Christmas is great, Halloween is fun, and New Year’s Eve is...ideal for those who thrive in glitter. But real ones know there's nothing better than getting your BFFs together for a night of laughter, tea-spilling, vino, and endless amounts of food (of the junk variety, preferably).
Just ask the ultimate best friend: Leslie Knope from 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, if you want to watch for proof). Just when you thought the shining star of Pawnee couldn’t get any more iconic, right!?
Anyway, if you’re thinking about texting the squad and inviting them over for a platonic-love-inspired shindig, you've come to the right place. I went ahead and put together this list of 32 cute (and actually fun!) Galentine’s Day party ideas that you can totally pull off, no matter your creativity level. Go ahead and try your hand at a few, and get ready to feel allll the feels.
1. Get excited about a theme.
If you and your girlies love a theme, 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'd prefer to 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.
Cozy Earth Perfect Match Stretch-Knit Long Sleeve Pajama Set
2. Arrange your own flowers.
Putting together the perfect bouquet is an art form, so put on your beret. Stock up on some paddle wire, water tubes, garden shears, green tape, and, of course, fresh flowers, then let the crafting commence.
3. Make fondue.
The ultimate crowd-pleaser: cheese. Of the gooey variety. If that’s not your vibe (or you're lactose intolerant), try melting some chocolate instead. Either way, you can't go wrong.
4. Plan a "favorite things" product swap.
If you've been on TikTok in the past, I don't know, four years, you've definitely come across a favorite things swap video. Basically, everyone at the party brings a few products they can't live without, and then shares with the group. You'll leave with some items you're hyped to try, and the excitement of hearing what your friends think of your picks. See below for a few beauty products your friends would probably LOVE to take off your hands.
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Beautiful Skin Foundation
Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Rice Water Protein + Strengthening Treatment
5. Pick a signature cocktail.
We take beverages seriously over here, which is why we have an entire (very extensive) list of cute Valentine's Day mocktails and cocktails ready for your perusal, which you can totally repurpose for the 13th. Oh, and a list of pink cocktails, too, which are also on theme. 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 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 treats. 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.
Sure, you could pay a combined gazillion dollars at the nail salon for a mediocre mani during 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 home, where you can gossip undisturbed.
9. Have a bake-off.
There’s nothing like a little friendly competition where everybody technically wins! 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.
Grab a bottle (or seven) of your favorite 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.
There’s nothing like breakfast food and mimosas to get the gals feeling fine. Celebrate the love holiday 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 everything on a charcuterie platter and call it a brunch board.
12. Get some karaoke mics.
Fulfill your girl group dreams by belting your favorite tunes with your BFFs. All you’ll need are some karaoke mics, a YouTube video with lyrics, and a hyped-up audience.
13. Assign everyone a Secret Cupid.
The concept? Secret Santa, but for G-Day. Everyone picks a name out of a hat and shows up to the party with a gift for whoever they choose. Be sure to make a budget that everyone feels comfortable sticking within!
14. Just do all the face masks.
If spilling hot goss with a mask plastered to your face is wrong, I don’t want to be right. If you're looking for recommendations, I solemnly swear that this one from Peter Thomas Roth will leave your face feeling hydrated as hell.
15. Play a game.
Love roasting your friends? Add the card game below 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, but just FYI, this game is not for the faint of heart (or weak friendships).
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 wine in hand. (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 the corks before the night’s over, that is.
17. Watch a classic.
If you 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 (outside is best, if the weather is nice enough where you live!).
18. Take Polaroids.
Go old-school and document the night with a Polaroid camera. It's so fun to see how the photos turn out, and they double as decor and party favors!
19. Eat heart-shaped pizza.
Besides being delicious, heart-shaped pizzas look adorable and aren’t that hard to make. If you wanna get super extra, you can even cut your pepperonis into hearts. (But if that doesn’t work out, Domino’s will always have your back.)
20. Hand out Galentine's cards.
Send each of your gals off with a note about why you love ’em so much (the gushier, the better). That’s what this day is all about, remember?
21. Have a pie-eating contest.
Does this give county fair vibes? Absolutely. In this case though, when I say "pie" I just mean a plate of whipped cream. And what's even better with this version is that you can make it boozy by using a can of Cardi B's Whipshots (see below!).
22. Set up a photoshoot.
Immortalize your epic Galentine's Day with pics that will leave y'all cheesing for months to come. You can go over-the-top with ring lights, tripods, full backdrops, and fire 'fits, or low-key with silly props and a good old iPhone.
23. Throw a pajama jam.
Pick a color of PJs to wear so everyone can coordinate, then make a list of all the classic sleepover activities. You know: snacks, games, gossip, pillow fights (jk, no one actually does that, right?), and staying up way too late. If you really want to be Host of the Year, give your girls a cute little welcome gift bag of essentials, like eye masks, hair ties, and cozy socks.
24. Compete in a cocktail-making contest.
It's simple: each friend brings ingredients to make and then serve everyone in the group a mini, on-theme cocktail (again, inspo here). If you wanna cheat and go low effort (kind of like that one person you dated 🫠), use your favorite bottled cocktail. No one will ever know.
25. Manifest by making some vision boards.
Repurpose all the old mags you have lying around, or print off a few pics from Pinterest, then get to envisioning your best life. Hit a dollar store to grab some poster board, glue sticks, scissors, and whatever else you need to cut and paste your dreams into reality.
26. Make friendship bracelets.
Taylor would be so proud. Choose words that remind you of your besties, then get to beading. After you exchange the bracelets, share why you chose those words and watch everyone's hearts explode with love.
27. Get your bodies moving.
Whether you head to a group pilates class, hit up a hiking trail, or try your hand at pickleball, throwing on your cutest workout set and being active with your besties is always a good idea.
28. Give lectures in a Powerpoint party.
Trust me, this won't feel like a painful class presentation. The only requirement here is that you have to be passionate about your topic! So, prepare for monologues on everything from Beyoncé to the supremacy of French press coffee. If you need some Powerpoint theme inspiration, we gotchu.
29. Get crafty.
Into sewing? Crocheting? Really anything that requires nimble fingers? Invite your friends over for a little craft circle, then exchange your creations as tokens of love!
30. Be fancy ladies at high tea.
You can either go out somewhere that serves high tea, or put together your own romantic setup at home. Either way, make sure your fascinators are on tight and your pinkies remain up.
31. Thrift each other's closets.
Accessories! Clothes! Shoes! Outwear! It's all fair game! Just bring big bags to take home all your new-to-you gems.
32. DIY some candles.
Everyone loves candles. These are the facts. Another fact: Burning them will feel even more special when you have the memories of making them by hand with your besties.
