There’s never been a better time to celebrate love. And, this year, there’s no reason to leave the fun of a Valentine’s party just to the kids.
“I’m seeing an increase in interest in Valentine’s Day parties,” says Courtney Lutkus, owner ofSimply Radiant Events, a Southern California event planning and design company. “People want to get together with their friends.”
Whether you’d enjoy hosting a romantic gathering of some of your best couple friends or a fun “Galentine” get-together with your besties, we’ve gathered some ideas to help you pull off a memorable event.
How to decorate
Your first step in planning a Valentine’s party, Lutkus says, is seeing what you already have in your home that will work for decorations. “Don’t stress about the idea that you have to go out and buy a lot of new things,” she says. “Chances are that you already have a lot of things that will work for your party.”
I’m definitely seeing an increase in interest in Valentine’s Day parties. People want to get together with their friends.”
Courtney Lutkus
Owner, Simply Radiant Events
For example, although red and pink are the traditional colors for Valentine’s, you don’t need to overdo that color scheme. Lutkus says to use red and pink as accents with your white table linens or black furniture.
Similarly, if you choose to decorate withflowersand balloons, you can achieve an elegant look by adding one red one to your bunch of whites. We love thisFields of Europe® Blissbouquet, which features bright red roses and carnations set among white lilies and baby’s breath.
Staying with the flowers theme, rose petals are great for giving a romantic touch to your party décor, Lutkus says. You can sprinkle them on your serving table or even place them inside your ice cube trays before putting them in the freezer.
Depending on the mood you wish to set, litcandlesadd a lovely touch to a nighttime party. Or consider draping some mini-lights to create a warm glow throughout your party area.
What to serve
Decadentchocolate treatsand Valentine’s just seem to go hand in hand. (And we’ve heard that calories from V-Day treats don’t count!) One enticing option Lutkus suggests is renting a chocolate fountain. Other ideas that add beauty and sweet temptation to your party table are lusciouschocolate-covered strawberries or these almost-too-pretty-to-eatpetit fours.
Here are some other ideas for spreading the love on your refreshment table.
- Use this bouquet ofLong Stemmed Buttercream Frosted Cookie Flowersas a centerpiece. We bet it won’t last long.
- Sprinkle an assortment of candy conversation hearts and chocolate kisses in and around your serving dishes.
- Mix up a delicious pink punch of pink lemonade, pineapple juice, and lemon-lime soda, offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Add some of those rose petal ice cubes to make it look extra special. (And once the cubes melt in your drink,you can even eat them!)
- Go wild with heart-shaped treats, such as heart-shaped pizza, heart-shaped finger sandwiches,and heart-shaped cookies and brownies.
- Set out some delicious popcornpacked in bright red tins to keep your guests happily munching.
“Charcuterie boards are very popular,” Lutkus notes. Cut your meats, cheeses, or fruit into heart shapes to add a festive touch. Or offer your guests gourmet snacks on aHeart-Shaped Charcuterie and Cheese Tray.
Valentine’s Day party activities
Just as your decorations can double as your refreshments, your refreshments can serve as your party activities. Here are some ideas for food- and non-food-related fun.
Hot chocolate bar
Allow your guests to create their own hot beverage concoctions. Arrange the fixings (sprinkles, marshmallows, crushed peppermints, whipped cream, etc.) in colorful containers, and you’ve got a fun focal point and party activity in one fell swoop.
DIY cupcakes or cookies
You: Prebake some yummy red velvet cupcakes or heart-shaped sugar cookies. Your guests: Frost and decorate said teats. Everyone: Enjoy! (ThisCut-out Cookie Dough and Buttercream Frosting Setis a great way to get started.)
Cookie swap
This idea works well at Christmastime, so why not continue the fun in February? (Apparently, there’s a day that combines the two holidays.) Ask each guest to bring at least a dozen of their favorite Valentine’s cookies, and then have them trade for the ones they fancy. You could also use this idea for candy or brownies.
Mystery crush
This activity is modeled after the White Elephant game. Invite guests to bring a wrapped Valentine-themed gift. (You can set a dollar limit if you like.) Then, each person gets to choose the mystery gift of their choice. Steals are allowed!
Flower arranging
Lutkus says flower arranging can be part of the fun. too. Give each guest a vase, an assortment of flowers, and some expert instruction on flower arranging. The results can serve as gorgeous party decorations, and, when the party’s over, guests can take the fruit of their labors home with them. A twist on this idea is to make heart-shaped wreaths of flowers instead of bouquets.
Photo booth
A Valentine’s photo booth is an enjoyable party activity as well as an attractive focal point. A solid white or red background accented with balloons and paper heart garlands of contrasting colors will really make the photos pop. If you use an instant camera, your friends can take their photos home as a keepsake.
And don’t forget goodie bags! They’re not just for kids, you know.
Some of the ideas we’ve already suggested work well as favors. Here are some others.
- Fill small red bags with assortedcandies,nuts, dried fruit,chocolates, and other small treats.
- Send each guest home with an individually wrapped hand-dippedValentine’s Day Crispy Rice Bite.
- Show gratitude to your friends for coming to your party with a Cards With Pop box of popcorn.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an event planning and design expert, I can provide you with information related to the concepts mentioned in the article about hosting a Valentine's party. Let's dive into the details!
Decorating for a Valentine's Party
When it comes to decorating for a Valentine's party, you don't need to stress about buying new things. Look around your home and see what you already have that can work as decorations. Red and pink are traditional colors for Valentine's, but you can use them as accents with white table linens or black furniture. Consider using flowers and balloons to create an elegant look. For example, you can add one red flower to a bunch of white flowers. Rose petals can also add a romantic touch to your party décor. Sprinkle them on your serving table or freeze them in ice cube trays to use in drinks. Candles and mini-lights can create a warm and cozy atmosphere for a nighttime party.
Food and Refreshments
Decadent chocolate treats are a must-have for a Valentine's party. Consider renting a chocolate fountain or serving chocolate-covered strawberries and petit fours. You can also create a pink punch using pink lemonade, pineapple juice, and lemon-lime soda. Add rose petal ice cubes to make it look extra special. Heart-shaped treats like pizza, finger sandwiches, cookies, and brownies can add a festive touch to your refreshment table. Charcuterie boards are also popular, and you can cut meats, cheeses, or fruit into heart shapes to add a festive touch.
Party Activities
To keep your guests entertained, you can incorporate various activities into your Valentine's party. Here are some ideas:
- Hot chocolate bar: Set up a station where guests can create their own hot beverage concoctions using sprinkles, marshmallows, crushed peppermints, whipped cream, and more.
- DIY cupcakes or cookies: Prebake red velvet cupcakes or heart-shaped sugar cookies and let your guests frost and decorate them.
- Cookie swap: Ask each guest to bring a dozen of their favorite Valentine's cookies and have them trade for the ones they fancy.
- Mystery crush: Similar to the White Elephant game, invite guests to bring a wrapped Valentine-themed gift and let them choose mystery gifts.
- Flower arranging: Provide guests with vases, an assortment of flowers, and expert instruction on flower arranging. The results can serve as gorgeous party decorations.
- Photo booth: Set up a Valentine's-themed photo booth with a solid white or red background, balloons, and paper heart garlands. Guests can take instant photos home as keepsakes.
Goodie Bags
Don't forget to send your guests home with goodie bags! Here are some ideas for favors:
- Fill small red bags with assorted candies, nuts, dried fruit, chocolates, and other small treats.
- Individually wrap hand-dipped Valentine's Day Crispy Rice Bites as a sweet treat.
- Show gratitude to your friends with a Cards With Pop box of popcorn.
Remember, the most important thing is to create a memorable and enjoyable experience for your guests. Have fun planning your Valentine's party!