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If Valentine’s Day is about romance, Galentine’s Day is all about friendship. For teens especially, it’s the perfect excuse to hang out with your favorite girls, take cute photos, eat fun snacks, and just soak up the joy of having besties who get you.
A teen Galentine’s party is basically a celebration of love, the kind that lasts through group chats, late-night FaceTimes, and inside jokes that make no sense to anyone else. It’s about creating memories with the people who make your day better just by showing up.
This guide is perfect for tweens and teens roughly ages 12 to 18, and we’ll walk through planning, themes, food, games, and favors in a way that feels exciting but also totally doable.
How to Plan a Teen Galentines Party Step by Step
Planning doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with the basics, keep things relaxed, and let the fun build from there.
Choose the Vibe and Guest List
The first thing to think about is the vibe, since that decision shapes almost every other choice you’ll make. Some teens love cozy, low key hangs with movies and snacks, while others want music, crafts, and lots of energy in the room, so it helps to picture how you want the night to feel. Once the vibe is clear, choosing the guest list gets easier, and it’s usually best to invite a group that already feels comfortable together to avoid awkwardness.
When it comes to friendship dynamics, smaller groups often mean less pressure and fewer hurt feelings, especially at this age. A big party can be amazing, but only if everyone feels included and relaxed, so there’s no need to invite people out of obligation.
Set the Date, Time and Budget
You don’t have to celebrate right on Feb 13. You can do a Friday night party, a Saturday brunch, or even a chill after-school hangout.
Think about whether this will be a quick evening party or a full sleepover. Once you know the vibe, set a simple budget. Decide what the host will cover and what guests can bring, like snacks, pajamas, or small craft supplies, so everyone feels involved without pressure. K
Get Parents On Board
You’ll want to keep parents in the loop so everyone feels comfortable. Talk through supervision, noise levels, and any food allergies in advance.
Set a few light social media boundaries, too. Maybe have a “photos first, phones down later” rule so everyone’s present without feeling pressured to post the whole night. A little planning here makes the whole thing smoother.
Best Teen Galentines Party Themes
Once you’ve got the basics down, the theme brings it all to life. Pick one that feels fun and then match the snacks, activities, and outfits to that vibe.
Cozy Movie & PJ Night
A cozy movie and PJ night is perfect for teens who just want to relax and laugh together. Let them wear matching pajamas or comfy loungewear so they stay comfortable. Picking a lineup of age appropriate rom coms or friendship movies for the night.
Set up a snack station with a popcorn bar and mix ins like candy, chocolate chips, or caramel drizzle. Teens will love being able to customize their own bowls, and it gives them something to do with while chatting.
DIY Spa and Self-Care Party
A DIY spa night feels grown up in a fun way while still being totally age appropriate. Create a relaxed atmosphere for everyone with activities such as face masks, nail painting, and simple hair braiding activities. Nothing needs to be fancy, since the goal is more about bonding than perfection.
Set the mood with soft blankets, cozy lighting, and a calming playlist. You can also add a short self love journaling moment. This theme works really well for teens who enjoy quieter, more meaningful hangouts.
Galentines Brunch Theme
A Galentines brunch theme is bright, happy, and perfect for daytime celebrations. Serve heart shaped waffles or pancakes paired with fruit. Brunch foods are also easy to prep ahead, which keeps things relaxed.
A cute dress code with pinks and reds makes group photo’s extra fun. Set up a DIY yogurt or bagel bar so guests build their own plates and keeping everyone moving around and chatting. This theme is especially great for parents who prefer daytime gatherings.
Vision Board and Goal-Setting Party
A vision board party lets teens get creative while also feeling surprisingly empowered. Provide magazines, stickers, washi tape, and a little glitter so everyone has plenty of ways to express themselves. Each guest can create a mini goals board that reflects what they’re excited about.
Include an optional positive affirmation circle at the end for anyone who wants to participate. Keeping it optional helps avoid pressure while still offering a meaningful moment.
Pop Star or Taylor Swift Themed Night
A pop star themed night brings lots of energy and excitement into the room. Let everyone show their personality in a playful way by dressing up inspired by different albums or eras. Teens usually love having a reason to go all out with outfits.
Keep the night interactive and silly by having karaoke with friendship themed songs. Consider lyric inspired snacks for extra fun.
Artsy Craft Party
An artsy craft party is perfect for teens who like making things and chatting at the same time. Set up a paint and sip style station with mocktails to make it feel special while still staying age appropriate. Simple projects like tote bags, keychains, or small canvases are easy to manage.
Set up a cute photo wall so everyone can show off their creations. Crafting naturally creates conversation without forcing structured activities. This theme works for both small and larger groups since everyone can work at their own pace.
Galentines Decoration Ideas
A little decor goes a long way. Whether you’re in your bedroom, living room, or a rec room, these simple touches can make it feel like a real party.
Choose a Cute Color Palette
Picking a color palette helps everything feel cohesive without needing tons of decorations. Classic pink, red, and white always work, especially when you add accents like lavender or hot pink. These colors instantly signal Galentines vibes.
You theme can also dictate the color palette you use. Sticking to a palette helps avoid clutter and makes the space feel calmer.
Banner and Balloon Ideas
Balloons are an easy way to fill a space and make it feel like a party. Balloon garlands or heart shaped balloons add impact to the space without needing alot of skill. Bring texture and color into the room with paper heart walls and confetti.
You can also add a Galentines banner with words like “Best Friends ’til the End” or “Powered by Friendship.” Tissue pom poms are lightweight and easy to hang.
Backdrop Decor
Create the perfect spot for group photo’s with a simple backdrop. Fairy lights over a curtain or plain wall instantly make the space feel cozy and special. This also encourages everyone to take pictures together.
Add props like heart sunglasses or boas to keep photo time lighthearted. Put up a tripod or phone stand so people can easily take pictures.
Teen-Friendly Galentines Food Ideas
Let’s be real everyone shows up for the food. So keep it simple, cute, and super snackable.
Easy Savory Snacks Teens Enjoy
Savory snacks help balance out all the sweets and keep everyone satisfied. Heart shaped pizzas or mini pizzas feel festive while still being familiar favorites. They’re easy to serve and usually disappear fast.
Nacho bars, fry bars, or slider trays let guests customize their plates. Snack boards with chips, dips, and pretzels are simple and always popular. These options work well for both daytime and evening parties.
Pink and Red Desserts and Treats
Desserts are where the Galentines theme really shines. Make or buy heart shaped brownies or cookies. Skewer strawberries, marshmallows, and pink candy onto sticks for easy grab-and-go treats. Fill jars or bowls with color-themed candy like red M&Ms, pink jellybeans, or chocolate kisses.
Fun DIY Food Stations for Teens
Turn eating into part of the activity with DIY food stations. Set up a cupcake or cookie decorating station with icing bags, sprinkles, and candy toppings. Create a snack mix bar with cereal, mini marshmallows, and gummy bears.
You can also go full dessert mode with ice cream sundae cups and tons of toppings.
Simple Teen-Friendly Drinks
Drinks can be fun without being complicated. Make a big pitcher of pink lemonade punch with sliced fruit floating inside. Use sparkling water for a fizzy twist.
A cotton candy mocktail where the cotton candy melts into the drink is also special and even better to sip.
Games and Activities for a Teen Galentines Party
Activities help fill the gaps and keep energy up, especially if not everyone knows each other well. Mixing a few structured games with relaxed options usually works best.
Most Likely To (Galentines Edition)
Start with a Galentines themed version of Most Likely To. Write up friendship-themed prompts like “most likely to plan a surprise party” or “most likely to cry during a rom-com.”
Read prompts out loud and let everyone point or laugh without anyone feeling called out. Keep questions light and friendship focused. Break into smaller groups if needed so shy guests feel more comfortable.
Galentines Bingo
Hand out bingo cards filled with friendship moments or silly scenarios like “shared snacks,” “took a group selfie,” or “talked about a crush.”. First one to get five in a row wins a small prize.
Offer small prizes for winners to keep things fun. This works well as a background game. It’s simple but surprisingly engaging.
Charades
Write down prompts based on movies, songs, or inside jokes and toss them in a bowl. Split into teams or play all together depending on the group size. Keep the pace relaxed.
This game gets people moving and laughing pretty quickly. It helps everyone loosen up. No supplies needed beyond paper and pens.
Secret Galentine Gift Exchange
Add excitement to the night with a secret Galentine gift exchange. Set a clear budget ahead of time so no one feels pressure. Draw names before the party to keep things organized.
Stick to easy gift ideas like skincare, snacks, stationery, or jewelry. Turn the reveal into a guessing game or group moment. This is often one of the most memorable parts of the night.
Friendship Bracelet Bar
Set up a bracelet station with beads, string, and charms laid out on the table. Let everyone design something at their own pace while chatting. Bracelets double as favors, which is a bonus.
Scrapbook or Journaling Station
Bring a few printed photos from past hangouts, colored pens, stickers, and mini notebooks. Let guests decorate pages with quotes, inside jokes, or memories. It’s thoughtful and calming, and you can all share your pages at the end.
Party Favors for Galentines
Send guests home with something small that reminds them of the night.
Mini Canvases With Quotes
Paint or print simple friendship quotes on 4×4 canvases. Let guests take one home or write messages on the back for each other.
Personalized Mugs or Notebooks
If you’re feeling crafty (or have a Cricut), customize a few dollar-store mugs or notebooks with names or initials.
Decorated Photo Frames
Buy plain photo frames and decorate them with stickers, glitter glue, or rhinestones. Pop in a group photo from the night, or let everyone frame one later.
Mini Self-Care Kits
Scrunchies, lip balm, face masks, and a piece of chocolate all tucked into a cute bag or jar. Easy, affordable, and always appreciated.
Candy Jars
Fill little jars or bags with candy in your theme colors. Add a name tag or a tiny note like “You’re a sweet friend.”
Printed Photo Strips
If you used a tripod and took group shots, print out a few strips or mini photo collages to send home with everyone. Feels thoughtful and makes the night last a little longer.
