Galentine’s Day reminds us of our strong, constant friendships. Yes, love is in the air – the love of sisterhood, girlhood, womanhood. I, for one, am incredibly grateful that the priority of this holiday has shifted to include the loving bonds of friends, sisters, and mothers, and the beautiful ways that women are able to celebrate each other.
For those of you taking on the invaluable task of organizing this year’s Galentine’s Day festivities for your friend group or roommates, I have compiled a list of potential themes. Use them directly as they are described, make them your own, use them as a springboard for your own imagination; no matter how you use them, cherish the memories you make with them.
1. CUPID’S COWGIRLS
Remember when everyone was obsessed with the coastal cowgirl aesthetic (I can’t lie, I still am)? Why not keep that going? Maybe you’ve seen this idea picking up steam on TikTok, but here’s my spin on it. This theme seems to carry an inherent romanticism that is perfect for adapting to Galentine’s, and I am of the opinion that a theme like this works best with a touch of vintage flair. For outfit and decor inspiration, imagine vintage heart-shaped lockets, flirty embossed leather accessories, lacy doilies, rose bouquets, handwritten letters, vintage glassware, hand-painted floral place settings, puffed sleeve ruched dresses, GINGHAM. Challenge yourself and your guests to learn a line dance or two! Try your hand at creating a gorgeous frilly Pinterest-style cake. There is so much to draw from to recreate this theme in your own style, both in current trend culture and actual history, so you should have no problem making this party memorable and unique.
2. CUPID’S BOW AND ARROW
Drawing on traditional Valentine’s Day iconography, this theme is a personal favorite of mine. If TikTok has done anything these past months, it has unlocked our urge to adorn everything in sight with bows. Use this theme to experiment with fabrics, textures, and colors. Of course, bows will be the headlining wall and table decor, but take it a step further. Tie bows around the stems of your glasses, around candlesticks, and even around flatware (perhaps take them off when it actually comes time to eat).
The dress code: bows/hair ribbons, bow detailing, tie-back dresses, lace-up heels. For the truly ambitious, perhaps you want to level up to a dinner party, incorporating as much bow-shaped food as you can. If you’re feeling simple, a bow-tie pasta dish. If you’re feeling fancy, try a fettuccine dish or a shaved cucumber salad, topped with a few noodles/shavings tied into bows. Of course, we can’t forget about the other half of this theme – the arrow, the iconic matchmaking apparatus. It imparts desire and manifests intense longing, however not for a romantic partner in this case. Picture this: skewers, heart-shaped marshmallows dipped in chocolate fondue to represent an arrow piercing a lovestruck heart. Kebabs and skewered appetizers round out the rest of the food prep. There may not be a mythical, winged matchmaker orchestrating the party, but everyone will fall in love with it.
3. the SLEEPOVER
At some point in our childhood, we all fantasized about experiencing the most epic sleepover the world had ever seen. Whether you wanted to host or attend, what was more enticing than the royal slumber party in Princess Diaries 2, or Blair Waldorf’s annual sleepover? Use this Galentine’s Day to bring that dream to fruition, but don’t forget about the incredibly sentimental value of this holiday. Let this party become a festival of acts of service, a perfect Barbie-esque world of endless compliments and favors. Make snack plates and dessert bowls for each other, treat each other to good old-fashioned mani-pedis (I know we’re probably used to a more professional standard of quality for our nails now, but it’s the thought that counts, right?), did someone mention a massage circle? Attire is simple: your most adorable, comfortable pajamas, whatever that looks like to you. Whether or not this party turns into an actual sleepover is up to the hostess (or if this is a roommate affair, then of course it will), but remember the potential for an incredible after-party: breakfast!
4. DREAMING OF STRAWBERRY FIELDS
I can think of no sweeter way to express affection than a confection, and girls who bake together, stay together. Strawberries lend themselves perfectly as a central ingredient to this theme. A cross-section of a strawberry resembles a heart, which makes for the perfect filling in individual heart-shaped pastries. On a grander scale, you could make a full-sized heart-shaped strawberry galette. Strawberry cupcakes are to die for and are so fun to decorate as a group activity. Chocolate-covered strawberries are an obvious addition and make a great snack to eat while preparing your other desserts. Feel free to make or provide whatever beverage you like, but please consider the Trader Joe’s Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade. The vibe of this party could range anywhere from a picnic tea party to a lighthearted competition à la Great British Bake Off. And while entirely unnecessary, this is one theme where I think it would be adorable for everyone to go in on matching fits. Matching strawberry pajamas, even just a cute strawberry tank top or baby tee, would make for the cutest pictures. And then not only do you have a fun keepsake, but new, re-wearable clothes. One note on this theme, it is possible that someone may not like strawberries (insane, I know) or they could be allergic. Feel free to use any fruit you’d like, I’m partial to raspberries or cherries.
5. GOOD EVENING UPPER EAST SIDERS… XOXO, GALENTINE’S
If you’ve been reading this list, looking for something a bit more elevated and glamorous, your prayers have been answered. This is a headline-making red carpet event, with a full paparazzi lineup, guests of honor, and a star-studded after-party. Well, not really. It’s a cool backdrop on your wall and a red rug on your floor and your friends with digital cameras, but it will look so, so good on your Instagram. Whether you gravitate more towards Serena or Blair, bask in the glory of their iconic eras of genuine society-defining friendship, and let this party be an opportunity to live the NYC nightlife dream. Elaborate cocktails (please drink legally and responsibly, this isn’t actually Gossip Girl), stunning dresses, glittery and metallic eye looks, lights, camera, action, and a playlist to rival the trendiest club of early 2010s New York, all make for a truly unforgettable evening… up until the after party.
Have so much fun this Galentine’s Day, be safe, and let your friends know how much they mean to you!