One of my favourite events to host each year is a Galentine’s Brunch for my girlfriends. It’s a chance to set a fun, cheerful, unapologetically girly table, eat yummy breakfast food, and spend a few unrushed hours with women I love.

As I prepare for my fourth year hosting this brunch, I’ve been reflecting on why it’s become such a meaningful tradition for me.

Hosting is one of my love languages, and this brunch feels like a love letter to some of the most important women in my life.

What started as a way to break up a dreary February has become something I deeply look forward to every year. I also love that it’s a very manageable event. I might prep a few things the night before — but if I don’t, it’s still completely doable. I simply get up, make a nice breakfast, and decorate the table in between dishes. No stress, no all-day cooking marathon.

Romantic love still gets most of the spotlight around Valentine’s Day, but the importance of friendship can’t be overstated. Our friendships support us, shape us, and often carry us through life’s hardest and happiest seasons.

The concept of Galentine’s Day is usually credited to Parks and Recreation (side note: if you haven’t watched it, highly recommend 😊). As Leslie Knope so perfectly put it:

Honestly? That pretty much sums it up.

Does it have to be brunch? Of course not. Galentine’s could be DIY heart-shaped pizzas, afternoon tea, cocktail hour, or even a full-on Galentine’s Gala if you’re feeling ambitious (and want an excuse to wear that gorgeous red dress in your closet).

For me, brunch just works. I make a very similar menu each year, which makes planning easy and ensures I can accommodate everyone’s dietary needs. It’s low pressure, doesn’t require hours in the kitchen, and feels cozy and welcoming — exactly the vibe I want.

Galentine’s is such a fun, frivolous theme that you really can’t go over the top. I love mixing red and pink, then layering in lace, frills, sparkles… or all three. This holiday loves a little maximalism.

With just a few inexpensive touches, you can create a really special atmosphere. One thing I almost always do for sit-down meals is use place cards and Galentine’s is no exception. It’s such a small detail, but it instantly makes people feel thought of.

Often, I’ll simply write each guest’s name on a heart-shaped paper doily and place it on their plate. Easy, charming, and very on-theme.

The goal is to spend your time with your friends, not stuck in the kitchen. I like to balance a few make-ahead items with easy-to-assemble dishes.

And if you’re not a baker? You have my full permission to grab something cute from a bakery or the grocery store. No one is keeping score.

This is my actual go-to menu:

• Waffles – another wink to Lesley Knope, but they also feel luxurious even though they’re pretty easy to make.
• Whip cream, strawberries, and maple syrup to top the waffles
• Roasted potatoes – one year I tried to cut these into heart shapes before roasting – not worth the effort.
• Mixed citrus salad – pink grapefruit, oranges and blood oranges all sliced.
• A spinach salad – another savoury option to balance the sweet. Note – it is easy and worth it to cut cheese into heart shapes 😉
• Some brie cheese with crackers – if you add some raspberry jam to the top of the brie and pop it in the microwave for less than a minute, you’ll have a delicious tangy dip.
• A couple of mini sweet treats – It would be easy to go overboard here but remember your guests have already had a waffle and probably won’t have much more. Some years I’m ambitious and bake and decorate sugar cookies and sometimes I go simple.

You can plan a craft, but I don’t usually find it necessary, especially for a morning gathering. The magic is simply being together.

That said, you’ll want photos, so I always recommend setting up a simple festive backdrop. Easy ideas include:

• Red, pink, and white balloons
• Streamers, paper chains, or a banner with a sweet saying
• Pink and red envelopes (or more paper doilies) taped in a pattern on the wall

Some other simple traditions you might love:

• A casual toast to friendship
• Writing little Valentine notes to each other
• Rom-com quote cards — guess the movie!

Set the tone with a feel-good, girly playlist. I like a mix of nostalgic favourites, a few newer songs, and sometimes even classical. Movie soundtracks work beautifully and the orchestral pop covers from Bridgerton are always a hit.

Friendships need attention and they deserve to be celebrated.

If you have women in your life who support you, inspire you, and make you laugh, why wouldn’t you want to honour that? If you’ve been thinking about hosting something like this but keep putting it off, let this be your sign.

Cooking waffles and setting a pretty table? It’s hard to beat.

Don’t overthink it. Your gathering doesn’t need to look exactly like mine; I just hope this inspires you to create your own version of Galentine’s magic.

Written by Laura Peters Varao