If you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day, first of all, amazing. Don’t listen to the marketing hype that says you need to find a date before February 14th. You can celebrate yourself and all the love in your life, with the help of your amazing girlfriends. Best of all, a Galentine’s Day celebration doesn’t have to be expensive to be memorable.
Especially now, as we head into the third year of the pandemic, friendship and community are more important than ever, says Leah Weinberg, the owner and creative director of Color Pop Events.
“There is no better way to gather your girlfriends and share in some much-needed girl time than with a Galentine’s Day party,” she says. “Imagine how amazing your friends will feel if you host this Galentine’s Day party and give them a space to gather, connect, and experience joy for a day.”
Here’s our guide to planning a Galentine’s Day you won’t forget — all while keeping to a budget that will really make your heart (and wallet) happy.
Host a themed tea party
Alcohol can get expensive fast, and many of us who were doing dry January are keeping that trend going into February, anyway. So, why not consider hosting a themed high-tea party, complete with scrumptious bites and pastries. “From cucumber sandwiches to mini petit fours, you can’t go wrong,” says event planner Jaclyn Watson. To keep costs down, consider asking each attendee to bring their own appetizer. And don’t forget, the English dress-up for high tea — so pull out those fancy dresses and hats. (We’ve all been dying for an excuse to get dressed up!)
Choose the potluck route
No matter what kind of party you host, don’t feel pressured to supply everything as a host. Weinberg says to lessen the financial burden on the host of the Galentine’s Day celebration, make it a potluck event.
“Have each attendee bring their favorite dish and a bottle of their favorite wine, to have everyone contribute a little something financially,” she continues. “Also, food is often how people show love, so ask everyone to prepare a dish to share with their nearest and dearest. That’s nourishment on so many levels.”
Consider a paint-and-sip approach
Exercising your creative side is a powerful way to explore how you’re feeling and what matters the most to you. Plus, it’s also a fun and inexpensive way to create a lasting memory with your girlfriends. You can pay for a class at a paint-and-sip studio that offers these classes for anywhere from $20 a person to $40 a person, or you can grab your own canvases, some inexpensive paint, throw down some newspapers, and do it yourself, right from the comfort of your living room. (See potluck, above, for how to feel all your lovely ladies.) Art projects can be a fun and inexpensive way to create a lasting memory with your gal pals on Galentine’s Day, Watson says.
Have a spa retreat at home
If a dreamy spa day is a little too expensive, consider creating your own DIY experience at home for you and your friends. Start by choosing someone’s home, then dive in with the planning, Watson suggests. There can be wine tasting, vision boards, manicures, and discussions of the goals you met in the last year — and the ones you have for 2022 and beyond. It can be a Galentine’s Day experience that celebrates everything you are, and you might be surprised how the conversations help you get to know your BFFs even better than before.
For gifts, try a swap
No, gifts absolutely aren’t necessary for a Galentine’s Day party. However, if you want to make presents part of the celebration, you can stay on budget by offering some alternatives to buying a gift for everyone, says Lauren Anastasio, the director of financial advice at Stash.
“Suggest a wine or chocolate swap where everyone brings a bottle of vino or box of their favorite sweets, and you can open them white-elephant style,” she continues. “Alternatively, you can do a secret-cupid style gift exchange, so everyone has the opportunity to receive something a little more personal without buying for the whole group.”
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