When you have kids in tow, Valentine's Day festivities take on a whole new meaning (I think parents reading this will nod at this point), and the phrase three's a crowd springs to mind? :)
Because of that fact, I've often shared family-friendly Valentine's Day party ideas, recipes and crafts here on the blog.
But this year, since my kiddos are a little older; I fancy a little dinner date with my husband!
You see, when you're a work from home mom, your fashion sense tends to feature lower in the priority scale. It's not really intentional, just one of those "balls" that we have to keep juggling constantly otherwise it WILL drop, and next thing you know, you're wearing sneakers everywhere like you used to back in college...
So my husband is not used to seeing me in a dress or heels much. So much so, that when I got all dolled up for this shoot he said -"You know, I saw a beautiful princess in your studio today!"
I blushed (who knew you could blush after 11 years of mariage?!) and said "oh, this old thang?!" ;)
The moral is: no matter how old you are, I can guarantee you that if your other half says you look like a princess, it will be the only incentive you need to organize dinner dates more often. So here we are!
Dinner dates for us can be going out, but I often prefer staying in and watching a good old movie after the kids go to bed. It's our time to partay. Yes, we're wild like that :p
But the ideas in this shoot would totally work if you're having girlfriends over for lunch, brunch or dinner on Valentine's Day. Or why not, a bridal shower too?!
A Modern Valentine's Day Dinner Party - Table Styling & DIY Decorations
Whether you're styling a romantic dinner for your other half or having girls 'round, Valentine's Day gives us an excuse to go all out with the hearts and cute details when dressing a table.
As usual, there are some easy and inexpensive DIY details in this shoot that you can totally copy at home!
XOXO DIY Painted Tablecloth
The tablecloth was a DIY painted paper runner we created for the occasion - simply use black acrylic paint and a white paper tablecloth to paint random XO all over. It's a simple yet cost-effective way to help tie in all the decor details.
Easy DIY Flower Arrangement
For this table we loved incorporating simple flower arrangements that even someone who thinks they're "creatively challenged" can pull off in style.
We picked a few red, pink, fuchsia and blush rose anemones and inexpensive carnations for bulking out our mini vases. Using carnations is a great trick used by party planners to create volume without breaking the bank!
DIY Table Centerpiece
To accompany our low-maintenance flower arrangements, we opted for grouping pink and red candles in our table centerpiece. Not only it provides extra warmth and light to the table, but it offers a really structural element that I love!
Keeping the candles at varying heights ensure that the display looks interesting and gives it that modern vibes we're looking for in this table.
A Modern Valentine's Day Dinner Party - Menu
DIY Scratch Card Menus
To complete each place setting we made some DIYscratch card menus for the fun factor! We have a really simple way to making these that involves nail polish(!), so watch out for a tutorial and freebie printables coming next week.
Your guests will truly love revealing their menu selection at the table. Trust! :)
Valentine's Day Dinner Party Menu
For my dinner party menu with my man, I intend to serve prawn bisque, followed by steak with Roquefort sauce and homemade sauteed fries. I don't know many men who could resists a steak and fries dinner, so I'm going for the 'catch him by his stomach' philosophy ;)
For dessert, I'm serving pink champagne jello (recipe coming later in the week) to share.
But if you have girlfriends around, you may want to serve a lighter menu.
I love cooking. It's my way to show someone I love them. So I'll be cooking with pleasure. Whatever you decide, please know you don't have to cook all yourself - some of your fav restaurants may have a totally suitable take-out option or even home-delivery, so go for that option if you don't fancy cooking.
Valentine's Day Photo Booth Props
I love photo booths. Whatever the occasion, they really inject a little fun factor into the festivities. And the fact that you have cool photos after the party is a huge bonus in my book, so I'm all up for including photo booths in any event I host. And Valentine's Day is no different.
Heart shaped balloons, love your #selfie balloons or even that heart eyes emoji balloonwould make great photo booth props. They're an easy and inexpensive option, a little more different from all the usual photo booth props you see around...and totally adorable! ♥
Aaaand, cute balloons can also hide your face, if for instance; you have no make-up on!! ;)
A Modern Valentine's Day Dinner Party - Credits
Styling and photos: Bird's Party
Balloons: Bird's Party Shop
Chocolate hearts: SweetWorks
Polka dot party straws: BirdsParty.com
Click here for more Valentine's Day party ideas!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As a seasoned party planner and enthusiast, I can confidently say that I have a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to organizing Valentine's Day festivities, especially when you have kids in tow. Trust me, I understand the challenges that come with trying to celebrate this romantic holiday while also catering to the needs of your little ones.
In the past, I have shared numerous family-friendly Valentine's Day party ideas, recipes, and crafts on my blog to help parents navigate this special occasion. However, this year, with my children a little older, I have decided to indulge in a dinner date with my husband.
Being a work-from-home mom, I often find that my fashion sense takes a backseat in my list of priorities. It's not intentional, but rather a consequence of constantly juggling multiple responsibilities. Before you know it, you're wearing sneakers everywhere, reminiscent of your college days. So, it's safe to say that my husband isn't accustomed to seeing me dressed up in a dress and heels.
In fact, when I got all dolled up for a recent photo shoot, he was taken aback and remarked, "You know, I saw a beautiful princess in your studio today!" Blushing after 11 years of marriage, I replied with a playful "oh, this old thing?!"
The moral of the story is that no matter how old you are, when your significant other compares you to a princess, it becomes a powerful incentive to organize more dinner dates. And that's exactly what we did! While our dinner dates can involve going out, we often prefer to stay in and enjoy a good old movie after putting the kids to bed. It's our time to party, even if it means being wild in the comfort of our own home.
However, the ideas I'm about to share are not limited to just dinner dates. They can be applied to gatherings with friends for lunch, brunch, or dinner on Valentine's Day. You could even use them for a bridal shower if you're feeling adventurous!
Let's start with the table styling and DIY decorations for a modern Valentine's Day dinner party. Whether you're setting up a romantic dinner for your partner or hosting a girls' gathering, Valentine's Day gives you the perfect excuse to go all out with hearts and cute details when dressing up the table.
In this shoot, you'll find some easy and inexpensive DIY details that you can easily replicate at home. For instance, we created a DIY painted tablecloth using a white paper tablecloth and black acrylic paint to randomly paint XOs all over. It's a simple yet cost-effective way to tie in all the decor details.
When it comes to flower arrangements, we aimed for simplicity and affordability, so even those who consider themselves "creatively challenged" can pull it off in style. We chose red, pink, fuchsia, and blush rose anemones, along with inexpensive carnations to bulk up our mini vases. Using carnations is a handy trick employed by party planners to create volume without breaking the bank.
To accompany the low-maintenance flower arrangements, we opted for a table centerpiece featuring pink and red candles. Not only do they provide warmth and light, but they also add a structural element to the table. By varying the heights of the candles, we ensured that the display looked interesting and exuded a modern vibe.
Now, let's move on to the menu. To add a fun factor to each place setting, we crafted DIY scratch card menus. These menus, made with a simple technique involving nail polish, will surely delight your guests as they reveal their menu selections at the table. Trust me, it's a hit!
For my dinner party with my husband, I plan to serve prawn bisque as the starter, followed by steak with Roquefort sauce and homemade sautéed fries. I firmly believe that most men can't resist a steak and fries dinner, so I'm going with the philosophy of catching him by his stomach. As for dessert, I will be serving pink champagne jello (recipe coming later in the week) for us to share. If you're hosting a gathering with girlfriends, you may want to opt for a lighter menu.
To add an extra element of fun and capture memorable moments, I highly recommend setting up a photo booth. Photo booths inject a little excitement into any event, and the fact that you'll have cool photos to cherish afterward is an added bonus. For Valentine's Day, you can incorporate heart-shaped balloons, "love your #selfie" balloons, or even a heart-eyes emoji balloon as props. These options are easy, inexpensive, and add a unique touch to your photo booth experience.
Lastly, I would like to give credit to the individuals and companies that contributed to the success of this modern Valentine's Day dinner party. The styling and photos were done by Bird's Party, and you can find gold flatware, balloons, and other party supplies at Bird's Party Shop. Chocolate hearts were provided by SweetWorks, polka dot party straws by BirdsParty.com, and pink stripes baking cups by Bird's Party.
I hope these ideas and tips inspire you to create a memorable Valentine's Day celebration, whether it's a romantic dinner for two or a gathering with friends. Remember, it's the thought and effort you put into the occasion that truly matters. Happy Valentine's Day!
