Valentine’s Day Event Ideas

Most people think of February 14th as a day built solely on quiet time between a couple, but did you know it’s possible to throw a party? Whether you’ve been in a relationship for a long time or are flying solo and looking to connect with someone special, there are a host of Valentine’s Day event ideas to get romance in the air. The good thing is, you can make it as simple or elaborate as you like and, just as long as it’s a lot of fun, it will be well worth the effort. Looking for some tips for your soirée? Have a look at the list below as you start pulling your plans together.
 

• Location

When it comes to planning a celebration, the first thing you have to decide on is where it will be. This will determine how many people you can invite and what will be provided. Let’s say, for example, you decided to have people over to your home – would you want a full meal or just snack foods? Should they provide their own drinks or will you have an open bar? See how this one decision rapidly leads to others? By knowing the place you are going, you will quickly be able to nail down other details.

• Theme

You might think romance takes care of itself, but that’s not always the case. In order to provide your guests with something different, you can set a central idea that’s unique. A couples-only costume party – coming as your favorite pairs from literature, for example – is a fun way to spice up a dinner and drinks. If you are on the opposite end of the spectrum and you’re hoping to connect people, see about rolling out the red carpet and pretending everyone is going to a movie premiere. Everyone will have the chance to get dressed to the nines and impress potential dates.

• Music

Depending on the playlist you run through, this can go a long way toward making your gathering a hit. Of course, your theme will put some parameters on which style is best – you wouldn’t want to have pop music at a Roaring Twenties Bash – but the general idea will either be to encourage dancing or conversation. If you’re thumping beats at a high volume to keep people moving out on the floor, it’s going to be tough for people to talk. By the same token, if you want everyone to get away from the table, some quiet jazz is off the list. Whether you choose to spin tunes from an iPod playlist or hire a DJ, just make sure there is good mix of fast and slow songs.

• Fun
Though this will be affected just as much by the people you invite as any planning you might do, a few organized games might be a great way to liven up a small gathering. If you have a group of people in different stages of their relationship, a variation of the Newlywed Game can be good for some laughs. By pitting couples against each other to see how well the partners can answer a series of questions, you might find out everything from funny nicknames to a friend’s preferences for breakfast.

Last Updated on 01/17/2012