Last weekend I hosted a few close friends at home, for a sweet Galentine’s Brunch. It was intimate, casual and simple. It ended up being a rainy, gloomy day outside, so the gals and I thoroughly enjoyed sipping and chatting the afternoon away!
TABLETOP
There are two ways to go with Valentine’s themed anything really. Option A) over the top pink + red. The heart balloons, the streamers, the bold colors, heart everything. Option B) A slightly more elevated, sophisticated soft pink theme with hints of the holiday popping through. A one-off heart shaped accent, a few balloons, etc. One is not better then the other {in fact I really do love both options}, but for this gathering I went with a more muted palette and overall theme. I wanted the space to feel feminine, yet inviting and a little casual even {since we are in my home after all}.
Sourcing from Bed, Bath & Beyond‘s amazing collections of tabletop items, it wasn’t hard to piece together the soft palette I was going for. I opted for a clean, crisp white dinner plate with a taupe charger for a little contrast. Paired with beautiful pink goblets and textured pink napkins for a touch of that Valentine’s feel. Topped with the sweetest detail of all – these Hershey kiss dishes! All and all it was a clean look to achieve with just a few pieces!
FOOD
We all know I’m not a major cook over here {HA}, but breakfast/brunch is typically where I shine. Even so, I didn’t want to do anything overly complicated. I skewered a few store bought donut holes, served bacon {cooked in the over so the smell didn’t fill the entire house}, hash brown patties and fruit cups in these sweet crystal dishes we received from our wedding registry. In the homemade department, I baked gluten free blueberry muffins {heeeey – look at that!} the evening before and mini broccoli + egg frittatas. For the frittatas, I used this heart shaped pan.
CANDY BAR + GIFTS
Instead of stocking my bar cart with the traditional glassware and beverages, I went with a mini candy bar! It added more color to the space, and who doesn’t love a little treat post-brunch? I filled a few of my favorite apothecary jars with the usual suspects: Dove chocolate {seriously the best}, Hershey’s kisses {classic, duh}, M&M {a mix of peanut and regular} + Miss Hannah’s Popcorn Valentine’s Mix!
Greenleaf Gifts was kind enough to send goodies for myself and the ladies to enjoy as well! Their ‘peony bloom‘ scent was perfectly suited for the occasion. I had their glass jar candles burning the entire afternoon, and basically every day since! I’m obsessed. I’m actually not typically a floral candle gal, but this scent is perfectly balanced. It fills a room without overpowering your nostrils {if that makes sense haha}.
MUSIC
I specifically wanted the vibe of this brunch to include softer, classic tunes. A bit of a departure from my usual jams, but I really do love the classics from the 60’s + 70’s and never seem to have the ‘proper’ forum to play them. I felt this would be oh-so-fitting for a more girlish ambience, and the ladies loved it! Check out my ‘Girly / Brunch’ Playlist if you’re going for the same feel, or my friend Candy Shop Vintage’s ‘Galentines Mix’ Playlist that’s a little more upbeat
Photos by Julie Livingston Photography 
