35 Best Valentine’s Day Party Ideas

Hearth & Harbor Candle Making Kit

2. Pajama Party

Whether you invite your best friends or spend an evening in with the kids, you can’t go wrong with a Valentine’s Day pajama party. Encourage everyone to wear their favorite matching set, no matter if the vibe is classy or casual.

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3. Make a cocktail inspired by…

From Taylor Swift eras and popular movies to ex boyfriend cocktails, themed cocktail nights are all over TikTok right now. Choose a concept for your party — which can be as simple as romantic cocktails — then ask everyone to brainstorm a recipe and arrive with the ingredients. You’ll each take turns making and presenting your cocktail to the group.

4. Favorite Things Party

Not only does a Favorite Things party mean everyone goes home with a few presents, but it’s also a great way to learn more about your besties. If you haven’t seen this trend all over TikTok, here’s how it works: everyone invited to the party chooses an item they’re obsessed with — anything from skincare to cleaning supplies or a favorite snack. (Note: Most people set a budget per item). Typically, guests arrive with as many items as there are people and everyone switches, so you go home with all of your friends’ “favorite things.”

5. Wine and Chocolate Party

Have your guests unwind with a wine and chocolate party. To add a festive touch to the occasion, purchase pink wine glasses — plus plenty of rosé to go with them.

6. Rose Petal Ice Cubes

Whether for water or cocktails, impress your guests with infused ice cubes. To create, just add dried edible flowers to empty ice cube trays and slowly fill them with water. Feel free to mix in festive fruits or herbs as well!

7. Play Valentine’s Day Trivia

From interesting facts to pop-culture moments and movie quotes, scout the web for Valentine’s Day Trivia. Then, turn it into a game by quizzing your guests. Don’t forget to pick out a few prizes for the lucky winners!

8. Pink and Red Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards are a cute way for guests to snack throughout the day. Plus, a board filled with pink, red and purple treats doubles as party decor. Try cutting your favorite foods, like strawberries, brownies or even cheese slices, into heart shapes.



9. Flower Arranging

Have everyone bring a mix of real and faux flowers, then spend time creating your own lively bouquets and arrangements. They can even bring their own vases and accessories, like ribbons or rhinestone pins for the finishing touch.



Afloral Pink Mauve Faux Roses





Afloral Dried Globe Amaranth

10. Baking Party

While you can serve V-Day-themed treats at your bash, hosting a baking party is another engaging idea. There are so many to make, from red velvet cookies and pecan pie bars to shortbread squares and cookie shooters. Here’s a list of Valentine’s Day cookies your guests will love making.



11. Spa Party

When was the last time you and your friends had a spa day? Host a V-Day-themed spa day to relax. While Valentine’s Day is about expressing love for others, it’s also a time to show love for yourself. For inspiration, you can explore these expert tips for an at-home spa facial.



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Rosie Make-up Headband

12. High Tea


Teacakes, pies and tarts are a few delectable picks when brainstorming your menu for high tea. Since this holiday is all about love, give your overall decor a festive look with floral napkin rings and pink teacups.

Floral Tea Party Centerpiece



13. Game Night

Break the ice with fun games for newly acquainted guests. Adding a V-Day twist will make them a go-to for your event. If you can’t think of any on your own, purchased ones (such as a Valentine’s Day Party Emoji Game) might be a favorite to keep the conversations rolling.

14. Hot Chocolate Bar

A hot chocolate bar is such a creative setup — and incredibly easy and fun to make. Whip out all the essentials for the table — the marshmallows, whipped cream, milk, cocoa powder and Baileys (if you want a boozy vibe) — then invite guests to mix their own concoctions to drink and bring home.

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix



15. DIY Donut Bar

Create an eye-catching donut display using a pegboard. Categorize one section of the room as the donut bar, where guests can pick their favorite cake-styled donuts. Don’t miss the chance to cover the sweet treats in pretty pink icing and plenty of sprinkles.



16. Romantic Comedy Movie Night

Who doesn’t love a good rom-com? Gather your closest friends and family members together to binge-watch your favorite movies about love. From Just Friends with Ryan Reynolds to Last Holiday with Queen Latifah, expect a night of heartwarming tear-jerkers and the occasional “aww” moments. Set up a romantic movie room — and don’t forget the popcorn. P.S. check out our roundup of the best rom-coms that are sure to entertain!



Retro Style Popcorn Popper



Fun Express Store Mini Popcorn Boxes

17. Make DIY Valentine’s Day Cards

Add a crafty aspect to your V-Day party by having guests make their own Valentine’s Day cards. Our DIY Valentine’s Day card ideas can help if you’re on the hunt for unique options.



18. Set Up a DIY Photo Booth

For your V-Day party, adding a photo booth is a creative way to keep your guests entertained (and for them to have memories of your event). While you can create one before the gathering starts, you can also invite guests to help with this DIY project. Make sure to have a colorful backdrop (pink and red are ideal for this holiday, of course!) and include balloons and props.



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“Love” Balloon



Valentine’s Day Photo Props

19. DIY Heart Shirts

Here’s a DIY project they can wear even after the party is over! Using fabric paint to design hearts on white shirts is a cheap craft that only requires two supplies (unless you want to get extra crafty with glitter, rhinestones and more!).

Fabric Paint



20. Karaoke Party

Put everyone’s voice to the test with a karaoke party. Sing over your favorite romantic tunes (which hopefully includes John Legend’s “All of Me”) and have a day full of fun.

21. Wear Valentine’s Day Costumes

An easy way to spice up your party is to have guests come in red, pink and white attire. Think giant heart costumes or Cupid suits (don’t forget his arrows!).





Candy Heart Costume for Adults



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22. Smash a Heart Piñata

What’s a better way to celebrate love than by hitting a piñata? Especially when it’s pink and shaped like a heart. Stuff the piñata with heart-shaped candy and let your guests have a go. You might like this small yet shiny heart-shaped one for your event.

Sparkle and Bash Heart Pull String Pinata



23. DIY Valentine’s Wreath Making

Here’s another project to keep everyone engaged. Check out our DIY Valentine’s Day wreath ideas — a conversation heart wreath being one of them — for inspiration and have your guests create their own to take home.



24. Heart Wall Art

If you’re unsure of how to decorate your space for the event, wall art is a good way to start. Decorate your walls with red, pink and white paper hearts. You can even print out small-sized pictures of your family and friends and stick them to your wall to make a large heart.



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Red Heart Wall Stickers



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Red Glitter Heart Garland

25. Decorate With Heart Balloons

When it comes to hosting a party, there’s no such thing as too many balloons. Balloons make merry and easy party decorations, and your gathering will be a colorful and romantic escape with the right color and shape.


Heart Shape Foil Mylar Balloons


26. Valentine’s Heart Pizza

You can order heart-shaped pizza for your guests or have loved ones enjoy making their own. Definitely buy toppings, like pepperoni and veggies, to allow your guests to customize their pies.



27. V-Day Themed Brunch

Weekend mornings are a great time for brunch, which is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the company of family and friends. Host a Valentine’s Day-themed brunch with an array of delicious meals (check out our easy V-Day breakfast ideas) and add some colorful cocktails (strawberry shortcake mimosas, anyone?).



28. Paint and Sip Party

Paint and sips are especially fun when done in a relaxing environment. Stock up on painting essentials and have your friends and family over for a night of drinks, painting and laughter.



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29. Secret Cupid Gift Swap

With this tradition, once you have the names of everyone who plans to attend, scramble their names together and assign someone to each person to offer a gift. Set a spending limit and encourage your guests to start shopping. When everyone arrives for the party, swap presents one by one and let happy conversation begin.

30. Fondue Night

Fondue is a tasty Valentine’s Day idea everyone would enjoy. You can serve cheese fondue for dinner and chocolate fondue for dessert (deliciously complete with assorted marshmallows or fresh fruit).





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31. Personalized Goodie Bags

Give out personalized goodie bags after your party or have guests create their own. Show love for others you may not know by donating extra bags to children in need.



32. Wine Swap

Wine lovers will appreciate the idea of a wine swap party. Allow everyone to bring their favorite drink to pair with flavorful hors d’oeuvres for a festive celebration.



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34. Take Polaroid Photos

Polaroids are great to have for any occasion. They print your photos on the spot and give you the chance to remember the special moments in your life. Take pictures of your guests, then stick them to your wall for everyone to see (you can even make heart-shaped wall art of your images at the end).

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera



14. Valentine’s Day Temporary Tattoos

Let’s flashback to your childhood with temporary tattoos, but this time they’re red, cute and on-theme for Valentine’s Day. Since they’re easy to wash off, let guests choose their favorites to wear during the celebration. Save some for the kids, too!

Valentines Temporary Tattoos S




Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women’s Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master’s degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She’s also the founder of RTF Community a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work. 



Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.