Whether you’re single or taken, there’s no doubt you wouldn’t have made it through these past few years without your friends. So while the world is throwing roses and romance at you, don’t forget about the holiday made especially for female friendship – Galentine’s Day!
While Galentine’s Day is special every year, this year it’s bound to be extra memorable. Why? It falls on the same day as the Super Bowl! If you think this means you’ll have to pick between a day with your ladies or a night in front of the big screen, think again. We’re going to let you in on some tips to throw a Galentine’s Day party that all fans can celebrate. With a party this good, your friendship is bound to keep blooming throughout the rest of the year!
What is Galentine’s Day?
While it’s easy to jump straight into party planning, it’s hard to do that when you don’t even know what you’re celebrating. So let’s get the basics out of the way – what exactly is Galentine’s Day and how did it start?
To kick things off, let’s introduce you to Leslie Knope. In case you’re not a Parks and Rec fan, Leslie is the fictional Deputy Director of the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, IN. Being the cheerful, go-getter she is, Leslie declared February 13th (aka Galentine’s Day) as a time to celebrate female friendship. In Leslie’s words, it’s a day for “ladies celebrating ladies.”
Once the real world caught hold of Leslie’s brilliant idea, they took it and ran with it. Today, ladies gather to celebrate all the wonders of female friendships. While a waffle and frittata-filled brunch stays true to Parks and Rec, ladies have leaned into their creative sides to host Galentine’s Day celebrations of all kinds. By setting a day aside to celebrate these special relationships, ladies allow their friendships to keep blooming into the future.
Plan Your Timing
Since Galentine’s Day and the Super Bowl fall on the same day, you have an important decision to make. Do you want to keep time with your ladies and the big game separate? Or do you want to combine the two? To figure this out, think about the ladies you’ll be inviting over. Do they have multiple jerseys in the closets or do they roll their eyes at the thought of watching sports?
If you’re opting to keep things classic with a Galentine’s Day brunch, you can enjoy a mimosa and croissant-filled morning and eat all those super bowl snacks later in the day. Heck, you might even have time for a nap in between the two. Since your day will be so full, make sure you order your flowers and gift sets for Valentine’s Day ahead of time.
On the other hand, if you want to really seize this rare collision of football and female power, why not throw an evening Galentine’s Day party? Cue up the game on your big screen, establish a rating system for those commercials, and enjoy the halftime show with your ladies. Just be aware that some gals may really want to watch the game and scowl at anyone that dares talk during a big play while others may view the game as a time to socialize.
No matter what you decide, make sure to let your guests know ahead of time. That way they can mark it on their calendars and avoid saying yes to multiple invites.
Pick a Theme
Once you’ve decided your party’s timing, it’s time to pick a theme. Whether you’re leaning into the Super Bowl or avoiding it entirely, a theme will help you plan decor, food, and activities.
Glitz & Glam
If you and your gal pals are all about the “glitz and glamor” – like strutting down the streets of Beverly Hills or SoHo, red carpet events, a swarming entourage, and the likes – then consider dressing up your Galentine’s Day party with décor just as glamorous as that oh-so-dazzling lifestyle! Yes, this means metallic streamers, glittery wall stickers, and shimmering centerpieces.
And of course, you can’t host a party without providing a meal for your glamorous guests too! Skip the nachos and chicken wings and opt for finger foods that are a bit more refined. While this may sound difficult, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, and bacon-wrapped asparagus are easy to make!
Let’s not forget all the glamorous activities you and your closest lady friends can partake in for the night! That’s right, we’re passing on the football game for the latest awards show (and we’re not talking about the Grammys).
As the host of the night, it’s your job and honor to create awards for all your gals! Best listener? Always there with a much-needed flower delivery? The queen of laughs? By the time the night is over, all the ladies will be feeling good about themselves. While these distinctions are awards themselves, you can always pick out some gifts for Galentine’s Day as prizes.
Football and Finger Foods
If your friend group can’t get enough of football (or those super bowl commercials), score a touchdown by combining Galentine’s Day and the Super Bowl into one giant celebration!
Since you’ll be skipping brunch and inviting the ladies over later, swap out mimosas for your favorite local brew or signature cocktail. When it comes to food, you can’t go wrong with finger foods. Loaded potato skins? Mozzarella sticks? Buffalo chicken dip? Yes, please!
While the game will be one of the highlights of the night, don’t just rely on TV for entertainment. Instead, embrace that competitive spirit by dividing into teams and playing some games of your own. Call on the classic tailgating cornhole to get things started. Lay out boards on opposite ends of a room or hallway and start tossing those bean bags! If you need some tips on MVP Super Bowl dips, check out these recommendations.
Ride the Rustic Trend
If your overall aesthetic is more of a rustic-chic lifestyle, then we’ve got some décor inspiration for your upcoming party! Give your living space a homey feel with a photo wall filled with polaroid pictures or print-outs of your gal pals. Find small chalkboards and write encouraging supportive messages as well as a few game-day cheers!
You can even leave out wooden crates filled to the brim with floral stems or even just a batch of eucalyptus, which is always a favorite in our books. And of course, we can’t forget the string lights! Not only do they literally brighten up your space, but they provide that rustic ambiance that would make anyone feel right at home.
Stick to tried and true homey snacks like soft pretzel bites with cheese dip, pizza from your favorite shop, and your mom’s famous cookie recipe. Add in some wine and beer and you’ve got a spread made for chatting the day away.
To up the fun factor for your rustic-themed Galentine’s Day party, you and the gals can play some nostalgic board games from your childhood. Then transition into a paint-off within your friend group; paint portraits of each other (or your favorite football players) while sipping a glass of red wine – a paint-and-sip all in the comfort of your very own home!
Pretty in Pink Brunch
If you’re planning on keeping the super bowl separate from your Galentine’s Day celebration, this brunch is perfect.
We know that Galentine’s Day can often be perceived as an anti-Valentine’s holiday, but that’s definitely not the case. All the ladies out there can celebrate all the love-filled aspects of both holidays – hearts and all! That’s why we think bringing in the best of both worlds can make a great theme for your upcoming Galentine’s Day party, especially for the gals out there who just can’t get enough of the color pink. That’s right, bring on the pink streamers, pink heart garlands, pink table-runners, and pink flowers for Galentine’s Day!
If you thought that finding pink food would be an impossible feat, we’re here to help make your job a little easier. Ride on some Galentine’s Day traditions by serving up some waffles, but not just any waffles: pink heart-shaped ones for all your gal pals! Just add a tiny bit of red food coloring to the batter and add the mix to a heart-shaped waffle press. Top off your finished work with a scoop (or two, we won’t tell) of strawberry ice cream and maple syrup.
If waffles aren’t really your thing, you can opt for some pita bread with a batch of beet hummus. This pink mix might sound a bit strange, but we promise it’s nothing short of delicious! Oh, and did we mention rosé?
Enjoy Galentine’s Day
However you decide to spend your Galentine’s Day – cheering on the game or hanging with your ladies – The Bouqs has your back! Our Galentine’s Day flowers are sure to make every February 13th even more special. And since our flowers are grown and cut to last, your ladies will be able to watch them keep blooming well after the day is over. So order some blooms, spend time with your friends, maybe watch some football, and cherish all that female friendship has to offer.
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