I have been dying to throw a GAL-entine’s event! As far as I know, it has not been done here in South Africa, but it is ever-so-popular on overseas platforms! I just adore the idea of getting your gal pals together for either a brekkie, a champagne brunch or a dinner and celebrating friendship! When a friend asked me to host her party at my place, my brain sprinted out of the starting blocks and literally sped away! I was going to get the chance to actually DO THIS, and the celebration happened to be one week after Valentine’s day, the perfect timing! I went with the theme of ‘ Rose’ all day’ and since I anticipated this event being something unique, I approached specific vendors for their services and talents, and everybody was super keen to hop on board!
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I had two make-up artists who arrived early to set up, and then issued girls 45 minute arrivasl slots, arriving in 2’s so that make-up could be staggered, with the birthday girl arriving last. What an absolute treat this was and the girls looked like supermodels once the artists had finished with them. While make-up was being done, the girls could go and help themselves to a glass of bubbles from the champagne wall. A MEGA exciting aspect of the evening, was a company, Kinda Different SA, issuing us we a supply of their incredible glitter candy floss bombs (You’re the bomb!!) that come in a variety of incredible flavours like Apple-sparkling Emerald green, Banana-shimmering Blue, Cranberry Sparkling Red, Litchi-Shimmering Silver, Bubble-Gum Sparkling deep Blue, Black diamond Liquorice sparkling Black, and the list continues……36 incredible flavours in total, each turning a different colour in the glass and tasting INCREDIBLE as well as leaving the champagne completely glittery!!! Like have you EVER? What a winner for parties, weddings and gender reveals!! We also started snacking on pre-dinner donuts from the donut wall!!! (You donut know how much I love you!) Eat dessert first peeps is my motto!
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Once the girls were looking glam, we moved across to the eating area, where a beautiful grazing table had been setup for us to eat from! Next to each girls place setting was a pair of earrings handmade according to each girls favourite colours and personality, aswell as beautiful necklaces with their names “stamped” on, and placed into beautiful hessian bags with ‘Be Mine, XOXO’ on. While grazing on dinner there was so much laughter and funny stories, aswell as lots of posing for photos on a chaise longue with props like giant heart sunglasses and posters “You’re like, really,really pretty” and “You’re the Monica to my Rachel”. A gin bar had also been set up on a candy cart with various gin flavours and garnishes and beautiful confetti glasses! Our birthday girl is in love with anything glittery, sparkly and of course, champagne! While seated for supper, we also brought out the main birthday cake, a delicious chocolate one topped with sparklers and a laser cut cake topper that said “hey girl” and wished our friend well! She loves being the centre of attention and being lavished with love, she won’t mind me saying so!!!
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Once our hunger had been satisfied, we moved into a different room where paint canvasses, palettes and paints has been setup for each girl. Two of the most exquisite floral arrangements had been made for the occasion, and with music playing, bubbly being sipped, laughter abounding, the girls got to work at painting the floral arrangements. This activity was SUCH a winner!! The girls all loved it, and did so well (apart from the odd one who became the laughing stock of the evening!!)
After this, we realized we were running short on time with the covid curfew in place! Each girl had a goodie bag tied with a red heart helium balloon waiting for them to fill with an abundance of goodies:
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Nail polishes- I love that we are friends
Lip balms – You’re the balm! (bomb)
Laser cut gold 3d boxes shaped like diamonds filled with jelly tots- Shine bright like a diamond
Bottles of Rose’ (Be Wine) aswell as stunning vases of flowers for each girl- Will you accept this Rose’?
3D handcrafted pizza boxes filled with mini mallows- You have a pizza my heart
Tomato seeds- I love you from my head to-ma-toes!
Fake succulent hearts- I’m a succa for love
Popcorn sachets – We’re butter together
Heart sunglasses- I only have eyes for you
Pop rocks – You rock my world
Stunning scented candles from Cape Island- You light up my life
Candy pink pots of chewing gum- I chews you!
Rose hand cream- Hands down you’re the best!
Heart coffee mugs filled with latte sachets and a heart chocolate- I love you a latte
Little tins of “KISS ME” mints
The backdrop to this setup was a stunning poster which was designed and framed, made just for the birthday girl, saying “She’s bright like glitter and sparkly like champagne.”️
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️ She got to take this home.
Lastly there was a mad dash for the dessert table which was adorned with all sorts of sweet yumminess:
Chocolate cake
Glitter-heart-topped carrot cupcakes
Champagne and hand-painted heart butter cookies
Macaroons
Cakesicles
Red velvet heart cakes
Red and pink Lindt balls
Valentines mallows
Popcorn
Red love potion drink
Mini cutie pie choccies
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After a brief present-opening, the girls left with arms full, hearts and love-tanks overflowing, and ribs still aching from all the laughs! Truly a night we will all never forget and are still talking and laughing and reminiscing about!!