Hosting a Galentine’s Night In
“What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year,” — Leslie Knope
It’s the first day of February, and love is already floating in the air. Chocolate boxes adorn the shelves. . . Red roses perfume the nose. . . “All of Me” by John Legend soars the charts again.
Yes, the day of lovers is upon us, but more importantly — February 13 is just around the corner. AKA GALENTINE’S DAY!
Thanks to its popularization from NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, all of us girlies now have an additional excuse to eventize the color pink and eat themed treats.
Because there’s only one thing better than your girlfriends. . .
. . .And that’s your girlfriends with chocolate and wine. While maybe lounging around in cute heart-printed pjs.
Regardless if this year marks the first annual Galentine’s for your group, or if you are looking for ways to spruce up old traditions—if you found yourself hosting this year, we got you covered.
Hosting Tips for Galentine’s Day
On Galentines, We Wear Pink (and Red and White)
Not that we need an excuse to turn every aspect of our lives into the soft hues of rose-petal-pink and cherry red, but February 13 is truly as good a time as any.
Setting a dress code for your Galentine’s celebration is a fun way to romanticize this gathering with the girls (a bonus: it makes the group photos even cuter!). If you want to take it a step further, plan ahead and get matching pajamas to really lean into the holiday spirit.
Plan Activities
Beauty Product Swap
Ask everyone to bring a new or unused makeup product to swap amongst the group. This is a great way to share what favorites everyone has been loving, plus tips too!
RARE BEAUTY
Soft Pinch Liquid Blush
SUMMER FRIDAYS
Lip Butter Balm for Hydration & Shine
LANEIGE
Lip Sleeping Mask Intense Hydration with Vitamin C
Pink Elephant
Basically a white elephant, but pink!
Set a price range, and have every person bring a wrapped gift to be picked from the pile. This can be a fun and inexpensive way to break any ice (if the wine hasn’t done so already), plus an opportunity for guests to show off some humor.
SEPHORA COLLECTION
#LIPSTORIES Lipstick
Cookie Swap
You can’t have a Galentine’s celebration without any treats! Have everyone bake a cookie recipe and then swap on the day. You can encourage guests to bring their own tupperware, or you can provide your own.
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!
Hosting is not a feat meant to be accomplished alone. This time of the year can become busy as most companies move into mid-quarter, and let’s be honest— has anyone fully recovered from holiday break? Leaning into the help of your closest girls is nothing to be ashamed of!
Make Goodie Bags
A cute way to thank everyone with little goodies they can take home.
TIP: Buy sample sets of beauty items and divide amongst the bags. Mini-versions of products are useful here too! You can add small individual notes to make each a bit more personal.
SEPHORA FAVORITES
Best-Selling Perfume Discovery Set
TOUCHLAND
Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer
Makeup Brushes Before Crushes
Underneath all the pink and frill, Galentine’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate your closest friendships.
It’s a holiday that should not be taken too seriously because at the end of the day, these are the girls that will be with you through thick and thin.
To end on the wise words of Leslie Knope—
“Uteruses before duderuses. . . Ovaries before brovaries.”