How to throw a Valentine’s Day party for singles

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all about cuddly couples. This year, throw a bash for all your single gal and guy pals. Follow these tips and suggestions for food, drinks, decorations and more to throw a Valentine’s Day party for singles.

Serve a signature drink

A fully stocked bar can be expensive. Instead, serve a signature cocktail that is perfectly suited for Valentine’s Day. Premix the drinks in pitchers or a punch bowl, with backups in your refrigerator (then you won’t have to be mixing all night). This Valentine’s cocktail recipe (courtesy of Tommy Bahama) is a fabulous choice.

Valentini

Ingredients:

2 1/2 parts Tommy Bahama White Sand Rum
3/4 part orange liqueur
3/4 part sour mix
3/4 part raspberry liqueur sinker
Sugar in the raw

Directions:

Mix the rum, orange liqueur and sour mix. Shake 20 times. Pour into a martini glass rimmed with sugar in the raw. Slowly pour in raspberry liqueur so that it sinks to the bottom of the glass. Garnish with a lime twist.
Outside of your featured drink, be sure to have nonalcoholic beverages on hand for nondrinkers, plus coffee available at the end of the night.

Mix up a batch of Valentine’s Day strawberry rum punch >>

Keep the food simple

Serve an assortment of appetizers that are easy to make and not messy to eat. Make bite-size appetizers such as crostini, pinwheel sandwiches and stuffed cherry tomatoes. Kabobs are always a favorite, whether made with meat and veggies or colorful fruits. Steer clear of foods that are heavy on the garlic or onions (or provide plenty of mints, in case some people do find romance that evening).

Invite people you don’t know

For every guest that you invite, ask that person to bring along someone new (and single) who’s outside your social circle. This is a fabulous way to expand your group of friends and meet new people.

Read about how to make any appetizer look gourmet >>

Skip the red decorations

Don’t plaster your home in hearts and red decorations. You don’t want people to feel pressured to meet someone special or feel melancholy because they’ve just gone through a breakup. Instead, keep it upbeat and fun. Consider bright color combinations for invitations and decorations, such as turquoise and tangerine or hot pink and lime green.

Create an inviting atmosphere

The lighting shouldn’t be too bright or too dark. You want people to be relaxed and comfortable, but it doesn’t have to be like an ultra-lounge. Put amber or yellow bulbs in some of your lamps, add a few candles and turn the overhead lights down or off. When it comes to music, put together a good mix of dance music and more relaxed (but not sappy) songs. Don’t make the mistake of putting on the music so loud that people have trouble hearing each other talk.

Make it a theme party

Lei

Some people won’t come to a party if you just dub it as a “singles mixer.” Instead, create an interesting theme. For example, you could advertise it as a “Winter Luau” — serve Hawaiian food and give everyone a lei at the door. Another idea is to make it a charity party. Pick a charity, such as the American Heart Association, then collect optional donations from the guests.

The key to a great party is to keep everyone talking, provide plenty to eat and enjoy yourself. If you’re having fun, your guests will follow suit. Being single on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be sad if you throw a cool Valentine’s bash.