How To Plan Girlfriend Time: Galentine’s Day & Beyond

Are you looking for a way to plan Girlfriend Time with your besties? Consider hosting a ladies’ brunch or dinner for Galentine’s Day. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s a great time to plan a small gathering of girlfriends. I’m sharing some photos from my last brunch event and some Galentine party ideas. Staying in touch and nurturing friendships is so important, and it doesn’t have to be hard.

Y’all know how I love to entertain and have parties with friends. My blogging friends and I recently shared Galentines Brunch ideas, and it reminded me of how much I’ve missed having friends over. So let’s get started planning some girlfriend time.

(Posts on The Ponds Farmhouse may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See the full disclosure details here.)

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Why is Girlfriend Time Important?

I feel it’s essential for women to nurture themselves with girlfriend time. I’ve read many studies that believe women need other supportive women in their lives. It is true that women who regularly socialize with girlfriends are mentally and physically healthier. 

In fact, the Mayo Clinic has a list of friendship benefits which include:

• Reduced Stress
• Improved self-confidence
• Increased happiness, sense of belonging, and purpose
• Help you cope with traumas, such as serious illness, death, job loss, and divorce.

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Let’s Plan Girlfriend Time

Are you a planner, organizer, or leader? If not, you may have to push yourself to plan a girlfriend event. Entertaining is about more than just the food or the table setting. It is about gathering friends and family to make lasting memories. Here are some tips to get you started.

• Start with something small – just a handful of friends.
• Don’t feel you have to plan a meal, maybe just a happy hour drop-in just after work.
• Allow everyone to bring a snack or a dish. Don’t feel you have to provide all the food
• If you are uncomfortable having your first event in your home, meet for coffee, a glass of wine, or dinner out.
• After a few outings, you may feel encouraged to host a brunch or dinner party in your home.

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Invitations

First, set a date that your friends can participate in and send the invitations!  Just do it!

In the past, I’ve purchased lovely invitations and mailed them from the post office; however my last brunch, I decided to send text messages as invites. You can design the cutest invitations using Canva’s free templates. I loved how simple it was to create and how cost-effective it was to send.

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(Posts on The Ponds Farmhouse may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See the full disclosure details here.)

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Brunch Menu

Y’all know I love to entertain but don’t like to cook. I always have at least one thing on my menu that I prepare myself.

The rest I leave to the professionals! I also want to stress that you don’t have to break the bank to have your girls together. If you love to cook, then go for it. However, if you’re like me, just do what feels good to you. Remember, it’s essential that you enjoy this time together with your guest. 

Cheese, Crackers, and Berries. Croissants from Sam’s Club are ready to add to the table without much effort.

Last week I shared this recipe for Artichoke and Sun Dried Tomato Bites. It’s a great brunch recipe; you can make them and freeze them in advance.

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 I also like cucumber sandwiches for brunch!  

You can mix up the spread ahead of time and make the sandwiches easily on the day of the brunch. The rest of the menu usually consists of items I can easily order or pick up from grocery delis or bakeries.  

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Planning the Girlfriend Time Table

How the table looks is half the fun, and if the table is appealing, the food is secondary for a perfect Girlfriends or Galentine’s Brunch.

Appealing Table Tips

 It’s important to vary the heights of your food platters.  I used a plate rack with two levels and a couple of cake stands as risers for this brunch.  I didn’t use a tablecloth for this casual display, so I needed props that would vary the height of each plate.  

If you plan a tablescape with a tablecloth, you can use boxes under the cloth to add varying heights.  I like to have two clothes, one for the base of the table and one to drape over the boxes I use. 

You can also wrap boxes in wrapping paper to use as risers.  This is a fun idea, especially for kids’ parties, showers, and other events.  
Look for interesting items around the house, such as wooden boxes, stacks of plates, small stools, and old books.  These can be used as risers to make your table more appealing.  

Create an interesting centerpiece using unexpected items such as these grain scoops.

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Before The Girlfriends Brunch

Once I have everything planned, I start preparing.  I place orders for items I don’t intend to prepare myself.  I shop for all the ingredients and supplies I need for the event.  Anything that can be prepared in advance is prepared and frozen or refrigerated. 

The Day Before

The day before, I prepare as many things as possible, like fruit dip, cucumber spread, fruit, etc. In addition, I pick up all the items I’ve ordered from the bakery and deli.  

The Day Of The Brunch

You will want to allow time to make sandwiches, fill your platters with your prepared supplies and bake or heat any last-minute items. I love to have a signature cocktail at the beginning. Therefore, everything is chilled and ready for the guest to arrive.

Now relax and enjoy the party.

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Here are 5 Tips to Plan a Casual Dinner Party that you may enjoy.

Supper Club Brunch

At our virtual supper club, Galentine’s brunch, everyone contributed to the meal. This is a great way to cut costs and energy. Most friends want to contribute something; all you really have to do is provide a location and one dish.

If you missed our menu, I’m sharing it again today for your convenience.

• Raspberry Prosecco Cocktail – Anne & Ann Marie – Simply 2 Mom’s
• Artichoke & Sun Dried Tomato Bites – Rachel – The Ponds Farmhouse
• Simple & Classic Fruit Salad – Jen – Mid West Life & Style
• Zucchini Quiche – Stacy Ling Bricks N Blooms
• Heart Linzer Cookies – Michele – Vintage Home Design

Conclusion

Just remember, the purpose of this brunch is to gain some girlfriend time and have fun. It’s important to your overall health. You can read more about the Health Benefits of Girlfriend Time here. With Valentine’s just around the corner, now is a great time to plan a small brunch or dinner, and I hope you will give it some consideration. You might also enjoy reading Spring Dinner Party Table Setting for more table ideas.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

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