Every once in a while the idea of going out on the town for a Girl’s Night Out becomes dull. Whether you’re in a bad mood or are just tired of the repetitive, you can’t force the enthusiasm necessary to even get dressed up. However, you don’t want to miss your chance to catch up with the ladies. The answer is clear, suggest something new. Why not suggest the idea of a Girl’s Night In?
Once you’ve flown the idea past your friends, there’s a pretty good chance that most of them will be excited to do something new as well. Even if there are a few of them that aren’t as excited, they’ll probably show up for fear of missing out on anything - so include them in the amount to plan for. Also, make sure to plan for one or two extra people. You never know when a newcomer will join the group. Try to keep the date the same as the original night out. It will make it easier as the date should have already been marked down and schedules cleared. As you’re the person who suggested the night, your friends will look to you to figure out where to hold the gathering. If it’s possible, hold the party at your house. That way, you’ll make sure nobody feels put out because of your idea.
After the date and location have been set, the party planning begins. Remember, while it may be a small event with your close friends, you were the one who suggested it. Pay attention to the small details that shows your friends that you were really excited to do this and it wasn’t just an excuse for you not to go out.
Seating
I know it sounds like a given, but don’t forget to make sure that there is enough places for your guests to sit, relax, and be comfortable. You don’t want your guests standing for lack of places to sit, or worse having to sit on the floor! If you plan on having the gathering in your living room, bring in some extra chairs from your dining area. While they may not be as comfortable as your couches, they will still provide more of a comfort than the floor.
Food
Appetizers are a must! Even if you normally don’t eat with the ladies when you go out, you are on a whole different playing field now. You don’t want to have to ruffle through your pantry to see if you can quickly put something together if someone gets hungry. Better off to be prepared and put together snacks that your friends can load onto their plate and enjoy. Depending on the time of the party and whether or not your group normally eats together, you may run into serving dinner. If that’s the case, prepare yourself for some cooking. Not every single person has the same tastes, so try to get a few different recipes that will allow for sides. Making a variety sides along with your appetizers will ensure that everyone is satisfied. Try asking around to friends to see what they’d prefer. It’ll make picking the food much easier.
Drinks
Again, this is a must! There is nothing that starts the night off right like a good cocktail. Thankfully, there are so many different types of cocktails that even getting the basics allows for you to make a variety of drinks. Have fun with this and don’t be afraid to come up with some drinks that your friends haven’t heard of before - as long as you know they’re delicious, chances are some of your friends will love them too!
At a loss for ideas? Check out this cocktail collection! It’ll give you a starting point for choosing the perfect cocktails for your party!
Another quick tip: Pick up one or two bottles of wine for those non-cocktail drinking friends!
Entertainment
Start the evening off with background music. The radio works fine for most occasions, but with all the commercials, it might be a better idea to create a playlist for the night. Create a CD or plug in your iPod, and keep the music loud enough to be heard, but low enough that people can carry on a conversation. Remember, it’s supposed to be background music - you don’t want your guests having to yell over the noise.
As the night progresses, you can do a few different things. However, as you probably don’t know what everyone will be in the mood for, you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared for anything.
- Movies - After eating and drinking a bit, you and your friends may decide that you all are in the mood to see the new romance comedy that was just released. Or you may decide that a classic is in order. Most likely, your own movie collection will carry a good amount of good movies, so don’t worry about the classics. However, it wouldn’t hurt to rent that new movie. Even if you don’t watch it with your friends, you can watch it later and return it after.
- Games - After the alcohol has started to kick in and your guests are feeling relaxed, it might be time to break out the games. They’re an easy way to get people involved and happily busy. Choose ones that suit your style of friends - whether it be trivia-style games or adult-style games. Run to the closest store and pick up a few because they’ll be sure to generate a lot of laughs for parties to come.
After you’ve done everything you can do to set up your memorable Girl’s Night In, you’ve finally come to the main reason of the night - to socialize! Luckily, you don’t have to do anything for that but enjoy!
Final Tip: Have a camera handy to catch those moments that you want to remember forever!
