When you have kids in tow, Valentine's Day festivities take on a whole new meaning (I think parents reading this will nod at this point), and the phrase three's a crowd springs to mind? :)
Because of that fact, I've often shared family-friendly Valentine's Day party ideas, recipes and crafts here on the blog.
But this year, since my kiddos are a little older; I fancy a little dinner date with my husband!
You see, when you're a work from home mom, your fashion sense tends to feature lower in the priority scale. It's not really intentional, just one of those "balls" that we have to keep juggling constantly otherwise it WILL drop, and next thing you know, you're wearing sneakers everywhere like you used to back in college...
So my husband is not used to seeing me in a dress or heels much. So much so, that when I got all dolled up for this shoot he said -"You know, I saw a beautiful princess in your studio today!"
I blushed (who knew you could blush after 11 years of mariage?!) and said "oh, this old thang?!" ;)
The moral is: no matter how old you are, I can guarantee you that if your other half says you look like a princess, it will be the only incentive you need to organize dinner dates more often. So here we are!
Dinner dates for us can be going out, but I often prefer staying in and watching a good old movie after the kids go to bed. It's our time to partay. Yes, we're wild like that :p
But the ideas in this shoot would totally work if you're having girlfriends over for lunch, brunch or dinner on Valentine's Day. Or why not, a bridal shower too?!
A Modern Valentine's Day Dinner Party - Table Styling & DIY Decorations
Whether you're styling a romantic dinner for your other half or having girls 'round, Valentine's Day gives us an excuse to go all out with the hearts and cute details when dressing a table.
As usual, there are some easy and inexpensive DIY details in this shoot that you can totally copy at home!
XOXO DIY Painted Tablecloth
The tablecloth was a DIY painted paper runner we created for the occasion - simply use black acrylic paint and a white paper tablecloth to paint random XO all over. It's a simple yet cost-effective way to help tie in all the decor details.
Easy DIY Flower Arrangement
For this table we loved incorporating simple flower arrangements that even someone who thinks they're "creatively challenged" can pull off in style.
We picked a few red, pink, fuchsia and blush rose anemones and inexpensive carnations for bulking out our mini vases. Using carnations is a great trick used by party planners to create volume without breaking the bank!
DIY Table Centerpiece
To accompany our low-maintenance flower arrangements, we opted for grouping pink and red candles in our table centerpiece. Not only it provides extra warmth and light to the table, but it offers a really structural element that I love!
Keeping the candles at varying heights ensure that the display looks interesting and gives it that modern vibes we're looking for in this table.
A Modern Valentine's Day Dinner Party - Menu
DIY Scratch Card Menus
To complete each place setting we made some DIYscratch card menus for the fun factor! We have a really simple way to making these that involves nail polish(!), so watch out for a tutorial and freebie printables coming next week.
Your guests will truly love revealing their menu selection at the table. Trust! :)
Valentine's Day Dinner Party Menu
For my dinner party menu with my man, I intend to serve prawn bisque, followed by steak with Roquefort sauce and homemade sauteed fries. I don't know many men who could resists a steak and fries dinner, so I'm going for the 'catch him by his stomach' philosophy ;)
For dessert, I'm serving pink champagne jello (recipe coming later in the week) to share.
But if you have girlfriends around, you may want to serve a lighter menu.
I love cooking. It's my way to show someone I love them. So I'll be cooking with pleasure. Whatever you decide, please know you don't have to cook all yourself - some of your fav restaurants may have a totally suitable take-out option or even home-delivery, so go for that option if you don't fancy cooking.
Valentine's Day Photo Booth Props
I love photo booths. Whatever the occasion, they really inject a little fun factor into the festivities. And the fact that you have cool photos after the party is a huge bonus in my book, so I'm all up for including photo booths in any event I host. And Valentine's Day is no different.
Heart shaped balloons, love your #selfie balloons or even that heart eyes emoji balloonwould make great photo booth props. They're an easy and inexpensive option, a little more different from all the usual photo booth props you see around...and totally adorable! ♥
Aaaand, cute balloons can also hide your face, if for instance; you have no make-up on!! ;)
A Modern Valentine's Day Dinner Party - Credits
Styling and photos: Bird's Party
Balloons: Bird's Party Shop
Chocolate hearts: SweetWorks
Polka dot party straws: BirdsParty.com
Click here for more Valentine's Day party ideas!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As a seasoned expert in hosting Valentine's Day parties, I understand the challenges that come with celebrating this special day when you have kids. Trust me, I've been there! That's why I've dedicated myself to sharing family-friendly Valentine's Day party ideas, recipes, and crafts on my blog. However, this year, as my children have grown older, I've decided to indulge in a dinner date with my husband.
Being a work-from-home mom, my fashion sense often takes a backseat. It's not intentional, but rather a consequence of constantly juggling various responsibilities. However, on this special occasion, I wanted to surprise my husband by getting all dolled up. When he saw me, he compared me to a beautiful princess, and it made me blush after 11 years of marriage. This experience taught me that no matter how old you are, being complimented by your other half can be a powerful incentive to organize more dinner dates.
For my husband and me, dinner dates can involve going out, but we often prefer staying in and watching a movie after putting the kids to bed. It's our time to unwind and enjoy each other's company. However, the ideas I'm about to share can work equally well if you're having girlfriends over for lunch, brunch, or dinner on Valentine's Day. You could even adapt them for a bridal shower if you'd like!
Let's start with table styling and DIY decorations. Valentine's Day gives us the perfect excuse to go all out with hearts and cute details when dressing a table. In this shoot, you'll find some easy and inexpensive DIY ideas that you can easily replicate at home.
One of the DIY details we created for the tablecloth was a painted paper runner featuring random XOs. To achieve this look, all you need is black acrylic paint and a white paper tablecloth. It's a simple yet cost-effective way to tie in all the decor details.
For flower arrangements, we opted for simple yet stunning combinations. You don't need to consider yourself creatively challenged to pull them off. We chose red, pink, fuchsia, and blush rose anemones, along with inexpensive carnations to add volume without breaking the bank.
To complement the flower arrangements, we grouped pink and red candles in the table centerpiece. This not only provides warmth and light but also adds a structural element to the table. Varying the heights of the candles ensures an interesting display with a modern touch.
Now, let's move on to the menu. To add a fun factor to each place setting, we created DIY scratch card menus. Guests will love revealing their menu selection at the table. Trust me, it's a hit!
For my dinner party with my husband, I plan to serve prawn bisque as an appetizer, followed by steak with Roquefort sauce and homemade sauteed fries. I believe that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, so I'm going for the 'catch him by his stomach' philosophy. To top it off, I'll be serving pink champagne jello for dessert (the recipe will be coming later in the week).
If you're hosting a dinner with girlfriends, you may want to consider a lighter menu. Remember, cooking is a wonderful way to show someone you love them, but it doesn't mean you have to do it all yourself. Your favorite restaurants may offer suitable take-out or home-delivery options, so don't hesitate to explore those alternatives.
Lastly, let's talk about photo booth props. I absolutely love photo booths because they add a touch of fun to any event. Plus, you get to keep cool photos as memories. For Valentine's Day, you can use heart-shaped balloons, love your #selfie balloons, or even a heart eyes emoji balloon as props. These options are easy, inexpensive, and add a unique twist to the typical photo booth props. And hey, cute balloons can even hide your face if you're not wearing makeup!
To wrap it up, I hope these ideas inspire you to create a modern Valentine's Day dinner party that suits your style and preferences. Remember, it's all about celebrating love and cherishing those special moments with your loved ones. Whether you're hosting a romantic dinner for two or a gathering with friends, embrace the opportunity to create lasting memories. Happy Valentine's Day!
Credits: Styling and photos: Bird's Party Gold Flatware: Birdsparty.fr Balloons: Bird's Party Shop Chocolate hearts: SweetWorks Polka dot party straws: BirdsParty.com Pink Stripes Baking Cups: Birdsparty.fr
If you're hungry for more Valentine's Day party ideas, click here!
