Hosting a Girls Night In
We all know 2020 is a tough year. It’s been filled with uncertainty.
Over the past several months, I have gained a renewed appreciation for spending time with loved ones. Nothing compares.
My girlfriends and I always get together for birthday celebrations throughout the year. We have a couple friends who are both Virgos, and we typically celebrate them in September after everyone returns from their summer travels.
This year is a bit different. We didn’t make reservations at our favorite restaurant or plan a mini staycation. With all that’s going on, we decided to organize a GNI… a Girl’s Night In.
Invitations
When entertaining, for me, it always starts with the invitation. The look & style of the invitation sets the tone for the event. Modern, funky, feminine or seasonal…this is the guest’s first indication of what’s in store for them if they attend. My go-to electronic invitation source is Paperless Post. They have a great selection of digital cards, done very well for all themes and occasions.
Next up-Décor!
The invitation serves as my own inspiration for what I’ll do with the tabletop details. Everything from the color scheme, to the china and most importantly (for me), FLOWERS! I love and appreciate what beautifully cut flowers do for the look and feel of the room. They bring a wonderful sense of nature to the table and they are often a great talking point!
Personalize
With large gatherings out of the question, it is easier to personalize an intimate party. When I host a group of eight or more, I always provide place cards. Not only is it a considerate way to ensure your guests don’t feel the awkward pressure of choosing where to sit, but it can also serve as a thoughtful touch. For example, if two friends haven’t seen each other in a while, I make sure to seat them next to each other. For this GNI, I placed the birthday girls next to each other for photo opps and birthday cakes. Their location also had the best view.
I like to include signature cocktails during girl’s nights. It’s a fun, easy way to add something different, based on guests’ preferences and the theme of the party. For this event, the signature cocktail was a ‘Claritiki’.
Claritiki Recipe:
2oz – Petron Platinum blanco tequila
¾ oz- fresh squeezed pineapple juice
¾ oz- fresh squeezed lime juice
¼ oz- Cointreau
Small dash of salt
Since our GNI was a birthday celebration, and there were two celebrants, we did two cakes! Each of their favorites, a New York-Style Cheesecake for Tracy and a Coconut Cake for Jolene. I also prepared a digital birthday message to display near the dinner table, in keeping with our theme.
Lastly, weather permitting, it’s always nice to be outside. Growing up in the Midwest, I appreciate enjoying the great outdoors when temperatures allow.
Large events are exciting and fun, but intimate get-togethers are often more meaningful and memorable.