How to Host the Perfect Family Valentine's Day Party
By Associate Producer Christina Schmohl, GalTime.com
Looking for a few, simple tips to host the perfect Valentine's Day party that will satisfy not only your significant other, but also your whole family? Here are some great, expert ideas to get your creativity firing and your love flowing on an occasion that everyone can and should enjoy.
Make home-made cards!
Jon Lal, Coupon and Savings Expert, recommends making and exchanging home-made paper Valentine's as a fun-filled way to involve the entire family. To save money, Lal suggests either using the supplies you already have available in the house- which may include colored construction paper, markers, Valentine's Day candies, buttons or ribbons- or checking the weekly ads section of his website to find stores currently hosting sales on the materials you are looking for. Lal advises considering the children's ages and area where you are crafting before purchasing products and beginning the project.
Related: DIY Gifts for Valentine's Day
Bake together!
Nothing screams Valentine's Day more than decadent sweets. This year, the easiest way to get the whole family involved in the pre-party process is by baking.
Chef Laura Frankel, author and Executive Chef at Wolfgang Puck Kosher Catering, provides simple recipes to make chocolate truffles and chocolate mousse puffs at home. Frankel's treats not only taste great but also make for great finger food at the party.
Can't get enough of homemade chocolate or craving some warm gruyère?
Try one of The Melting Pot's recipes...like this delicious Yin and Yang Chocolate Fondue. The recipe is simple (GET IT HERE) and will satisfy your sweet tooth.
No matter what treats you and your family are craving, homemade cupcakes are always a relatively easy and fun baking project. Wrap your cupcakes with specialized Valentine's Day sleeves and simply layer the frosting to match the design that you and your family choose.
Related: Healthy Valentine's Day Breakfast!
Custom order…
Looking to enjoy treats without breaking a sweat in the kitchen? Customized cookies, which can be ordered from websites like Isabella's Cookies, are another great way to show your loved ones that you really care. Address them to each of your family members or create unique, personalized love messages on each. These treats aren't only tasty -- they look great displayed on a table at your party!
Show the love through décor!
Decorating is another great way to get into the holiday spirit and dress your home for your party. There's no better way to get the entire family involved in the process than by making simple, kid-friendly crafts that would look great displayed on the fridge or -- if you're feeling super festive -- hanging from the ceiling or on the walls.
For a slew of great craft ideas, visit All Free Holiday Craft's website, which estimates both the difficulty level of the craft and cost of necessary materials.
Floral bouquets will brighten up any room and accentuate the Valentine's Day theme. Creating unique bouqets can be a a ton of fun and a great DIY project for the whole family.
Related: Kids' Craft Ideas for Valentine's Day
Floral expert Rachel Cho recommends buying inexpensive bouqets at your local supermarket and dressing them up with colored lollipops and other fun fillers, such as red hearts that can easily be created with stock paper.
Cho emphasizes working with palettes that include two or three colors, such as pink and white, to keep the arrangements simple but striking.
Another great way to spice up the décor is by adding balloons! Sets like E-Z Balloon Kit make it easy to blow up your own.
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