As if I needed an excuse to get together with friends, drink whiskey and eat meat and cheese but here we are… Here are some easy and affordable ideas to get your decor and snacks ready for your Galentine’s/Valentine’s Day party!
It all started with a table runner I found for $11. It has some pinks and reds and really goes with my southwestern home decor. I don’t normally do Valentine’s stuff but when I saw this table runner, it sparked some ideas and I decided to build a pretty pink spread around it.
For some contrast, I used my stark white dinner plates that I already had a got some black satin napkins. I thought that added a nice pop. For the “napkin rings”, I went to the DIY wedding section at Hobby Lobby and got some lavender and gypsophila. This was way cheaper than buyingthe big full stems of flowers in their main flower section. The little lavender boutonniere flowers were only $2 and I just cut it apart for four place settings. And then I got a spool of leather cord to tie it all together. All in all, super cheap, easy to put together but looks like you put in a lot of effort.
I decided to do a “signature dink” so I wanted some statement glasses. These pink vintage tumblers did the trick. I called my drink “From Fort Worth with Love” because my favorite whiskey (TX Whiskey) is distilled right here in Fort Worth. It’s a Cran-Raspberry Whiskey cocktail and sure to be a huge hit no matter the crowd. I wanted something fresh but not too sweet. Can’t have anyone waking up with a headache at our age. Here’s the recipe. And you can make it in big batches in a pitcher if needed. If you’re not a whiskey person, no worries, sub in some vodka or tequila.
For food, I went with a small cheese and meat board. My mom gave me The Cheese Board Deck for Christmas and it was honestly the best gift. There are 50 cards with example meat and cheese boards to pull inspiration from. I used the “Date Night” card and I think it turned out great. A good mix of sweet and salty and plenty for four people. I used a 12″ x 12″ marble cutting board and put it on top of this little stand. My pepperoni rosettes and apple hearts don’t look as good as the photo in the deck but still cute!
Here’s a list of ingredients I used:
Parmesan crisps
Blackberries
Gala apples
Olives
Dark Chocolate
Brie
Romano
Calabrese
Prosciutto
Genoa Salami
Rosemary garnish
For fillers around the table, I found a tiny pink vase at Hobby Lobby for $1.79 and just stuck some of my wedding floral finds in it. I also found some red berry garland (also for $1.79) that I draped across the runner. And I scattered the filler hearts around.
And if your party is at night, It’s always fun to add fairy lights. I found these pink, battery operated lights that I thought was a great addition.
As usual, I hope you can find some inspiration in my eclectic design taste! Happy Valentine’s Day.
