5 Iconic Themes For Your Galentine's Day Party

While Valentine's Day celebrates romantic love with chocolates and roses every February, Galentine's Day is the unofficial sister holiday devoted to lifting up friendship, especially between women. The tradition was popularized by the beloved sitcom "Parks and Recreation," with main character Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, introducing it in Season 2, Episode 16. "What is Galentine's Day?" she asks. "Oh, it's only the best day of the year. 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."

Though Leslie and her friends celebrate each other with an annual brunch, there's no wrong way to observe the holiday. Festivities often take on a similar pink-and-red or lovey-dovey aesthetic as Valentine's Day, but there are endless thematic directions you can take your own celebrations. Whether you plan to get together with friends to obsess over the latest 2025 romance book releases or hunker down for a friendship-centered movie marathon, here are five iconic themes to consider for your Galentine's Day party. 

If you're looking for something glitzy and girly with a slight '70s influence, then a "Short 'n Sweet" Galentine's Day party is definitely for you. While Sabrina Carpenter's songs have taught us some tough lessons about dating, the aesthetic surrounding her sixth studio album is flirty and fun, perfect for a friend-filled celebration.

@madi_madeit

"Please please please, dont tell me I'm thirty" 💋♥️ #shortnsweet #sabrinacarpenter #thirtiethbirthday #partytheme #partythemeideas #fyp

♬ original sound – Madi Made Balloons

A baby blue and pastel pink combo pulled from Carpenter's tour, or a red and blue color scheme inspired by her album cover, make a great basis for this party idea. Next, you'll want lots of disco balls, lipstick kisses, ribbons, and heart-shaped decor. Xo, Fetti's Iridescent Heart-Shaped Curtain Wall or Disco Ball Balloons provide just the kind of sparkle we're thinking of. To incorporate a dainty and coquette vibe, visit your nearest antique shop for some lace table runners or tablecloths and make sure to include some ribbons tied into bows.

You can channel Carpenter's tour by turning the night into a sleepover, but we recommend doing some pop girlie karaoke and commemorating the night with a photo-op featuring lipstick kiss tattoos, cat-eye sunglasses, and feather boas either way. An espresso bar would add an extra Sabrina touch, while a heart-shaped cake with extra frosting would also be a fitting addition.

A romantasy-themed Galentine's Day party is a great pick for friend groups who are fans of the book genre, which combines elements of romance and fantasy. While you can incorporate themes and decor inspired by specific novels, such as A Court of Thorns and Roses, the Amazon-charting fantasy series from Sarah J. Maas, a general romantasy theme all about whimsical woodlands and magical castles also works.

Light colors, such as lavender, dusty rose, and pastel yellow, combined with shades of green, channel the whimsy of a forgotten forest, while mushroom decor, foliage, and fairy and butterfly iconography complete the vision. Mushroom Propagation Vases from Glasseam serve as the perfect fantasy-inspired centerpieces, while some hanging wisteria and sprawling ivy make for great wall and ceiling decorations. For an added touch of ambience, coordinate with friends to wear fantasy-inspired outfits for the event.

As for Galentine's Day party activities, center your shared love of reading with a book exchange, finish-the-book-quote game, or series trivia. Crafty friend groups should try out flower crown making or bookmark decorating, while a movie marathon of fantasy films will appeal to all fans of the genre. Don't forget to curate some charcuterie boards and bread loaves for food, while apple cider or custom, fantasy-inspired tea mixes are great drink options.

For friend groups who love to kick back and relax, a chicks and flicks-themed movie night makes for the perfect Galentine's Day celebration. This concept is all about women-centered movies, especially ones about friendship, for a girly twist on the classic coziness of an at-home movie night. A pink and white color scheme with splashes of silver works perfectly for this concept, and we also recommend including stripe or checkerboard patterns.

@chizobacu

💗 Let's set up a Galentines Movie Night! My sister came to visit this past weekend, and over the past few weeks, she has been sending me Galentines tiktoks and reels, so let's surprise her with this Galentines Movie Night. 🍿 For this Galentines movie night, the theme was pink and white, so I grabbed a bunch of pink snacks from Target and ordered this cute cake from Whole Foods while we made some heart-shaped pizzas. 🌹 For the decor, I grabbed the balloons from Party City, the cake holder from Homegoods, and the rest from Target—more details in my LTK. #galentinesday #valentinesday #galentines #valentines #girlsnight #movienight #target #valentines2024 #valentinesdaygift #homegoods

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♬ Girls Just Want to Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper

Use classic Galentine's Day party supplies — such as heart-shaped balloons, sparkly tinsels, and pink tableware — with more movie-specific decorations. If you're not afraid of a little DIY, there are some great decorative designs available online, such as the Movie Night PINK Bundle from The Letter Vee, that you can print and put together on your own. Snacks like popcorn and candy are an essential element of this party theme, and cute touches like the Pink Popcorn Boxes from Big Dot of Happiness or the Heart Shaped Ramekin Set from the Paris Hilton Store go a long way.

For even more fun, turn snacks and food into a party activity by building your own pizzas, creating a popcorn mix station, or baking and decorating cupcakes. Lastly, don't forget to ensure you have access to all of your favorite chick-flicks. "Legally Blonde," "Clueless," and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" are all modern classics. Or, for something totally different, you could go for a final girl theme with horror-comedies like "Scream," "Ready or Not," and "Jennifer's Body."

Whether you're inspired by Beyonce's "Cowboy Carter" or Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club," a Cupid's cowgirls theme makes for a galloping good Galentine's Day party. This event idea combines the lovey-dovey vibe of the holiday with a vintage cowgirl and western-inspired aesthetic, featuring cow print, gingham patterns, and cowboy hats and boots. Vintage playing cards and Cupid-inspired arrows are also must-have motifs, according to TikTok user drivewaymoment.

@samanthamaestro

The cutest idea ever🤠💘 #galentinesday #galentinesdayideas #galentinesparty #valentinesday #galentinesbrunch #cowgirlboots #letsgogirls #bacheloretteparty

♬ Man! I Feel Like A Woman – Homegrown Peaches

Shades of red and pink paired with white and silver make for a great Cupid's cowgirls color scheme, while adding wood tones makes for a more rustic look. Decorations like xo, Fetti's Cow Print Paper Plates or House of Party's Foil Cowgirl Boot Balloons really channel the cowgirl vibe, while lace doilies and framed, retro illustrations add a touch of Old West to your gathering. Antique glassware or tins are the perfect centerpieces — pairing small flowers like baby's breath, lavender, and forget-me-nots with pampas grass and wheat will give your arrangements a hand-picked feel.

Card games like faro or poker are also reminiscent of the Wild West, while dart-based Valentine's games play into the Cupid vibe. Hat decorating is another great activity for a Cupid's cowgirls party. Lastly, don't forget to bring some bourbon and Tennessee whiskey if your friend group is really ready to get wild.

A Regency Era-inspired Galentine's Day celebration is perfect for fans of historical romance novels, the hit series "Bridgerton," or just a good traditional afternoon tea. This party idea is all about the romantic frills and high-society glamor captured in period film and television. Pastel shades, especially purple and pink, paired with gold and white evoke the romance of this theme, while lace, fine china, and floral patterns are recurring elements.

@tatiana_martini

#bridgerton #teaparty#macarons #macaroons #bridgertonnetflix #bridgertonmusical #party#valentines#galentines#galentinesday#galentinesdayparty#teapartytheme #tea#host#hosting

♬ Bridgerton (Theme) – The Theme System

Flower arrangements made up of roses, tulips, or hyacinths serve as fitting centerpieces, while tablecloths and doilies alongside tiered food stands will complete the aristocratic vibe. Gold candelabras, gilded frames, and flower-adorned china — items you might be able to source from antique or thrift stores — are must-haves for this Galentine's celebration. You can also check out Netflix's collaboration with Walmart, as the companies have jointly released an assortment of "Bridgerton"-inspired pieces for Valentine's Day.

This theme works really well for a Galentine's brunch or tea party, but a "Bridgerton" or period piece-watch party is also a valid option for a more laid-back celebration. Finger sandwiches, pastries, macarons, and assorted cookies are all good food options. Tea is a staple of any Regency-themed party, but you can also incorporate alcoholic drinks like sherry, madeira, or ratafia.