February 13 is Galentine’s Day – the best holiday in February. Valentine’s Day ranks a close second, but it falls short to a day dedicated to honoring female friendships.
The fictional holiday is best described by its creator, Leslie Knope from the sitcom Parks and Recreation. “Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast-style,” she explained in a 2010 episode. It’s “ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst…plus frittatas.”
You can get in on the celebration this year by hosting your own Galentine’s brunch.
The Invite List
Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating the women who mean something to you, so be as inclusive as you can with your invite list. We all have those friends we rarely see but we check in with frequently on social media. Consider adding them to your list of close friends for invites. Galentine’s is the perfect day to bring those friendships back to real life and off Facebook.
Inviting everyone is as simple as sending a mass text message with all the details. However, Leslie Knope would encourage you to take it to the next level. Snail-mail invitations are such a novelty that they’re sure to grab everyone’s attention, and there are several websites that have printable Galentine’s invites if you do a quick search.
If you’re not into stamps and – well, waiting – send invitations via email. You can use the templates at www.evite.com to make something cute, and then you just pop in your details and email address.
The Venue and Decor
You can take the Leslie Knope route and throw your ladies shindig at a restaurant, but that can be a budget buster if you’re covering the costs. Your home can be the perfect party place, or if you’re celebrating your co-worker women, a conference room might be an option.
Make the get together festive by decorating with pinks and reds. A pretty tablecloth, some centerpieces and a few balloons can make a big impact. To step it up a notch, create a backdrop wall for photo ops and decorate a bar cart to show off your spirits. Bonus points if you serve pink drinks!
The Food
Traditionally Galentine’s means brunch, and that’s lucky for us because it’s easy to make for a crowd. You could put together a waffle bar with several toppings, making frittatas or quiche, or even order catered breakfast from a local restaurant.
For a boozy brunch, mimosas are always a quick and easy hit. You can also make bloody marys or Irish creme coffee for something a bit more elaborate. And for those who don’t enjoy day drinking, a festive pink punch is the way to go. Pinterest has hundreds of recipes for them, but you can whip up a classic by mixing 2 liters of citrus lime soda, 2 liters of club soda, 2 cans of frozen pink lemonade concentrate (thawed) and a tub of your favorite sherbet.
What To Do
Galentine’s Day is all about fun. Think about what your group of friends would enjoy doing together. Is it watching a rom-com? Making a craft? Playing games? The possibilities are endless. Making Valentine cards is strongly encouraged, and sure to bring back all those elementary school feels. Just get out scrap paper, markers, stickers and whatever you have to spare and encourage everyone to create their own masterpiece.
While you’re having fun, let Spotify be your DJ for the day. They have a Galentine’s Day playlist that’s updated every year.
Take-Away
Send your girls home with something to remember this Galentine’s day by. Whether it’s a personalized wine glass, a succulent or a mix of homemade cocoa, they’re sure to remember the day (and your friendship) every time they see it.
