It’s a well-known fact that Amy Poehler’s Leslie Knope from Parks & Recreation is famous for taking things to the next level, holidays included. So it’s no surprise that she turned one of the world’s sappiest (and depending on your relationship status, depressing) holidays into a celebration of female empowerment and friendship.
Now, with this ultimate guide, you too can spend this year’s February 13 having an amazing Galentine’s Day party with your favorite girl friends.
Step 1: Food
Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating your independence and the unique qualities of your beautiful friends. It has nothing to do with trying to impress a significant other. When planning the food for your party, I’d suggest a potluck set-up: have each girl bring their favorite food or specialty meal. Don’t worry about how fattening your feast may be, how nicely it’s presented, or how fancy the food may be (or not be). This holiday is all about self-indulgence, so give yourself the day off and eat what makes YOU happy.
Step 2: Attire
You’re spending the evening in with your girlfriends instead of going out on a fancy date, but that doesn’t mean you can’t look your best! Now’s the time to break out your favorite outfit-whether that be the cutest sparkly cocktail dress from Urban Outfitters, your favorite Star Wars T-shirt, or an awesome animal onesie. Grab whatever you feel most comfortable and beautiful in from your closet and rock it! The great thing is thatyou’re not dressing up for anyone but yourself, so there’s no pressure or stress about trying to impress a date.
Step 3: Conversation
Now’s not the time to cry together about your collective broken hearts (though there is definitely a time for that). Tonight, focus instead on yourself and each other. How many times have you glossed over what you’ve been up to recently when talking to a friend in order to gush about the guy you’ve been dating? This is the perfect time to catch all your friends up on your job or classes, or just whatever is going on in your life at the moment. It’s also a great opportunity to reminisce about all the awesome and hilarious memories you guys share together.
Stay away from the soppy rom-coms or drama for the night, and instead go for an awesome female-led comedy! I’d recommend something like “Bridesmaids,” “Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants” or “Mean Girls.”
Step 5: Party Favors
You don’t have to go quite as far as Leslie Knope and give out mosaic portraits of each girl made from the crushed bottles of their favorite diet soda, but maybe a small photo of you and each girl, or a picture of the whole group together would work just as fine. That way you have a small token to remember the awesome night and preserve the friendship between you and your best friends.