Do a quick online search for Valentine’s Day party ideas, and you’re met with a slew of amazing party tables smothered in red and pink. Not that I don’t love red and pink at this time of the year, but I’m on the hunt for something a little less matchy-matchy (even if red and pink are still involved). As it turns out, there are plenty of interesting and unique Valentine’s Day party ideas out there, many of which are created by design bloggers who love putting a special spin on February 14th. If you’re planning a party for this weekend or simply hunting for ways to make the day extra special, this post is for you…

Valentine’s Day Party Decor

Let’s start with finding a look for your party, gathering or date night. I love the chic approach of this Think Pink Valentine’s brunch from Camille Styles, styled by Sophie Collins and Gillian Segal. With tableware from CB2 (such as the roundish mini bowls that hold strawberries below), this girls’ brunch idea has a modern twist. Adding to the modern vibe are the unusual blooms in the middle of the table, which include protea:

Getting creative with your decor requires thinking outside of the box. The hanging arrows and blooms below (left) definitely put an unforgettable spin on this Valentine’s Day shoot from Anissa Manzo of Urban Poppy and Obscura Photoworks (featured at Ruffled). Don’t feel like suspending arrows from the ceiling? Try a simple tabletop arrangement of petals and arrows (below, right).

Fill up on nostalgia with these DIY Conversation Heart Balloons from Studio DIY. Decorate Mylar heart balloons with red letter stickers, and you can channel the look of classic candy while adding a festive touch to your party.

Sometimes the most unexpected party choices are the unusual ones. Mix it up with minerals such as rose quartz. Use them as a backdrop for blooms, or scatter them among a potted arrangement of colorful flowers. [from Rose Quartz Photography and Whim Events via Ruffled]

Try decking the walls or your table with a flower-filled heart container. This DIY floral heart wall installation from A Bubbly Life is easy to put together and makes a fresh, fun impact:

Sometimes the best way to enjoy February 14th is by spending the night in with friends, or your date. In fact, this Valentine’s Day date night from Green Wedding Shoes is extra special, thanks to simple ingredients such as a coffee table, pillows, bud vases and candles, as well as great recipes such as baked mini strawberry donuts and chocolate bourbon strawberry shakes!

Speaking of recipes…

Valentine’s Day Party Food and Drinks

Next up: party food and drinks! Remember this chocolate dessert feast I recently created for Decoist? It illustrates my favorite party rule: make something, buy something. I made the candied oranges and dark chocolate sea salt cookies. I bought the cheese, fruit, chocolate-covered almonds and chocolate bar. Oh, and this whole feast was inspired by the film Chocolat. See more photos and read all about the food here.

If you happen to be sending edible treats home with guests, package it with the help of special ribbons, boxes, bags, tissue paper and more. The selections below are from Paper Mart, featured at Oh Happy Day:

Another idea: create a geo pattern on your bag of choice with the help of Martha Stewart craft glitter. The DIY color blocked glitter gift bags in the next image were crafted by Paper & Stitch:

I heart confetti, don’t you?! That’s why these confetti hearts from A Subtle Revelry caught my eye. Use them to top the baked goods of your choice. They’re an instant embellishment, and they’ll give a homemade look to store-bought treats! Speaking of decorating, how fabulous is this gumball cake decorating idea?!

Another cake decoration idea: this stenciled kiss cake, featured at a Pucker Up Valentine’s Day Party from Studio DIY. A lip stencil and edible pearl dust are the keys to success here. To view free printables and a tutorial from Studio DIY, head on over to Balloon Time.

We can’t forget the power of a special beverage. If you caught my recent post on creative Valentine’s Day ideas, you may already have some fun cocktail plans, but here’s one more to try: strawberry hibiscus rum punch from A House in the Hills,  in partnership with Farra from The Hostess Haven. Special ingredients such as dried hibiscus, honey, white rum and coconut sugar make this drink a real party treat!

I’m heading to the grocery store tonight, and I’m ready to stock up on delicious ingredients for Valentine’s Day. Thanks to the images above, I’m filled with inspiration. I hope today’s post has inspired you too!