Most of us think of Valentine’s Day as a “couples only” event, but it’s actually a great time of year to throw a party. Many couples enjoy spending Valentine’s Day with other couples, celebrating the joy of a happy relationship. If you’re single, why not host a singles Valentine’s party? It’s a great way for people who are single to enjoy Valentine’s Day without a partner. Plus, you might be able to make a few matches amongst your single friends.

A Couples Bash

If you’re planning a party for couples, give some thought to your guest list. It’s great to have a mix of couples who have been together for quite a while with couples who are young in their relationship. This gives younger couples the chance to mix with people who have happy long term relationships. It also gives many different perspectives on love.

Hosting a dessert party is especially good at Valentine’s Day. This way, couples can go out for an intimate one on one dinner, and then join other couples for dessert and coffee. A buffet of desserts (heavy on the chocolate) provides a sweet and traditional ending to the holiday.

Consider finding a “trivia game” for your couples. Something along the lines of “The Newlywed Game” works well because couples get to test how well they know each other. Also consider handing out prizes to recognize different couples. You could have a prize for the couple who’s been together the longest, the couple with the most children, the couple who met most recently, etc.

When it comes to decorating, think red and heart shaped. Roses make perfect centerpieces, and paper lace doilies are perfect as liners for your serving trays. Light candles, put on soft music, and the mood is set.

Singles Party

If you’re hosting a singles party, plan to make it an evening long event. This avoids your single friends lamenting that they don’t have a dinner date for Valentine’s Day. If you don’t want to serve a sit down dinner, simply have heavy hors’d oeuvres so that guests don’t leave hungry. When it comes to dessert, you can make it just as romantic as you would at a party for couples.

“Get to know you” games are perfect for singles Valentine Day parties. They help guests mingle and meet new friends, which is particularly effective if you think there might be potential love matches among the guests. On the other hand, if your guest list is made up of people who already know each other well, you can skip the games altogether and focus on mingling and socializing.

Many people never consider giving a Valentine’s Day party because it seems to be a time that’s “off limits” for parties. But, many people, whether or not they’re part of a couple, enjoy having a special occasion for the evening. Decide on your guest list, check out the great Valentine’s Day invitations on MyExpression.com and get going on your exciting Valentine’s Day party.