How to Host Your Own Galentine's Day Brunch: A Step-by-Step Guide
Hosting a Galentine's Day brunch doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. It just has to feel intentional. If you've been wanting to gather the women in your life but don't know where to start, this guide will walk you through my hosting framework: the same approach I use every time I set a table and create space for connection. This isn't about perfection. It's about making room for people in a way that feels genuine and doable.
Step One: What's the Theme?
Every gathering I host starts with a theme. Not in the decorative sense, but in the feeling sense. The theme answers the question: What are we honoring here?
For Galentine's Day, the theme is simple: celebrating the women who show up for you. The women who hold you up, who make life feel less heavy, who deserve to be seen and appreciated.
Your theme doesn't need to be elaborate. It just needs to give you a north star for every other decision you make. When you know what you're honoring, the rest falls into place.
Step Two: Tablecloth or Not?
This might seem like a small detail, but it matters. A tablecloth can soften a space and add warmth. No tablecloth lets the table itself be part of the story.
For my Galentine's brunch, I skipped the tablecloth. I wanted the wood table to show through and let the garland, flowers, and place settings do the visual work. There's no right answer here. Just ask yourself: does this table need softness beneath it, or does it feel better standing on its own?
Step Three: Pick a Color Scheme
A color scheme gives your table cohesion without requiring everything to match perfectly. For Galentine's Day, you might assume everything needs to be pink. It doesn't.
I used a mix of blush, cream, gold, and white. Some pieces had pink tones. Others didn't. The iridescent heart garland I made with Dollar Tree ribbon and doilies tied it all together, but the table didn't feel overly themed or one-note.
The key: cohesion doesn't mean uniformity. A few intentional touches in a similar color family will make your table feel pulled together without looking like everything came from the same catalog.
How to Create an Affordable Color Scheme:
Start with what you already have: white plates, clear glassware, neutral linens
Add 2-3 accent colors through napkins, florals, or small decor pieces
Use Dollar Tree or thrift stores to fill in gaps without spending much
Don't be afraid to mix textures: matte and shiny, soft and structured
Step Four: Choose Your Dinnerware
I don't buy dinnerware for one occasion. I buy pieces I can use across seasons and gatherings. For this brunch, I used white plates, vintage glassware, and mismatched flatware. Some pieces had blush tones. Others were cream or gold.
The goal is to choose items that feel timeless and versatile. Ask yourself: will I use this again? Can it work for spring, summer, or another celebration? If the answer is yes, it's worth having.
Dinnerware Tips for Galentine's Brunch:
White or neutral plates work for any occasion
Mix vintage and new pieces for a collected, lived-in feel
Glassware doesn't need to match. Mismatched glasses add character.
If you're buying new flatware, choose a simple design you'll use year-round
Step Five: Plan the Food
Brunch is one of the most forgiving meals to host. People are happy with good coffee, fresh fruit, and something warm. You don't need a complicated menu to make people feel cared for.
For my Galentine's brunch, I kept it simple and shareable:
Yogurt parfaits with berries and granola
A fruit platter with seasonal options
Croissants with butter and jam
Champagne
Coffee, lots of coffee
Nothing required precise timing or complicated prep. I wanted to spend the morning with my people, not stressed in the kitchen.
Simple Galentine's Brunch Menu Ideas:
Avocado toast bar with toppings like cherry tomatoes, feta, and everything bagel seasoning
Pancakes or French toast with fresh berries and whipped cream
Egg casserole you can make the night before
Charcuterie board with cheeses, crackers, and fruit
Mimosa bar with different juices and garnishes
The best brunch menus are the ones that let you sit down and enjoy the gathering instead of managing logistics.
Step Six: Add a Craft for Connection
One of my favorite parts of hosting Galentine's Day is including a craft. Not as filler, but as a way to keep hands busy while we talk, laugh, and catch up on life.
For this brunch, we made DIY charm bracelets. I set out small bowls of charms, beads, and thread at each place setting. Nothing precious. Just materials that invited people to make something they'd actually wear or keep.
Crafting together is a form of care. It slows the gathering down. It gives people something to focus on without needing to fill every silence. And everyone leaves with a small reminder of the morning.
Other Galentine's Craft Ideas:
Pressed flower bookmarks
Hand-lettered cards or notes to each other
DIY candles with personalized scents
Painted mini planters with succulents
Friendship bracelets with embroidery thread
Choose something tactile, personal, and simple enough that it doesn't require intense focus. The craft should support conversation, not replace it.
Step Seven: DIY the Decor
Most of the decorative items on my Galentine's table came from Dollar Tree. Hosting doesn't have to be expensive to feel thoughtful. It just has to be intentional.
I bought iridescent heart ribbon and various heart doilies, then spent an evening hot gluing the doilies onto the ribbon to create a garland. It cost maybe ten dollars and took less than an hour. The result felt cohesive, handmade, and specific to the gathering.
I also grabbed small vases, faux florals, and pink napkins from Dollar Tree. The key wasn't buying everything in one aesthetic. It was choosing pieces that felt like they belonged together.
DIY Galentine's Decor Ideas:
Paper heart garland using cardstock and string
Hand-lettered place cards with each guest's name
Mason jars wrapped in ribbon as bud vases
Doily placemats from the dollar store
Tissue paper pom poms in your color scheme
You don't need to spend a lot to make a table feel special. You just need to spend a little time.
Step Eight: Set the Table with Intention
Once you have your theme, color scheme, dinnerware, and decor, it's time to set the table. This is where everything comes together.
I start by placing the plates, then add the glassware and flatware. I layer in the napkins, folded simply or tied with ribbon. Then I add the small touches: the garland, a few florals, the craft materials at each seat.
The table doesn't need to look like a magazine spread. It just needs to feel like someone took the time to make space for the people sitting down.
Table Setting Tips:
Layer plates if you have them, but one plate is fine too
Fold napkins simply or tie them with ribbon for a small touch
Add one small element at each place setting: a name card, a single flower, or the craft materials
Use height variation with candlesticks, small vases, or stacked books under decor
Leave enough room for food platters and serving dishes
Step Nine: Create the Right Atmosphere
Hosting is about more than what's on the table. It's about how the space feels when people walk in.
For Galentine's Day, I wanted the atmosphere to feel warm, unhurried, and welcoming. I put on a playlist of soft, upbeat music. I lit a few candles. I made sure there was good light coming through the windows.
Small touches like these make people feel like they're entering a space that was made ready for them.
Ambiance Ideas:
Create a playlist that matches the mood: upbeat but not distracting
Light candles or turn on warm lighting
Open windows if the weather allows
Have coffee brewing when guests arrive so the smell fills the space
Set out a small welcome drink or snack as people gather
Step Ten: Let Go of Perfection
The last step in hosting a Galentine's brunch is letting go of the idea that everything needs to be flawless. It doesn't.
Your friends aren't coming to judge your napkin folds or notice if the flowers are fresh or faux. They're coming because you made space for them. Because you chose to gather. Because you cared enough to try.
Hosting is an act of care, not performance. The women at your table will remember how they felt, not whether everything matched.
What You Actually Need to Host Galentine's Day
Here's a quick checklist of what you actually need:
For the Table:
Plates, glassware, flatware (mismatched is fine)
Napkins
A simple centerpiece: florals, candles, or a garland
Optional: tablecloth or runner
For the Food:
Coffee and champagne (or juice for mimosas)
2-3 simple brunch dishes
Fresh fruit
Bread or pastries
For the Craft:
Materials for your chosen activity
Small bowls or containers to hold supplies
Instructions if needed (but keep it simple)
For the Decor:
A garland, banner, or small decorative touch
Candles
Fresh or faux florals
Dollar Tree is your friend here
For the Vibe:
A playlist
Good lighting
A welcoming, unhurried energy
Hosting as an Act of Care
Hosting a Galentine's Day brunch is less about having the perfect setup and more about creating a space where the women in your life feel seen, appreciated, and cared for.
You don't need an expensive table or a complicated menu. You don't need everything to match or look like it came from Pinterest. You just need intention. You need to show up for people in a way that feels genuine.
Use this framework as a guide, but make it your own. Choose a theme that resonates. Pick a color scheme that feels right. Plan food you can actually manage. Add a craft that invites connection. DIY what you can. And most importantly, let go of perfection.
The women at your table will remember the laughter, the conversation, and the fact that you made room for them. That's what hosting is. That's what matters.
