10 Tips for the Ultimate Galentine’s Party
February is the month of love and while some may voice their detestation for Valentine's day, here at Efflorescence Events, we secretly love all the cheesiness and the excuse to eat large amounts of chocolate!
The month of February is a big month for us here at Efflorescence Events, as we are meeting clients and finalizing details with our future brides. So exciting! It is also the month our very own V celebrates her birthday. This year, (to her dismay) she is turning the big 3-0 the day before Valentine’s Day and this year is no exception for making it BIG!
We are starting off this month of celebration by sharing with you our top ten tips on how to host a flawless Valentine’s Day party. Also referred to as a Galentine’s party because let’s face it, trying to convince our significant others to come to these ultra feminine, pink, sparkly, champagne filled events is a hard no. A Galentine’s Day party is a fun excuse to get together with your girlfriends and drink lots of rosé and eat dessert. Hence why our number one tip is…
Photography by Katerina Georgalos
1. Rosé champagne always!
No Valentine’s Day party is complete without plenty of rosé champagne for the guests. You can place mini sparkling bottles at each place setting or serve up a signature drink using a bar cart with a selection of fresh berries and edible gold ice cubes.
2. Pick a food theme
Do you prefer a boozy brunch, a bougie tea and dessert, or a lavish soirée? Whatever you choose, stick to it and embrace it! There are plenty of menu options on Pinterest or by our favourite (and hopefully one day, gal pal) Martha Stewart.
3. Add some fresh or faux flowers
Adding fresh flowers from the market or silk bouquets from the craft store will make the table bright and feminine. You can always mix a ton of different pinks or add in red as a pop of color. For our party we opted for both and used a simple vase to let the flowers shine through the decor.
4. Set your table the night before
This tip is important for any party you host. Prepping your table may take time to ensure that it is perfect for your guests. That is why, prepping it and playing around with the place setting the night before will save you a lot of time the day of. Time is of the essence and nobody likes a stressed out and last-minute host!!
5. Prep most of your food items the night before
Cut your fruits and veggies, make your vinaigrette, mix in your batters, signature drink the night before the party. This allows you to have time to pamper yourself before your guests arrive and to have time to mingle with your friends upon their arrival. Nobody likes a host who is stuck in the kitchen!
"A party without cake is just a meeting" - Julia Child
6. Let them eat CAKE
Julia Child said it herself, “A party without cake is just a meeting”. Small or big, box mix or not, serve up a decadent chocolate or sweet vanilla cake with a fresh berry coulis (or fresh cut berries for those who like to keep it simple!). Your girlfriends will feel like it’s a special occasion because let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is an occasion and who doesn’t love cake?!
Note: we opted for a donut cake as a budget-friendly and time-friendly option.
7. Zero waste dinnerware
When hosting any party, keep in mind waste. For small parties like this one you can easily set your table with your current flatware, dinner plates and glassware to place everything in the dishwasher for an easy cleanup!
Be sure to have goodie paper bags for dessert and compostable containers for food, so your friends can go home with leftovers. Any leftovers can be kept for yourself or your SO who will easily devour them while binge watching Netflix.
Hosting a large group of friends? We found a large selection of cost-friendly options to choose from Amazon.ca. After the event is over, any flowers or compostable dinnerware can easily be composted for your local city to pick up.
8. Don’t be afraid of color
Valentine’s Day is a day of love, so don’t be afraid to bring out all the pink and red you have. You can avoid going overboard by keeping it simple with a white tablecloth and dinnerware. Make your florals and decor items stand out. Tie in the colour theme with either gold or silver flatware.
9. Budget friendly decor items
You’d be surprised what your local dollar store and craft store have for seasonal occasions. Although the dollar store no longer has everything at a dollar (tisk tisk), you can pick up some cute items for under four bucks. We were so excited to find the “I love you” DIY balloon garland (above our dessert table), heart garlands (for the bar cart) and the heart-shaped dishes at our local dollar store. Talk about a steal!
10. Have fun!
Have fun with the decor, food and your friends. Remember, hosting doesn’t have to be complicated, your friends are just happy to spend time together. If you make lists and prepare in advance, you’ll enjoy the party just as much as your guests.
Whether it is for a Galentine’s party or just a fun soirée, you can apply these tips to any party you host. And if you need that special touch to your events and floral decor, we’ve got you covered! ;)
With love always,
F&V
Photogrpahy by Katerina Georgalos
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