How to curate a Valentine’s Day watch party

Host a Valentine’s watch party with themed movies, charcuterie boards, mocktails, and fun games.

If you are planning a Valentine’s special watch party – be it with your friends, fellow couples or other singles – here’s a master list that will sort your woes.
Watch a movie, but make it fun
Including games before and along with the movie could be a fun experience. “Couples can make a list of things, words or gestures that they spot in a movie and keep it striking off the list. If it’s a big group, they can play Bingo. Whoever finishes first wins. The watch party can begin with classic dumb charades,” says Ashmika Gupta, co-founder of Cheer Spree, a games curator company.
Food = Love
“For Valentine’s Day, keep it classy, simple yet fancy with charcuterie and dessert boards – some cheeses, crackers, olives, brownie bites, mini donuts and cookies. These boards look cute while kept on the table, it’s easy to circulate and makes you feel fancy at the same time,” says Sristi, a grazing board expert.

Eat everything heart-shaped for V-Day (pics: @sristiscookhouse)

“For a perfect at-home Valentine’s watch party, a well-balanced, easy-to-drink mocktail with a romantic red hue is key. Ingredients like strawberries, cranberries, or cherries add depth and colour, while fresh lime juice brings brightness,” suggests Sarthak Batra, mixologist and founder of Ikigai.
Mood-lighting, themes and party favours
To make things interesting, choose a theme that resonates with your watch party – romcom marathon, classic love story night or anti-Valentine’s Day watch. Set the mood with soft, warm lighting. Arrange comfortable seating options, such as plush couches or bean bags and set the mood with soft, warm lighting. You can opt to have themed party favours, customised to feature guests’ names in a heart-shaped candy or cookie.
– inputs from Joel Johnny, a party host

Clockwise: Stills from Pride and Prejudice, The Notebook and Veere Di Wedding

Let the movies reflect your mood
If you have a romcom marathon – go for films like When Harry Met Sally, The Proposal, Crazy, Stupid, Love, or To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Jab We Met
If you want a mushy love story – opt for timeless tales like Casablanca, Roman Holiday, The Notebook, Pride and Prejudice, A Walk to Remember, or Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
If you want an anti-Valentine’s Day – choose movies that poke fun at love, He’s Just Not That Into You or (ironically) Valentine’s Day
If you are celebrating Galentine’s – gather your gal-pals and binge on films like Mean Girls, Clueless, Pitch Perfect (1, 2 and 3), Veerey Di Wedding
If you are hosting a singles’ night – cue in movies like enola holmes, zindagi milegi na dobara, the hangover, yeh jaawani hai deewani
– Recommendations by Shreya Verma, a member of Dilli Cine Culture