Host a Ladies Night In That Won’t Stress You Out

The ritual of ladies night is one of the best ways to bond with your besties, and while a dinner out may be fun with a small group of 3 or 4, hosting at home is the way to go for a larger group. I think the perfect size is 8 to 15 girlfriends if you’re doing a potluck style gathering, or 5 to 6 if you’re doing it all yourself.

Here’s why I prefer ladies night in over ladies night out. It’s far more relaxing to be in someone’s home than in a busy restaurant. It’s easier to talk and listen without the noise of the public, and it’s easier to move around and get in on different conversations.

Have you ever been in a restaurant and been stuck talking to the person on your right or left all night? Or worse – they’re engaged in conversations that don’t include you and you’re just sitting there as a spectator. Well, ladies night at home eliminates that.

When you’re the host you can make the party as large or small as you feel comfortable. Plus you can invite the people YOU want to spend time with. It’s a great way to insure you’re never left out of the conversation.

Ladies Night Themes

Creating a theme can give the night an extra boost of fun. It can be as simple as a color like I’ve done here, a game or activity, or more elaborate with decorations and costumes. It doesn’t really matter as long as your girlfriends know they’re there for a good time. Here are some great ideas for ladies night themes.

• Everyone will love a ladies night chocolate tasting party; it’s particularly fun during cooler months.
• Take advantage of moderate temperatures outdoors and set up a wine themed ladies night. 
• After the holiday season, a swap party is the perfect theme to encourage everyone to clean out their closet or home and share their treasures.
• Make it a game night with Bunco, Mahjong, Pokeeno, Dominoes, or card games. Or set up activities like a spa night or flower arranging.
• In February, host a Galentines party and keep it relaxed with a romance movie night at home. So much fun to watch with your besties!
• Don’t forget about the holidays; for Halloween host a gothic glam ladies night, and for Christmas have a holiday girls night in.

Easy Appetizers

If you’re serving a meal you want your appetizers to be light enough so your guests don’t get too full. I like to prepare a limited quantity of bite-sized appetizers if that’s the case.

However, my favorite way to host the ladies is to create a meal out of appetizers. Choose 3 or 4 recipes to mix and match from my list of appetizers for girls night in. There’s dips and spreads, crostini, finger foods, and more.

In keeping with the color scheme here, goat cheese crostini are super easy to make, but very flavorful. These bites are sweet and tangy, with a bright finish, and they coordinate perfectly with the red and pink.

• Just slice a French baguette into thin slices and toast in the oven at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes or until crisp. Let cool to touch and spread on a layer of goat cheese or cream cheese. Sprinkle the top with pomegranate arils, diced strawberries or roasted grapes, and garnish with fresh chopped herbs.

Presentation is everything when you serve mini portions. I made white cheddar + salami bites and skewered them with rosemary stems. They’re easy to pick up and they look and taste fantastic.

Speaking of cheese & salami, turn a party cheese board into a meal to graze on all night. Make olive tapenade flatbread that’s just like those they serve in restaurants, and the red peppers match the color scheme. Serve refreshing watermelon basil salad in mini glasses for individual portions.

Cocktails 

Get the party started with some delicious ladies night cocktails. If the weather is good, set up a makeshift mini bar outdoors. Simply pull a couple of tables outside and place food on one table and cocktails on another.

A few bottles of wine is a great option for ladies night and it keeps things simple, or you can prep for a signature drink that matches in color.

For this party I made pomegranate sparkling martinis for the signature cocktail. With the ingredients for this drink guests also have the option of sipping on straight champagne. Two options are always better than one!

Another option is this red carpet cocktail with vodka and pineapple, or a cherry martini.  

Dessert

To end the night on a sweet note, try one of these dessert options. Each one was chosen with the party colors in mind so you can coordinate from beginning to end.

These mini black & white parfaits are my personal favorite for this party. My double fudge brownies are a good alternative and they’re hand held portions make them easy to eat, plus, you make them ahead for easy hosting.

On the lighter side, these stuffed strawberries and cream are delicious as an accompaniment to other sweets or great on their own. For a little more effort (but still very easy) these strawberry angel food desserts are an excellent choice.

Set a Simple Tablescape

A seated table may not be absolutely necessary, but it can make a lovely focal point. Here’s how I set a simple table for the girls.

Use fabric right off the bolt to create a table runner. Black and white stripes make a stunning visual base and can be paired with any other color(s). In this case, I’ve used pink and red as complementary colors.

Everyday white dinnerware is appropriate to use. But if you have a black and white combo set, use it here. Placing black napkins on the plates can give give you a similar affect.

Vibrant red roses make a beautiful no-fuss centerpiece on the table. Red is a beautiful complement to black and white, and it looks good with the pink hues.

Table Favors

DIY mini s’mores kit favors are the perfect party favor all year. Place a box on each place setting for guests to take home. Tie them with a tag that says “thank you” or one that has guests’ names on it.

So there you have a complete plan for hosting ladies night in. Go ahead and send an evite or text to invite some girl friends over. And if you still need convincing here’s an article about why a girls night out is good for you.