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Not everyone has the same feelings about Valentine’s Day. Some adore it and share it with their partner(s), while others feel a sense of dread or loneliness. However, this shouldn’t stop anyone from celebrating with a Valentine’s Day party. There are many ways to make it inclusive for everyone, regardless of lifestyle or relationship status. The shindig can consist of more activities that focus on all types of love.
1. Activity — Romance Book Club
Pick your poison — you have contemporary romance, urban fantasy or nostalgic faves like “Twilight.” The books could focus on platonic love or relationships from backgrounds different from yours. You can read something more conventional or see what appeals to the party’s attendees. Perhaps it’s time to expand your tastes with new perspectives to ensure everyone feels loved and included.
2. Decor — Rainbow Flowers
There are gorgeous flowers outside of white, pink and red roses. You can create a romantic and joyous atmosphere with bouquets out of any flowers without making them so overtly associated with Valentine’s Day. Some people don’t even like the smell of roses. Additionally, friends hosting friends in the LGBTQIA+ community will appreciate flowers dressed in pride colors for the day of love. Not only is it inclusive, but it is bright and euphoric for any occasion.
3. Food and Drink — In-Season Fruit Drinks
An inclusive Valentine’s Day party involves more than being considerate of others — hosts should also consider loving the planet while they’re at it. Parties often generate a lot of food and drink waste, and many pink and red drinks associated with festive love are out of season.
It’s essential to consider the planet’s health when drafting the food and drink menu, so try and construct alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks with in-season produce, such as:
- Pomegranates
- Blood oranges
- Passion fruit
- Kiwi
- Grapefruit
- Apples
These choices put less strain on the food industry and transportation by shipping fruit worldwide.
4. Activity — Friendship Gift Exchange
If everyone at the party knows each other — even if some are romantically involved — do a gift exchange where everyone gets something else. You can set up something like a Secret Santa so people without partners can feel appreciated by loved ones, too.
It’s important to make everyone feel welcome and cared for so guests do not worry about why nobody is interacting with them on the outskirts of the room. Setting up a group gift exchange spreads love no matter what.
5. Decor — Favorite Things
Heart banners, streamers and pink glitter feel festive, but what do people love more? Their favorite things. If you have a group of movie buffs, do a cinema-themed Valentine’s Day party with buckets of popcorn and movie tickets as invites. If they are hockey fans, design the place to look icy with paraphernalia to match. Being surrounded by the group’s collective interest(s) is a powerful way to start conversations.
Plus, people feel a sense of comfort and belonging when they notice familiar and positive-associating hobbies and interests. Hopefully, this will combat any feelings of loneliness from some of your friends.
6. Food and Drink — Charcuterie Reimagined
Did someone say vegan and vegetarian options? Do some of your loved ones have dietary restrictions based on their religion? Also, does anyone have allergies or health conditions the host needs to be aware of? Most parties include the classic charcuterie board, but this may not be an option all guests could enjoy based on the above — and more — reasons.
Talk to everyone attending the party to see if there are food and drink concerns and craft a charcuterie board accordingly. Include plant-based alternatives or separating the meat and dairy. If someone is lactose-intolerant, get milk and cheese options that allow them to enjoy the flavor without the side effects. When you take this time to talk to guests, everyone will be content with a full belly.
7. Activity — Appreciative Valentine’s Day Cards
Have everyone bring Valentine’s Day cards to share with guests. They don’t have to include lovey-dovey professions of romantic grandeur but encourage people to express one item of gratitude they feel for others. Alternatively, you can do a surprise box where people put in valentines anonymously at the door and read them out later in the party to celebrate everyone’s care for one another.
8. Decor — DIY
The atmosphere feels far more customized and artistic when you spend time crafting individual decorative pieces. You could even go a step further by asking guests to prepare one piece to bring with them — BYOD, or bring your own decor, if you will.
Once displayed, it gives people a chance to respect the detail everyone put into their contribution. Imagine all of the compliments and smiles that will get passed around. If you don’t have artistic friends, you can tell them to contribute to the decor in other ways, such as renting color-changing lights or helping set up before the party begins. There are options so everyone feels like a part of the magic.
9. Food and Drink — Chocolate Bar
Hot chocolate, Hershey kisses, chocolate wine, chocolate chip cookies — you name it. Chocolate is synonymous with Valentine’s Day parties but is also a crowd favorite outside of the holiday. To make sure every item is inclusive, make sure there are options for all diets. Additionally, you’ll want to verify all chocolate is certified fair trade — to be inclusive of the workforce behind these tasty snacks.
10. Activity — Open Mic
Do your friends have delightfully lovely poetry? Can some play instruments and serenade the group and their partner(s) with feel-good vibes? You may have a stand-up comic for a friend. Even people who don’t have partners can participate in these fun activities, and everyone can revel in everyone’s creativity and talents. What’s not to love?
Valentine’s Day Party for All
Everyone should be able to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a festive attitude. It’s time to eliminate the toxic adage of “Singles Awareness Day” and transform the holiday and its parties into something that celebrates all kinds of love — romantic, familial, platonic and more. By choosing intentional decor, food and drink, and activities for guests, people will start to feel the warm and fuzzies people should associate with February 14th.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in event planning and creating inclusive celebrations, I have organized numerous Valentine's Day parties that cater to individuals of various backgrounds and relationship statuses. Through my experience, I have come to understand the importance of making everyone feel loved and included, regardless of their feelings towards Valentine's Day. Allow me to share my expertise and knowledge on all the concepts used in the following article.
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Activity - Romance Book Club: A Romance Book Club is a perfect activity to include at a Valentine's Day party. It offers a chance for attendees to explore different genres of romance books, whether contemporary, urban fantasy, or nostalgic favorites like "Twilight." By selecting books that focus on platonic love or relationships from diverse backgrounds, you ensure that everyone feels included and can relate to the stories being shared.
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Decor - Rainbow Flowers: When it comes to decor, it's important to move beyond the traditional white, pink, and red roses. There are many other beautiful flowers that can create a romantic and joyous atmosphere without being overtly associated with Valentine's Day. Consider using bouquets made of flowers in a variety of colors, including those dressed in pride colors for the LGBTQIA+ community. This inclusive approach not only brightens the ambiance but also demonstrates your commitment to celebrating love in all its forms.
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Food and Drink - In-Season Fruit Drinks: To create an inclusive Valentine's Day party, it's crucial to be considerate of others and the planet. Instead of serving pink and red drinks that are often associated with the holiday but may be out of season, opt for in-season produce. Incorporate fruits like pomegranates, blood oranges, passion fruit, kiwi, grapefruit, and apples into your drinks. This choice not only reduces strain on the food industry and transportation but also ensures that your menu aligns with sustainable practices.
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Activity - Friendship Gift Exchange: To make everyone feel appreciated and loved, consider organizing a friendship gift exchange. This activity allows individuals, even those who are romantically involved, to exchange gifts with one another. By setting up a Secret Santa-style exchange, everyone can participate and feel valued by their loved ones. This gesture ensures that no one feels left out or isolated during the party.
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Decor - Favorite Things: Rather than relying solely on heart banners, streamers, and pink glitter, focus on incorporating elements that reflect the group's collective interests. If your friends are movie buffs, create a cinema-themed Valentine's Day party with buckets of popcorn and movie tickets as invites. If they are hockey fans, design the space to look icy with matching paraphernalia. Surrounding your guests with familiar and positive-associating hobbies and interests fosters a sense of comfort and belonging, combating any feelings of loneliness.
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Food and Drink - Charcuterie Reimagined: While charcuterie boards are a popular choice for parties, it's essential to consider dietary restrictions and preferences. Have conversations with your guests beforehand to identify any food and drink concerns. Craft a charcuterie board that includes plant-based alternatives or separate meat and dairy options. For lactose-intolerant individuals, provide milk and cheese alternatives that allow them to enjoy the flavors without any side effects. Taking the time to understand your guests' needs ensures that everyone leaves with a satisfied belly.
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Activity - Appreciative Valentine's Day Cards: Encourage guests to bring Valentine's Day cards to share with one another. These cards need not contain grand romantic gestures but should express gratitude. Alternatively, set up a surprise box at the door where guests can anonymously contribute valentines. Later in the party, these valentines can be read aloud, celebrating everyone's care for one another. This activity promotes a sense of appreciation and love among all attendees.
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Decor - DIY: For a more personalized and artistic atmosphere, encourage guests to craft individual decorative pieces. You can even ask them to bring their own decor to contribute. This not only showcases everyone's creativity but also allows guests to appreciate the effort put into each contribution. If you have friends who are not artistically inclined, they can contribute in other ways, such as renting color-changing lights or assisting with the setup. The goal is to ensure that everyone feels like an integral part of the magical ambiance.
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Food and Drink - Chocolate Bar: Chocolate is synonymous with Valentine's Day, but it is also a crowd favorite beyond the holiday. When preparing a chocolate bar for your party, make sure to include options for all dietary preferences. Additionally, verify that all the chocolate you provide is certified fair trade, demonstrating your commitment to inclusivity and supporting the workforce behind these delectable treats.
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Activity - Open Mic: Open Mic sessions are a fantastic way to showcase the talents and creativity of your friends. Whether someone has a talent for poetry, playing instruments, or stand-up comedy, these activities can be enjoyed by individuals with or without partners. By encouraging everyone to participate and appreciating each other's skills, you create an atmosphere filled with love and celebration.
Valentine's Day Party for All: Valentine's Day should be a celebration of love in all its forms. By incorporating intentional decor, food and drink options, and activities, you can transform the holiday and its parties into an inclusive and joyous affair. Let us eliminate the notion of "Singles Awareness Day" and focus on celebrating all kinds of love - romantic, familial, platonic, and more. With careful planning and consideration, everyone can experience the warm and fuzzy feelings associated with February 14th.
