Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to throw a big celebration and get all your friends together to hang out and have a good time, whether they are single or part of a duo.The upside is that you can go crazy with hearts and flowers, and be as excessive as you want with all of the reds and the pinks, without fear of judgment. Thats what makes themed parties so fun. You can be as corny or as elegant as youd like! That said, here are some tips to help make your Valentines celebration as festive and fun as possible.
Consider Your Decor
We know that when it comes to Valentines Day decor, its wildly tempting to go with nothing but red and pink hearts everywhere. But keep in mind, there are no hard and fast rules you have to follow.Our best advice is to be true to you and do something that reflects your own originality. Try something unexpected, yet still keep hints of your classic Valentine's Day decorations in view.If you are the crafty type (or simply like the crafty vibe), try using pretty doily garlands as part of your decor, or opt to make a statement by using intricate balloon creations. If you want to go for a more sleek, grown-up vibe, try implementing a color palette that is muted or pastel, and incorporate hints of glitter or glimmer.
Consider Your Food
Never say no to a good potluck! Try asking everyone to bring a dish and make sure they are centered around a common theme to keep them cohesive.You can also set up a few interactive food stations. Some crowd favorites are dessert or fondue stations, or even taco or sandwich stations.Stations give your guests an opportunity to mingle and chit chat, which is great for your single pals, whereas potlucks make for good conversation starters and are perfect for your married friends because they can talk and swap recipes.Then you should decide if you plan to serve alcohol, and if so what kind. It can be fun to come up with a special cocktail or a couple of featured drinks to serve your guests.The upside to this is the concoctions make great conversation pieces plus offer your guests a little liquid courage if they are feeling shy. Just make sure you make up a virgin version for your non-drinkers, so they feel dont feel excluded from the fun!
Consider Your Activities
Its all fun and games until, of course, it isnt. Only you can decide if activities are a good fit for your particular celebration, and if they aren't, that's okay.Sometimes people just want to be able to get together, hang out, and not feel as though they are put on the spot or forced to participate in something that might make them uncomfortable.If activities are a part of your vision for your gala, then consider karaoke. You can invite your guests to serenade each other with silly love songs and bad '80s rock music.Another idea is to create little craft stations, such as a place where your guests can make little DIY valentines to share with someone special.Or you can try a game like Mend a Broken Heart for a neat little icebreaker. Before your party gets started, cut a bunch of paper hearts in half with jagged edges. As your guests arrive, give them each one half of a heart. Then they will be forced to mingle as they try to find the other half of their heart in the hands of another guest.
Consider Your Guest List
Finally, we come to that all-important guest list. Obviously, you will want all of your favorite people there, but you also want to try to strike a good mix of couples, singles, and different personalities.Only you can decide on a mix that feels right. You want your Valentines celebration to be a success--not a flop--so select the people who mean the most to you and who will enjoy each others company!