How To Throw A Galentine's Day Brunch Leslie Knope Would Envy

Feb. 14 may be for lovers, but Feb. 13 is for your girlfriends. The day before Valentine's Day is the lesser-known but more awesome holiday for female friendship: Galentine's Day.

Invented by Amy Poehler's Leslie Knope during a 2010 episode of Parks and Recreation, Galentine's Day has since materialized into an actual holiday where ladies gather, eat brunch, and tell each other how much they love one another. And while you may not have binders filled with party planning ideas and all of your friends likes and dislikes like Leslie does, you can still invoke her spirit and throw an incredible brunch. Here's how:

Invitations
Paper invitations are a little too formal for most events, but no detail should be overlooked for a Galentine's Day celebration. Etsy has printable Galentine's Day party invitations for sale, like this one, so mail these out a few weeks before the party and be sure to get RSVPs back in a timely manner.

Décor
Going over-the-top with decorations is exactly what Leslie Knope would do, so channel her energy and don't be afraid to do too much. Fill the table with floral arrangements and heart-shaped confetti. At each seat, don't forget to include a place card that doubles as a party favor for your girlfriends. Succulents, chocolates, or small vases with your friend's favorite flower are all Galentine-worthy.

Menu
If there's one thing Leslie Knope loves more than her friends, it's sugar. Fill your brunch menu with sweet breakfast foods, such as waffles, French toast, and fruit salad. And no gathering of your girlfriends would be complete without cocktails. In addition to the classic mimosa, serve strawberry bellinis, cherry martinis, and other perfectly pink cocktails to celebrate your femininity.

Activities
You don't need to do much to have a good time on Galentine's Day — the company of your friends will do. But, this is a day where you make sure your friends know how much they mean to you. Give mini speeches to each of your friends telling them exactly why you love them. Be sure to also give them a meaningful greeting card and customized parting gift, such as a customized throw pillow or a photograph of the two of you in a decorated frame, to really get the message across.