How to Host Galentine’s Day
Galentine’s is hands down one of my favorite parties to host every year! It started as a small get-together back in Atlanta—just a few girls and a gift exchange—but it’s turned into a full-blown celebration here in Albany. This year, I really went all out, and honestly, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to top it. Casual just isn’t my thing! I’m one of those people who genuinely love love, and when you mix that with my obsession for fun themes and hosting, this day with friends always ends up being the best. Now let’s talk details so you can host your own!
Setting the Tone: Theme & Invitations
First, you need to pick a theme. This year, I knew we’d have a smaller group, and I had my heart set on a DIY flower bar, so a Garden Party theme felt perfect. A theme really sets the tone and expectations for the event, and it makes choosing decor so much easier. My inspiration for this party was LoveShackFancy—super feminine, with a mix of pastels, bows, and floral touches—and everything came together from there.
For the invitations, I worked with my talented friend Katie Corley to design something beautiful and on-theme. To make them extra special, I attached a single rose to each invite and hand-delivered them. Yes, it was a little extra, but it added such a sweet, personal touch (& think it sets the mood for the event). For food, I made things easy by asking each guest to bring a board of some kind—sweet or salty. It was such a fun way to keep the spread varied while taking a lot of the pressure off me! Next year, I will have guests team up, as we could have fed 3x more guests!
Flowers
FiftyFlowers was a HUGE lifesaver for this event, wow. I don’t have access to trader joes or wholesale floral shops, so this was an amazing way to get gorgeous flowers at a rate that is much less expensive than hiring a florist. I genuinely love arranging flowers, so this was fun for me! I used this DIY Kit (medium pack), a 50 pack of ranunculus & the medium DIY bouquet bar for friends to take a bouquet home with them! They were such high quality & their team gave me updates along the way for shipment estimations, etc!
As for hanging the flowers, I spray painted a wooden bar white, attached to my pendants with zip ties (the bar had a hole on each end) & used fishing wire to tie the flowers to the wood. I tied the fishing wire in a knot around the flower stem, then tied the fishing wire around the pole. It turned out way more beautiful than I could have imagined & would suggest doing this the morning of the event. (also, husband or friend help is not a need, but appreciated).
Decor & Tabletop
I almost always start my tablescapes with a Just Darviny table linen (use CHARLI20 to save!). I’ve been collecting her tablecloths for over two years now, and they’re honestly perfect for every occasion. Plus, they’re super cost-effective compared to similar options and hold up so well! I just toss mine in the washer and dryer, and they come out looking like new every time.
As for the specific tablecloths I used and the other decor items, I’ve linked them all below! One of my favorite details to complete the LoveShackFancy theme was incorporating bows throughout the space. I tied a large white bow on the chandelier above the flower bar, and it completely stole the show—it was such a statement, and I was obsessed! Another favorite touch was the mantle ribbon garland. I used ribbons in varying lengths and widths to create this dreamy, layered look that pulled everything together so beautifully.
The coveted swan vase… I WISH I could share a link with y’all, but it’s my husband’s grandmother’s, and she passed it down to us. It’s such a special statement piece, and I love finding ways to use it. Any fun or unexpected-shaped vase works! Just grab some flower foam (it’s way easier to use than it sounds, I promise), and you’ve got yourself a super cute centerpiece.
Other little details that made a big impact? I made floral ice balls to chill the wine, and they were so easy and so cute! Jake actually helped me make these two weeks in advance & we followed this how to video. I also used flowers that had fallen off the stems to decorate the cooler. For drinks, I served “I Love You Bunches” rosé to match the garden party vibe, and I had to include some orange wine—it’s so good and honestly perfect for brunch!
favorite things gift exchange
To end the party, we did a “favorite things” gift exchange, and y’all, it was such a blast! Everyone brought a wrapped gift between $50-75, and the mix was so good—jewelry, home stuff, beauty products, you name it. Literally, every single gift was steal-worthy, which made it even more chaotic and hilarious. We played white elephant style, so there was plenty of drama (in the best way), and it was the perfect way to wrap things up!
I hope this makes it easier for you to host your own! Galentine’s is one of our favorite times of the year, and it’s such a fun excuse to get together and enjoy some quality time. Whether you go all out or keep it low-key, I know it’ll be a blast. Can’t wait to hear how you all celebrate! xx Charli
