They are my closest confidantes, my partners in crime, my support system when things get tough,” JJ S. says of her fellow moms. “They love me no matter what. I can complain about my husband, my kid, my mom, and they have my back.”

“We’ve gone through so many milestones together, we aren’t shy about expressing how we feel,” Tina N. concurs. “Plus, I’ll take any excuse to vent about kids, husbands, in-laws or work.”

PARTY ACTIVITY OR THEME:
Is “wine and queso” an activity or a theme?

MOVIE WATCH LIST:
Maybe have a cheesy chick-flick on…but, honestly no one is watching it.

MUSIC PLAYLIST:
Justin Timberlake, very soon to be replaced by Michael Bublé, because we are stereotypical suburban moms and it’s required of us, dammit.
And Britney. There is always Britney.

DRINKS:
Wine
Beer
Whatever’s in the fridge

PARTY SNACKS:
Cheese and crackers
Chips and guacamole
Chocolate
Something that says “exquisite and delicious, yet store-bought”

DRESS CODE:
Stretched-out casual
Or “dress up” mom—that one outfit you have without kid stains

PARTY FAVORS:
A hug and a plan for when to get together next