This year, Valentine's Day lands on a Friday — which means there's an entire weekend dedicated to celebrating love and friendship. Imagine a cozy evening in with your besties (a.k.a. Galentine's Day), a quiet dinner with your partner or game night with the whole family. If you plan accordingly, you may be able to fit in all three!
To help you pull off the perfect event, we've rounded up Valentine's Day party ideas, ranging from cute party themes and exciting activities to delicious snacks. Our advice? Start planning your guest list and filling your house with pretty shades of pink, fresh florals and heart-shaped decor.
1. Plan a chic dinner party.
Decorate your dining table with moody reds — imagine a silky tablecloth paired with elegant dishes. For a festive touch, tie a ribbon around stemmed glassware, candle holders and a bundle of flatware.
2. Make Valentine's Day wreaths.
Encourage guests to make something beautiful to take home and enjoy later. There are endless ways to DIY Valentine's Day wreaths, so round up your supplies — whether it's colorful yarn, faux florals or painted puzzle pieces.
3. Host a candle making party.
It's surprisingly easy to make your own candles. Invest in a candle making kit, plus a set of floral essential oils (like cherry blossom or rose), so your crew can customize their own scent. You can even pick up dried flower buds or gemstone crystals for decoration.
4. Throw a favorite things party.
Not only does a Favorite Things party mean everyone goes home with a few presents, but it's also a great way to learn more about your besties. If you haven't seen this trend all over TikTok, here's how it works: everyone invited to the party chooses an item they're obsessed with — anything from skincare to cleaning supplies or a favorite snack. (Note: Most people set a budget per item). Typically, guests arrive with as many items as there are people and everyone switches, so you go home with all of your friends' "favorite things."
5. Mix up inspired cocktails.
From Taylor Swift eras and popular movies to ex-boyfriend cocktails, themed cocktail nights have been all over TikTok. Choose a concept for the party — which can be as simple as romantic cocktails — then ask everyone to brainstorm a recipe and arrive with the ingredients. You'll each take turns making and presenting your cocktail to the group.
6. Try flower arranging.
Have everyone bring a mix of real and faux flowers, then spend time creating your own lively bouquets and arrangements. They can even bring their own vases and accessories, like ribbons or rhinestone pins for the finishing touch.
7. Host a pajama party.
Whether you invite your best friends over or spend an evening in with the kids, you can't go wrong with a Valentine's Day pajama party. Encourage everyone to wear their favorite matching set, no matter if the vibe is classy or casual.
8. Create a DIY donut bar.
Create an eye-catching donut display using a pegboard. Categorize one section of the room as the donut bar, where guests can pick their favorite cake-styled donuts. Don't miss the chance to cover the sweet treats in pretty pink icing and plenty of sprinkles.
9. Serve wine and chocolate.
Invite guests to unwind with a wine and chocolate party — you can each set up a pairing. Hint: Dark chocolate goes well with merlot. To add a festive touch to the occasion, you could also purchase pink wine glasses.
10. Host a themed game night.
Break the ice with fun games for newly acquainted guests. Adding a V-Day twist will make them a go-to for your event. If you can't think of any on your own, purchased ones (such as a Valentine's Day Party Emoji Game) might be a favorite to keep the conversations rolling.
11. Whip up a festive charcuterie board.
Charcuterie boards are a cute way for guests to snack throughout the day. Plus, a board filled with pink, red and purple treats doubles as party decor. Try cutting your favorite foods, like strawberries, brownies or even cheese slices, into heart shapes.
12. Plan a Secret Cupid exchange.
With this tradition, once you have the names of everyone who plans to attend, scramble their names together and assign someone to each person to offer a gift. Set a spending limit and encourage your guests to start shopping. When everyone arrives for the party, swap presents one by one and let happy conversation begin.
13. Have a baking party.
While you can serve V-Day-themed treats at your bash, hosting a baking party is another engaging idea. There are so many to make, from red velvet cookies and pecan pie bars to shortbread squares and cookie shooters. Here's a list of Valentine's Day cookies your guests will love making.
14. Make heart-shaped pizzas.
You can likely order a heart-shaped pizza from a local restaurant, but it's more fun to make your own. Definitely buy toppings, like pepperoni and veggies, so guests can customize their pies.
15. Host a spa night.
When was the last time you and your friends had a spa day? Host a V-Day-themed spa day to relax. While Valentine's Day is about expressing love for others, it's also a time to show love for yourself. For inspiration, you can explore these expert tips for an at-home spa facial.
16. Make a hot chocolate bar.
A hot chocolate bar is such a creative setup. Whip out all the essentials for the table — the marshmallows, whipped cream, milk, cocoa powder and Baileys (if you want a boozy vibe) — then invite guests to mix their own concoctions. Heart-shaped marshmallows are a super fun touch!
17. Set up a photo booth.
For your V-Day party, adding a photo booth is a creative way to keep guests entertained (and for them to have memories of your event). While you can create one before the gathering starts, you can also invite guests to help with this DIY project. Make sure to have a colorful backdrop (we love these love balloons) and include balloons and props.
18. Host a rom-com movie night.
Who doesn't love a good rom-com? Gather your closest friends and family members to binge-watch your favorite movies about love. From Just Friends with Ryan Reynolds to Last Holiday with Queen Latifah, expect a night of heartwarming tear-jerkers and the occasional "aww" moments. Set up a romantic movie room — and don't forget the popcorn.
19. Make DIY Valentine’s Day cards.
Add a crafty aspect to your V-Day party by letting guests make their own Valentine's Day cards. Our DIY Valentine's Day card ideas can help if you're on the hunt for unique options.
20. Host a karaoke party.
Put everyone's voice to the test with a karaoke party. Sing over your favorite romantic tunes (which hopefully includes John Legend's "All of Me") and have a day full of fun.
21. Wear Valentine’s Day costumes.
An easy way to spice up your party is to have guests come in red, pink and white attire. Think giant heart costumes or Cupid suits (don't forget his arrows!).
22. Organize a paint-and-sip party.
Paint and sips are especially fun when done in a relaxing environment. Stock up on painting essentials and invite friends and family over for a night of drinks, painting and laughter.
23. Host a Valentine's Day brunch.
Weekend mornings are a great time for brunch, which is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the company of family and friends. Host a Valentine's Day-themed brunch with an array of delicious meals (check out our easy V-Day breakfast ideas) and add some colorful cocktails (strawberry shortcake mimosas, anyone?).
24. Plan a wine swap.
Wine lovers will appreciate the idea of a wine swap party. Allow everyone to bring their favorite drink to pair with flavorful hors d'oeuvres for a festive celebration.
25. Throw a fondue party.
Fondue is a tasty Valentine's Day idea everyone would enjoy. You can serve cheese fondue for dinner and chocolate fondue for dessert (deliciously complete with assorted marshmallows and fresh fruit).
26. Smash a heart-shaped piñata.
What's a better way to celebrate love than by hitting a piñata? Especially when it's pink and shaped like a heart. Stuff the piñata with heart-shaped candy and let guests have a go. You might like this small yet shiny heart-shaped one for your event.
27. Create personalized goodie bags.
Give out personalized goodie bags after your party or have guests create their own. Show love for others you may not know by donating extra bags to children in need.
28. Make rose petal ice cubes.
Whether for water or cocktails, impress guests with infused ice cubes. To create, just add dried edible flowers to empty ice cube trays and slowly fill them with water. Feel free to mix in festive fruits or herbs as well!
29. Serve high tea.
Teacakes, pies and tarts are a few delectable picks when brainstorming your menu for high tea. Since this holiday is all about love, give your overall decor a festive look with floral napkin rings and pink teacups.
30. Play Valentine's Day trivia.
From interesting facts to pop-culture moments and movie quotes, scout the web for Valentine's Day trivia. Then, turn it into a game by quizzing your guests. Don't forget to pick out a few prizes for the lucky winners!
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
