Thanks to American Greetings for sponsoring this post! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own – thanks for supporting the brands that make Charmingly Styled possible! Galentine’s Day has become the perfect occasion to show your gal pals how much you appreciate them (something we should definitely do more than once a year, but sometimes you need the reminder!) and I’ve spent the past few years having brunch or treats with my best girlfriends to celebrate. We never go over the top, but we like to indulge in a few sweet treats (I brought some tasty Italian wedding cookies this time around), drinks, and cute decor to give an excuse to be extra-girly. We spend the morning cracking jokes, and going around the table to share what we appreciate the most about our group of friends – which may sound kinda sappy, but it’s always the best part.

Now that we’ve had this tradition for a few years, I’ve put together a few of my favorite tips and traditions that make our annual get-togethers extra special. If you’re planning to host a Galentine’s Day party (you should!), here’s a few of my favorite tips to host the perfect event!Don’t overthink it!

I always get stressed whenever I host a party, but I’ve learned over the past few years that it’s not worth the stress of overthinking it. Rather than feeling like I need to do everything myself, I’ve started to enlist the help of my girlfriends who are coming over by having them bring their favorite dish to pass. I’ll usually bring something sweet (this time I brought Italian wedding cookies this year!), whip up the drinks and put together a side – fruit salad and strawberries. That way I don’t feel too overwhelmed and can focus on putting together other finishing touches before my friends arrive.Get Cute Decorations (That You Can Say Goodbye to!) 

Rather than spending a fortune on expensive decorations, I hit up the Valentine’s Day section of Target to buy cute, affordable decorations that I wouldn’t mind throwing away once brunch is done. I bought these cute heart-shaped plates, napkins (that were even Galentine’s Day themed, holla!) heart stir sticks, and a garland to serve as the centerpiece (again, super easy – nothing too fancy!) You don’t need to spend a fortune to get the Galentine’s Day theme going and you can still make a spread that looks festive and fun.   Make it Personal

One of my favorite traditions during our annual brunch is exchanging Galentine’s Valentines to each other. We all come to brunch with a Valentine for each other, writing something we appreciate or a fun memory we have with each other from the past year. As a big lover (….hoarder) of stationary, I take it upon myself to find the perfect Valentine for each of my friends – and I found so many beautiful and funny Valentine’s Day cards by American Greetings at Target this year. They have a wide selection of Valentines for your boyfriend, husband, best friend, mom, dad (really, anyone you love in your life) and they have everything from a thoughtful note to an adorable joke. I went in for an American Greeting’s card for each of my friends at my Galentine’s Day brunch and ended up leaving with a card for all my co-workers, my parents and even Tom – score!  Anyways, brunch was a success and it was so nice getting together with a few of my favorite ladies again this year. Are you planning on having a Galentine’s or Valentine’s Day get together this year? I’d love to know what your favorite traditions are (and what cute Valentine you’re planning to get your Valentine too!) xx