Christmas is great, Halloween is fun, and New Year’s Eve is overrated (I said what I said). But there's nothing better than getting all your BFFs together for a night filled with laughter, a bit of tea-spilling, bottles and bottles of vino, and endless amounts of food (of the junk variety, preferably).
Just ask the ultimate best friend: Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation, who first put Galentine's Day on the map. Yup, that’s right—the best fake holiday, typically celebrated on February 13th, was created by your fave fictional television character (during season 2, episode 16, for inquiring minds). Just when you thought the shining star of Pawnee, Indiana, couldn’t get any more iconic, amirite!?
Anyway, if you’re still stressing out about how to pull off a shindig this Valentine’s Day season...do not fret, my friend! All you gotta do is text the squad and let them know they’re absolutely booked on the 13th, which is a Tuesday this year, and I’ll do all the heavy lifting for ya.
Scroll down for a list of 20 fun and cute Galentine’s Day party ideas that you can totally pull off, no matter your creativity level. Try your hand at a few (or a lot!), and get ready to feel the love.
1. Get excited about a theme.
lululemon Brushed Cotton Merino Blend Crewneck
If you and your gals love a theme as much I do, sync up and dress for the occasion. Maybe you wanna go the traditional route and stick with a red and pink color scheme. Or maybe you wanna don matching pajamas for a comfy night in. Whatever it may be, just make sure to get a group pic before the end of the night.
2. Arrange your own flowers.
Putting together the perfect bouquet is literally an art form. This 17-piece kit has everything you and your friends will need to master it, including paddle wire, water tubes, garden shears, and four shades of green tape. Just have someone pick up some fresh flowers on the way to the party, and let the crafting commence!
3. Make fondue.
Ah, the ultimate crowd-pleaser: cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. If that’s not your vibe (or, you know, you're lactose intolerant), try melting some chocolate instead. Either way, this fondue set will be a smashing success at your Galentine’s get-together.
4. Plan a "my favorite things" product swap.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beautiful Skin Foundation
Kaja Love Swipe Lightweight Cushiony Lip Mousse
Danessa Myricks Beauty Dewy Cheek & Lip Palette
Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Rice Water Protein + Strengthening Treatment
If you've been on Tiktok in the past, I don't know, three years, you've def seen a "my favorite things" swap. Basically, everyone brings a few products they can't live without, and then shares with the group. You'll leave with a few things you're hyped to try, and the excitement of hearing what your friends think of your picks. See above for a few skincare and makeup products your friends would probably LOVE to take off your hands.
5. Pick a signature co*cktail.
We love a theme over here, which is why we have an entire (v extensive) list of cute Valentine's Day co*cktails ready for your perusal, which you can totally repurpose for the 13th. Oh, and a list of pink co*cktails, which are all so adorable. Pick your fave and batch it up ahead of time so you have a signature drink to serve throughout the night.
6. Invest in (themed, duh) balloons.
Blow these babies up and tape ’em over your bar cart or on a blank wall for a great photo backdrop! Your feed won't know what hit it.
7. Make personalized goodie bags.
If your love language is gift-giving, then you’ll be all over this. Grab some festive bags (totes are the best option, imho, because they’re easy to reuse!) and fill them up with things your friends like! Try to add personalized items you know each friend will be obsessed with to show them how much you care and listen.
8. Host an at-home mani-pedi night.
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit
Le Mini Macaron Gel Manicure Kit
Sure, you could pay a combined gazillion dollars at the nail salon for a mediocre time in which you might not even get to sit next to each other. Or! You could each pitch in just a few bucks to get a quality gel manicure kit that you can use at someone’s house (where you can share all the gossip undisturbed).
9. Have a bake-off.
There’s nothing like a friendly competition where everybody technically wins! (Unless you’re REALLY not good in the kitchen, lol.) Pick a recipe and see who makes the best-looking, best-tasting version of it. How cute would a heart-shaped cake be, though?!
10. Do a paint-and-sip night.
J MARK Art Canvas Paint Set Supplies
J MARK Art Canvas Paint Set Supplies
Grab a bottle (or seven) of your fave boozy drink, some paint supplies, and an image of something to replicate with your brush. Maybe something you all love, like a pizza? Or a portrait of Timmy Chalamet? Get creative!
11. Brunch. It. Up.
CucinaPro Heart Waffle Maker
There’s nothing like breakfast foods and mimosas at 12:30 p.m. to get the gals feeling fine. Celebrate one of the most love-filled holidays with some heart-shaped waffles, plus eggs, bacon, bagels, croissants, muffins, and whatever other morning treats your pals prefer. Pro tip: If you wanna go the extra mile, throw all le foods on a charcuterie platter and voilà! An Insta Story-worthy brunch board.
12. Get some karaoke mics.
BONAOK Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone
Fulfill your girl group dreams by jamming out to some of your favorite tunes with your BFFs. All you’ll need are some fun karaoke mics, a YouTube video with lyrics, and a hyped-up audience.
13. Assign everyone a Secret Cupid.
Coffee and Motivation Well Aren't You the sh*t Candle
Coffee and Motivation Well Aren't You the sh*t Candle
It’s like Secret Santa, but for G-Day. Everyone picks a name out of a hat and shows up to the party with a gift. Be sure to bring them a gift they will actually use—like this badass candle.
14. Just do all the face masks.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Mask Hydrating Gel
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Mask Hydrating Gel
If spilling hot goss with a mask plastered to your face is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Everyone can choose whichever kind they like, but I HIGHLY recommend this one, which will leave your face feeling hydrated as hell.
15. Play a game.
If you and your crew love a good roast, add this card game to your Galentine’s Day agenda. Players get to channel their inner Regina George by anonymously spilling tea about each other in an actual burn book. It probably goes without saying, buuut just fyi, this game is not for the faint of heart.
16. Organize a wine swap.
Everybody brings a wrapped bottle and picks a number. Number one picks any bottle, number two can steal that bottle or pick a new one. Repeat until everyone has a bottle. Oh, and only two steals are allowed per bottle. Everyone goes home with some vino they're excited to try—if you don’t pop them open before the night’s over, that is.
17. Watch a classic.
If ya wanna stay on brand, stream a movie about friendship. May I suggest Booksmart or The Cheetah Girls? To make the vibes even cozier, watch it from a movie projector!
18. Take Polaroids.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
Go old-school and document the night with a Polaroid cam. It's so fun to see how the photos turn out, and they can double as decor or party favors!
19. Eat heart-shaped pizza.
Besides being delicious, heart-shaped pizzas look adorbs and aren’t that hard to make. If you wanna get super extra, you can even make lil pepperoni hearts. (But if that doesn’t work out, Domino’s will always have your back.)
20. Hand out galentine cards.
StackPaperPress Happy Galentines Day Card (Set of 5)
StackPaperPress Happy Galentines Day Card (Set of 5)
Send each of your gals off with a note about why you love ’em so much (the cornier, the better). That’s what this day is all about, remember?
Hanna Flanagan
Hanna Flanagan is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, sharing her recommendations for everything from denim and eye creams to coffee mugs and silk sheets. Before joining Cosmopolitan, she wrote fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content at People (so, yes, she’s basically a professional product tester at this point). Follow her on Instagram for photos of Timothée Chalamet and #OOTD mirror pics.
Megan Uy
Associate Shopping Editor
Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don’t have to. When she’s not writing for the site, she’s whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She’s been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
Hannah Chubb
Lifestyle Editor
Hannah Chubb is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she can’t afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert in event planning and celebration, I can provide you with information and ideas related to the concepts mentioned in this article. I have extensive knowledge and experience in organizing parties and gatherings, and I can help you make your Galentine's Day celebration a memorable one.
Galentine's Day
Galentine's Day is a fictional holiday that was popularized by the character Leslie Knope from the TV show Parks and Recreation. It is typically celebrated on February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day. Galentine's Day is all about celebrating female friendships and showing appreciation for the important women in your life.
Party Ideas
- Theme: Choose a theme for your Galentine's Day party. You can go with a traditional red and pink color scheme or opt for matching pajamas for a cozy night in.
- Flower Arrangement: Arrange your own flowers using a floral arrangement kit. This allows you and your friends to get creative and personalize your bouquets.
- Fondue: Make fondue, either with cheese or chocolate. A fondue set can be a great addition to your party and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
- Product Swap: Plan a "my favorite things" product swap. Each person brings a few products they love and shares them with the group. It's a fun way to discover new items and get recommendations from your friends.
- Signature co*cktail: Choose a signature co*cktail for the evening. You can find a variety of Valentine's Day co*cktail recipes online and prepare them in advance.
- Balloons: Invest in themed balloons to create a festive atmosphere. You can use them as decorations or as a backdrop for photos.
- Goodie Bags: Prepare personalized goodie bags for your friends. Fill them with items that each person will appreciate and enjoy.
- Mani-Pedi Night: Host an at-home mani-pedi night. Invest in a gel manicure kit and enjoy some pampering with your friends.
- Bake-Off: Organize a bake-off and see who can make the best-looking and best-tasting dish. Heart-shaped cakes or cookies can be a cute and delicious option.
- Paint-and-Sip Night: Have a paint-and-sip night where you and your friends can create artwork while enjoying your favorite drinks. Choose a fun image to replicate or get creative with your own designs.
- Brunch: Celebrate with a Galentine's Day brunch. Serve heart-shaped waffles and a variety of breakfast treats. Consider creating a charcuterie platter for an Instagram-worthy display.
- Karaoke: Fulfill your girl group dreams by having a karaoke night. Use karaoke mics and sing along to your favorite songs.
- Secret Cupid: Organize a Secret Cupid gift exchange. Each person picks a name out of a hat and brings a gift for their assigned person.
- Face Masks: Have a face mask party. Each person can choose their favorite mask, and you can enjoy some quality time together while pampering your skin.
- Game Night: Play a game that everyone will enjoy. Consider the Mean Girls Burn Book Card Game for a fun and lighthearted activity.
- Wine Swap: Arrange a wine swap where everyone brings a wrapped bottle and takes turns choosing or stealing bottles. This ensures that everyone goes home with a bottle they're excited to try.
- Movie Night: Watch a classic movie about friendship. Consider streaming movies like Booksmart or The Cheetah Girls. Enhance the experience by using a mini projector.
- Polaroids: Capture the memories with a Polaroid camera. Take instant photos throughout the night, and the pictures can also serve as party favors or decorations.
- Heart-Shaped Pizza: Make or order heart-shaped pizzas for a delicious and festive meal. You can even get creative with pepperoni hearts.
- Galentine Cards: Hand out Galentine cards to each of your friends. Write personalized notes expressing your love and appreciation for them.
These ideas will help you plan a fun and memorable Galentine's Day celebration with your BFFs. Enjoy the festivities and cherish the special bond you share with your friends!
