Hot take: Valentine’s Day parties are vastly underrated. Forget a romantic dinner for two at a snooty restaurant! Throw a rager (or, like, a fun lil brunch) with your entire friend group instead. Go all out with decorations and give each other homemade valentines (!). Throw in a few themed cocktails too, and you’ve got a soiree that rivals any other. After all, V-Day is a time to celebrate all love—which is def an excuse to have a party with your BFFs. (Your boo can come too, of course.)
Bonus: Valentine’s Day is such an aesthetically pleasing holiday. There’s the red and the pink and the chocolate and a very good reason to bring back rosé season early. It honestly makes me wonder why there aren’t more V-Day parties happening every year. This is a missed opportunity, people! It’s time to embrace the cheesy, lovey-dovey feels and put these 10 snazzy Valentine’s Day party ideas to good use.
Go ahead and scroll through for some fun party-planning tips that will make your V-Day bash worthy of everyone’s ’gram.
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1. Send some sexy-ass invites.
Get your crew psyched with all the deets on your festive event. You could make it super cute and go the snail-mail route. Or if you’re looking for something more immediate, then a perfectly designed digital invite sent straight to their emails could be just the choice for you.
Paperless Post Classic Heart Virtual E-vite
Minted Gold Confetti Invitations
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Baumbirdy Party Hearty
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2. Plan a fun party game.
Yes, talking sh*t is a sport, but change things up with this card game that might make you laugh so hard you pee a little.
3. Get the drinks ready.
Whip up an easy Valentine’s Day cocktail recipe for your party guests or keep it simple and just grab yourself a nice bottle of whiskey, wine, or alcohol-free spirits. (Yes, those exist!)
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey
Cincoro Resposado Tequila
4. Prep a cute lil craft.
All good soirees have a fun activity—which can totally mean doing a V-Day craft. (They’re not just for kids, okay?) Make each other some DIY cards or even friendship bracelets. Once cocktails get passed around, people are bound to get creative.
Make It Real DIY Charm-Bracelet-Making Kit
funkychickenscoop 300 Paper Die-Cut Hearts
SHARPIE Sharpie Permanent Markers
SweetHoopla DIY Valentine Card Craft Kit
5. Set up a romantic-movie room.
For guests who just want a moment away from the chatter (or couples who want a sec to snug), a movie room is the perf addition to any party. Throw on a romantic film, dim the lights, and give the partygoers a place to relax.
Auking Mini Projector
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West Bend Theater-Style Popcorn Popper Machine
6. Do some fortune-telling.
Frands of any relationship status can enjoy this gorgeously illustrated deck of future-revealing tarot cards. (Or amp up the ~sexy vibes~ with an erotically themed deck instead.)
Hearst Books The Cosmo Tarot: The Ultimate Deck and Guidebook
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Llewellyn Publications Erotic Tarot of Manara
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Sterling Ethos The Modern Witch Tarot Deck
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CB2 Materia Prima Tarot Cards
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7. Make some fancy cubes.
Those not imbibing (or those who just want a vodka soda) are gonna need some ice. Fill your bucket with these rosy cubes. To make them, pluck the petals from two or three roses and add them to a basic tray, filling it halfway with distilled water before you pop the whole thing in the freezer. After a few hours, fill the rest of the tray with more H2O, then freeze again so the petals sit smack dab in the center when it comes time to serve.
Get the recipe at HelloFresh.
8. Set up a DIY photo booth.
Now’s the time to use that random spare wall in your apartment. Set up an Insta-worthy setting by covering a wall with glitter-foil and other festive things. Order some uh-mazing on-brand props and balloons, and snap and share.
The Party Balloon “Love” Balloon
USA Sales The Cutest Photo Booth Props
GOER Party Photo Backdrop
Vivuzono Balloon Garland Kit
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9. Come dressed on theme.
I’m not saying you gotta show up to your own party dressed in lingerie—but I’m certainly not stopping you if you feel like wearing something a lil special under your party clothes. Aside from lace frills and strappy garments, there’s a slew of other V-Day-themed ’fits you could get all gussied up in.
Savage x Fenty Cotton Essentials Bralette
Victoria’s Secret Satin Long PJ Set
Torrid Cap-Sleeve Strappy Babydoll
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Savage x Fenty CLF Fluff’d Up Slippers
10. Seal your party favors with a kiss.
After the party, you could send everyone a quick thank-you text. Or you could get really cute with it and mail each attendee a sweet postcard, complete with a very Valentine’s Day lipstick print right next to your signature.
PATRICK TA Major Beauty Headlines Matte Suede Lipstick
PAT McGRATH LABS Mini Divine Rose Lip Set Trio
UOMA Beauty Black Magic Carnival Metallic Lipstick in Trinidad
Home Advantage Blank Plain White 4×6 Postcards
Senior Shopping Editor
Kim Duong is the senior shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, overseeing shopping coverage online for all things fashion, lifestyle, beauty, and sex. When she’s not musing about which products are actually worth your hard-earned cash, she’s also writing (sometimes slightly unhinged) fashion content in print. You can find her previous writing in Refinery29, InStyle, Travel + Leisure, and StyleCaster. Follow her on Instagram for bottomless cute dog content and did-that-really-happen-to-me story times in her highlights.
Contributing Fashion Editor
Maggie Griswold (she/her) is a contributing fashion editor for Cosmopolitan and freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles, covering everything from the latest wardrobe must-haves to interior design trends. Along with Cosmopolitan, you can find her work on Oprah Daily, StyleCaster, Women’s Health, and House Digest, among others. She’s a big (read: ridiculously huge) fan of the ’90s sitcom Frasier, all things Shakespeare, and a good romance-filled YA novel. Follow her on Instagram.