Beth Moran’s top tips for a great Girls’ Night In
- People want to feel welcome, not impressed.
Key to a successful Girl’s Night is that everyone feels comfortable.
Some of us have no problem letting others into the mess and the chaos of our home. Others feel like they need to redecorate the whole house first.
Here’s what I think: if our house is immaculate, people feel like they need to behave immaculately. If we welcome people into our Real Lives – a bit of clutter, the odd stain, sense of humour essential – they feel able to relax and be themselves, and that’s when everyone has a good time.
I want people to take their shoes off so they can get comfy, not because they’re worried about getting my carpet dirty.
And if you feel more comfortable keeping your shoes on, that’s fine by me.
- Know your limits – if you’re feeling stressed, so will everyone else
Whatever you’re doing, keep it simple. Be realistic. Choose menus that you can prep in advance. One of my go to meals is two pots of chili – one meat, one vegan. Cook it beforehand. Assemble (or buy) a couple of nice salads, add dips, tortilla chips and some nice bread and then all that’s needed last minute is to cook some rice. For a crowd, I bake jacket potatoes.
- Even better – ask everyone to chip in
WhatsApp groups are perfect for this. Let people know what main course you’re cooking, then ask them to sign up for a salad, bread, dessert, drinks etc. If that’s still going to make you stressed, get a takeaway.
- Set up a drinks station
You’ve got enough to do, so make sure people can help themselves to drinks. If there are people you don’t know who might not feel comfortable getting their own, assign someone else to keep the glasses topped up.
- If someone offers to help, find them a job.
Some people are happier in the kitchen doing something than sitting with people making small talk.
- Don’t fret about decor
Fancy table settings won’t make or break your gathering. If that’s something you love to do, go for it, but if not then a string of fairy lights, a few patterned napkins or a couple of candles go a long way.
- Choose an outfit that’s going to be comfy
You’ll be grateful to be wearing something cool and easy to move about in. Avoid straps that need hoiking up or scratchy lace. Trust me, it will matter when you’re rushing about in a hot kitchen.
- Classics are better than cool
If you want a playlist, think about choosing music that suits the demographic of the group. If in doubt, most people enjoy a few cheesy classics from their past.
- Keep moaning to a minimum
It’s great to share, but there’s a limit. I once went to a Girls’ Night that ended up in a weird competition about who had the worst husband. It wasn’t fun hearing about these random men’s bad habits, and I didn’t meet up with that particular group again.
- When it comes to invites, think about quality over quantity
What’s the point of the night? If you want to share a meal around a table with stories, laughter and everyone getting a chance to make conversation, keep the numbers low. If you want a party, that’s a completely different vibe so plan accordingly.
Most of all, remember to enjoy yourself. People don’t want perfection, they want to feel at home.
You can pick up Beth’s latest book all about family and friendship here: https://mybook.to/wearefamilysocial