Yahoo Lifestyle 35 Ideas That Will Make Your Valentine’s Day Party Worthy of the ’Gram
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Wanna know my two cents that no one asked for? Here is it: Valentine’s Day parties are vastly underrated. Birthdays and bachelorette celebrations get all the love—and for good reason—but I'd like to make a case for us all to reclaim Valentine's Day parties as the legendary soirees they are instead of relegating them to an elementary classroom. I mean, yes, is a romantic dinner for two at a hard-to-get-into restaurant a total vibe? Ofc! But throwing a fun brunch or tea party (or whatever you want!) with your entire friend group is also just as much of a ~moment~. You can go all out with decorations, give each other homemade valentines, and throw in a few themed cocktails too. Truly, the options are endless! After all, V-Day is a time to celebrate all love—which is def an excuse to have a party with your BFFs. (Your boo can come too, of course.)
The hidden bonus about all this? Valentine’s Day is such an aesthetically pleasing holiday. There’s the red and the pink and the chocolate and a very good reason to bring back rosé season early. It’s time to embrace the cheesy, lovey-dovey feels and put these 37 snazzy Valentine’s Day party ideas to good use. Go ahead and scroll through for some fun party-planning tips that will make your V-Day bash the soiree that rivals any other that pops up on the newsfeed.
1. Send some sexy-ass invites.
Yes, yes, I know. Partiful is right there. And I respect it! But I also support it if you want to be a tad bit extra to get your friends extra pumped for your festive event. How so, you ask? Well, you could go the snail-mail route—there's something so sweet about an old school, IRL invite. Or if you’re looking for something more immediate, then a perfectly designed digital card sent straight to their texts would be just as much of a moment.
Espresso Tini Valentine's Day Invitation
Ribbons and Bows Valentine's Day Invite
2. Plan a fun party game.
Yes, talking sh*t is a sport, but change things up with this card game that might make you laugh so hard you pee a little.
Red Flags: The Game of Terrible Dates
3. Get the drinks ready.
You can either make an easy Valentine’s Day cocktail for your party guests, or keep it simple and just grab yourself a nice bottle of whiskey, wine, or alcohol-free spirits. (Yes, those exist!)
Tennessee Whiskey
Cucumber Jalapeño Tequila
Rosé 2020
African Rose Gin
4. Prep a cute lil craft.
All good soirees have a fun activity—which can totally mean doing a V-Day craft. (They’re not just for kids, okay?) Make each other some DIY cards! Once cocktails get passed around, people are bound to get creative.
DIY Charm-Bracelet-Making Kit
300 Paper Die-Cut Hearts
5. Set up a romantic movie room.
For guests who just want a moment away from the chatter (or couples who want a sec to snug), a movie room is the perf addition to any party. Throw on a romantic film, get all snuggly in V-Day-themed pillows and blankets, and give the partygoers a place to relax. And lots of popcorn and snacks, of course.
Bow Trellis Ruffle Heart Pillow
Theater-Style Popcorn Popper Machine
Faux Fur Koda Hearts Throw
6. Do some fortune telling.
Friends of any relationship status can enjoy this gorgeously illustrated deck of future-revealing tarot cards. (Or amp up the ~sexy vibes~ with an erotically themed deck instead.)
The Cosmo Tarot: The Ultimate Deck and Guidebook
Erotic Tarot of Manara
The Modern Witch Tarot Deck
Materia Prima Tarot Cards
7. Set up a DIY photo booth.
Now’s the time to use that random spare wall in your apartment. Set up an Insta-worthy backdrop by covering a wall with glitter-foil and other festive items. Order some uh-mazing on-brand props and balloons, and snap and share.
“Love” Balloon
Party Photo Backdrop
3 Pack Felt Heart Garland Banner
8. Come dressed on theme.
I’m not saying you gotta show up to your own party dressed in lingerie—but I’m certainly not stopping you if you feel like wearing something a lil special under your party clothes. Aside from lace frills and strappy garments, there’s a slew of other V-Day-themed ’fits you could get all gussied up in.
Kimono
Cotton Essentials Bralette
Satin Long PJ Set
Candy Hearts Dotted Mesh Halter Crop Cami
Cap-Sleeve Strappy Babydoll
Petite Heart Print Frill Hem PJ Short Set
Plus Red D-Ring Detail Thigh Split Satin Nightie
$17.00 at prettylittlething.us
CLF Fluff’d Up Slippers
9. Seal your party favors with a kiss.
After the party, you could send everyone a quick thank-you text. Or you could get really cute with it and mail each attendee a sweet postcard, complete with a very Valentine’s Day lipstick print right next to your signature.
Major Beauty Headlines Matte Suede Lipstick
Retro Matte Lipstick
Contour & Strobe Liquid Lip Set
Mini Divine Rose Lip Set Trio
Be Legendary Matte Lipstick
Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick
Blank Cards Ready For Smacking
Black Magic Carnival Metallic Lipstick in Trinidad
Blank Plain White 4x6 Postcards
All Day Liquid Lipstick
10. Have a little spa day.
Self-love is the best kind of love. So why not give your party a "treat yourself" theme and curate a relaxing mini oasis? Set up a mani/pedi station, have a massage gun ready, and maybe even light some candles to *really* set the scene.
Parachute Home Classic Bathrobe
Serenity Silk Sleep Mask
11. Do a "secret cupid" gift exchange.
Gift swap parties shouldn't be reserved for December! Have your guests bring a small token that falls under an agreed-upon price limit. Then, once your guests arrive, put everyone's name in a hat, and whoever you draw gets your present!
12. Bake and decorate!
This is the holiday where people with a sweet tooth thrive. Exactly why it's the perfect opportunity for a baking party. If you don't want to bake something from scratch, you could opt to decorate pre-made cookies, or ice some cupcakes instead.
Heart Cupcake Mold Tray
Valentine's Day Heart Cookie Cutter Set
Valentine's Day Baking Decoration
13. Host a classy dinner party.
Obviously "dinner for two" is the most steadily established V-Day idea of all time. Let's take it up a notch with "dinner for [insert # of invitees here]." Design a cute menu, create a Valentine's Day-themed tablescape, and make sure you tell your guests to dress to impress. This will make for a great photo op and IRL experience.
Cast Iron Heart Shaped Dutch Oven
Lips Pitcher
It's Raining Confetti Coupe Glasses, Set of 4
French Perle Scallop Blush 12-Piece Dinnerware Set
14. Make flower bouquets.
Sure, receiving a bouquet is "nice" and all (OK, it's actually really cute and I get emotional every time, I can't even downplay it), but making bouquets with your friends? New levels of all the feels, truly. Plus, it's an engaging party activity with a gorgeous outcome! For your stem supply, have everyone bring a bouquet of a specific type of flowers so that they can add them to the main pile. Make sure to have butcher paper and cute ribbons present as well!
15. Create candles together.
This is another cool, creative endeavor for your group. Just order a couple of candle-making kits and V-Day decor! At the end, you and your guests will have sweet-smelling candles ready to use on your own or gift to a loved one.
16. Make slideshow presentations.
"Powerpoint nights" have become such a thing and for a good reason. Everyone comes with a hilarious presentation on a specific subject prepared, and in the spirit of V-Day, your subject should be about anything you love. Can be family, friends, your boo, or that one to-die-for meal you had that one time. The whackier, the absolute better.
17. Do a wine swap.
Here's a low-stakes activity that will get the party going. Have everyone bring their favorite bottle and wrap it up nicely, then place it on a table as they arrive. From there, every guest can pick a random bottle to keep (or pop open then and there, because why the hell not?).
18. Have a fun sleepover.
The party should never end! Embrace your inner giggly teen and turn the shindig into an overnight affair. Make the dress code matching PJs to really take things a step further.
19. Write platonic love letters.
Corny? Yes. Heartwarming? Yes—with emphasis. Penning each other professions of love on cute stationery is the perfect way to honor both your friends and the season. Extra points if you've got anyone with cool calligraphy skills in your group.
20. Whip up a few on-theme bevvies.
Sure, you can have regular ol' cocktails during your V-Day cele, but that would be a bit of a snooze fest. Shake things up with a delicious, hot, and slightly spicy Casamigas Espresso Martini instead. You'll need:
1 oz. Casamigas Jalapeño Tequila
.75 oz. freshly brewed espresso
1 oz. Licor 43
.75 oz. coffee liqueur
4 dashes chocolate bitters
Optional: Garnish with cocoa dusting and red edible flower
Put all your ingredients in a cocktail shaker sans ice (this is called a dry shake!) and shake for about a super quick four to six seconds. After, throw in the ice, shake again but this time with some gusto, and then pour into your glass of choice. Et voilà!
21. Set up some mood lighting.
It's all about the ambiance, y'all. So, for your V-Day soiree, invest in some heart-shaped string lights to hang in the space and set the mood.
Northlight 20-Count Red Heart Fairy Lights
22. Order heart-shaped pizzas.
Around this time of the year, nationwide chains like Papa John's, Pizza Hut, and California Pizza Kitchen offer heart-shaped pies during the week of V-Day. If you'd rather DIY, shape your pizza dough in a heart-shaped tin for precision purposes!
23. Keep the fondue on deck.
I don't care who you are, there's something about a fondue machine that gets everybody excited. Whether it's got cheese for the savory folks or chocolate for the sweet-toothers, a dip fountain can and will elevate any event.
24. Have heart-shaped fruit and veggie platters.
If you want to get really festive, place your mini bites in heart-shaped serving trays. Why take on the Valentine's Day theme if you're not going to committ? Even the appetizers should feel the love!
Wooden Serving Tray Heart Shaped Cheese Board
25. Order custom candy hearts.
Ready for the cutest goodie bag idea? Send your guest home with branded candy. You can order personalized hearts online and get them to say "[Your Name's] V-Day Party," funny inside jokes, or whatever your heart desires (pun intended hehe).
26. Make bracelets.
Ah, friendship bracelets. A time-honored tradition. They're essentially platonic engagement rings if you think about it, so it's only right that you and your crew make them for each other at your party.
27. Set up a lovey-dovey playlist.
Build a collaborative playlist on Spotify! All of your partygoers can add their fave romantic tunes, and each of you gets a chance to play DJ for the night. Of course, this means you'll need a badass speaker too...because no one has time for your little finicky one to be glitching all night since it can't hold a charge!
28. Get some karaoke going.
No need for stellar vocals! Just a karaoke machine and a setlist of popular throwback tunes to please your adoring fans (aka your friends). No activity will bond a group more.
29. Do a scavenger hunt.
Now, is this the first activity that pops into your head when you think of Valentine's Day? Probably not. But you can make it a whole thing with candy prizes and V-Day-themed riddles, and with one these printable clues available online!
30. Play rom-com charades.
Forget about regular charades. Test your group's essential rom-com knowledge with a few rounds of charades specifically focused on the classic movies in this genre. If the performances are particularly tragic, you'll know it's time to make the night a movie marathon instead.
31. Play Prosecco pong!
It's literally just beer pong, but prettier. Clear a table, pop open your bubbly, and get your game faces ready.
Prosecco Pong
32. Hand out accessories to wear.
When you look around the room and see your friends dripped out in heart headbands and cupid wings, you'll thank me. The V-day dress-up opportunities are vast, so stock up on the cutest options and have your guests model them all night.
Valentines Day Heart Head Boppers
Valentines Day Headband
33. Distribute disposable cameras.
These are great for capturing memories throughout the night. By making every one of your guests participate, the event pics that you develop will have a wide range of ~artistic visions~ and perspectives. That's exactly the kind of variety we like to see!
34. Have a paint and sip.
Nothing gives grown and hot like lighting a candle, pouring a glass of bubbly, and getting whacky with some paints! Make the artists create a Valentine's Day-themed painting then vote on the best one at the end. Winner gets the extra bottle of rosé.
Mini Canvas, Easel, and Paint Set
Brut Rosé
35. Host a romance-novel book reading.
Okay, is this a bit nerdy? You bet your bottom dollar. However! All the bibliophiles will swoon over this, and you might get some new recs for your TBR list while you're at it. Have each party guest bring their favorite romance novel and read a passage from it. Prep some discussion questions or have the person share why that part of the story means so much to them. This can also be done with love poems too! Please, by all means, geek the hell out.
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