How to Host a Valentine's Day Party

You don't have to be in love to celebrate the day of lovers. Whether you're single or coupled, love and affection are universal. This makes Valentine's Day the perfect lighthearted holiday to throw a playful celebration for all.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Specialty cocktail
• Martini glasses
• Supplies for the alter ego drink tags
• Variety of chocolates
• Aphrodisiac food menu
• Assorted wigs and lipsticks

Flirt On!

1. Give your pals the opportunity to show off their best flirting techniques by inviting a mixed crowd from all spheres of your loop. New blood always brings life to the party!

2. Send out a Valentine's Day-themed Evite with party details and encourage guests to bring their enthusiastic friends with them (see Resources below).

3. Tie alter ego name tags to the stems of your drink glasses. Then invite guests to write something sassy on them like, "I've got my eye on you," along with their phone number or the name of their alter ego. Be sure to have a few preprinted ones for shy guests with one-liners like, "Pick up line forms here," or names like Mrs. Robinson, Dr. Love and Casanova.

4. Use Superman or Kiss band logo patches and buttons as boutonnieres and corsages. Or, glue mini-disco balls to corsage pins and make your own boutonnieres.

5. Feature a chocolate tasting bar. Style this like a wine tasting bar, but instead of glasses, give everyone sugar tongs to select their nibbles. Print up sheets for tasters to mark down their comments, and be sure to include terms to inspire funny remarks like, "a big, chewy, charming chocolate with great legs." Present the chocolates in assorted jewelry boxes and glass-lined frames. Find unique chocolate ideas at Boulela (see Resources).

6. Set up a wig and lipstick bar for the ladies. Arrange a bar with outrageous wigs and lipsticks and watch the alter egos fly.

7. Park a photo op for guests to take advantage of their amazing new looks. Have instant cameras, sharpies and a photo album ready for guests to shoot, sign and leave their mark. Or you can rent a photo booth (see Resources).

Tips & Warnings

• Serve beer, wine and a specialty cocktail like a Flirtini to keep the guests boozin' and the costs down. See the Related Articles list on the top right for How to Make a Flirtini Cocktail. Always have water and soft drinks on hand for pacers and guests who aren't drinking.)
• Take the friskiness to another level and cook or order out aphrodisiac foods. Pick out a few from Woman's Passions (see Resources).

Resources

• Send your invitation using Evite.
• Great chocolates can be found at Boulela.
• Rent a photo booth at Classic Photo Booth.
• Get ideas for aphrodisiac foods.

[Natty]

on 2/10/2007 A V-day party is a good idea. Love day is on a different date in the country where I live, but the ideas are still very useful. I think I'll actually do this. We have a shop nearby that sells specialty chocolates. I'll probably have some made with my friends' names, with the kinds of flavors I know they like best. It's a great thing to help people to feel special.