Hosting a Bookish Girls Night…
Host a memorable bookish girls night the right way.
Hello Gentle Readers,
Today we're talking all things bookish girls night! The truth is, as much as I'd love to host one of these, I just don't have enough friends, let alone friends that read. But I thought this would be cool to share for exactly that reason. I haven't hosted one, I haven't tried and failed, all I've ever done is dream about a day where I meet a bunch of nerds just like me, who love the feel of a paperback in their hands, and I could host my perfect bookish girls night! So this one's for my future and current hosting girlies, the ones who stress over color schemes and the perfect menu. Let me share with you my dreams for the perfect bookish girls night! Let's start where our perfect night begins… with the ambiance.
Set the ambiance.
When I think of planning a bookish girls night, my first priority is to set the scene. Not necessarily to one individual book theme, because let's face it, not every book is going to be loved by every book girl, and that's totally okay. You got your romance girlies, your fantasy girlies, your thriller girls, your mystery girls, the list goes on and on. So instead of highlighting what's trending, why not help make everyone feel included? Instead of clinging to a specific world from one book, I try to transport guests into a feeling. That feeling specifically… whimsy… moody… enchanted. The kind of setting that makes you feel like you're somewhere new entirely, while at the same time making you feel like everything a book girly loves about reading. Use candles, hanging vines, fairy lights, dark moody floral arrangements and soft velvet table runners… anything that can take your guest from feeling like a book girl to a book queen. Instead of playing an ACOTAR or Fourth Wing playlist, try old tavern music on YouTube. Don't be afraid to try something different.
Make a mocktail/cocktail.
Whether it's a mocktail or cocktail, you could never go wrong with adding a sprinkle of edible glitter to your pitchers for the perfect "fairy wine" look. Maybe make an option for both drinkers and non-drinkers. Get creative with names, something like "Spring Court" for mocktails and "Shadow Daddy" for cocktails. Serving them in faux goblets adds to the experience without having to break the bank. The goal is to make every cup feel magical.
Set a dress code.
My next suggestion is to set a dress code. It doesn't have to be anything specific or over the top, it can be as simple as dress like your favorite bookish character, or dress from your favorite genre or time period. I find people love the chance to show their personality through cosplay, so why not go for it. I personally wouldn't mind if you came to my bookish girls night dressed as a bookmark. Anything in the bookish world is beautiful to me. Oh, and be sure to place faux tiaras/crowns on the tables. They work for both decor, and if someone forgot to come dressed up, they make for amazing photo ops.
Bookish activities.
Lastly, plan a few bookish activities that guests can take home. Whether it be DIY bookmarks or bedazzled book covers, bookish girlies are full of creativity, and if they're anything like me, they love the chance to add glitter to everything. Haha. I love the idea of playing a game of "Guess This Morally Grey Book Boyfriend." "Guess This Bridgerton." With your favorite characters in literature. You come up with clues, and your book girlies try to guess, it's that simple. Another fun one is "Kiss, Marry, Kill," bookish edition. This is a fun way to stir up conversation and keep everyone laughing.
Wrap up the night with a good movie based on a book.
Wrap up the night with a classic movie that's almost as good as the book, cause let's face it, the book's always better. Haha. But there are a few that come very close to being just as good. Movies like Pride and Prejudice, Twilight, The Lord of the Rings. You can have your guests vote on a genre and fire up your streaming devices. Pop some popcorn, sip sparkly drinks from fancy goblets, wear dramatic crowns, and invite the book girlies in your life to enjoy the world you love… together.
Books are great, but there even better when you have someone to share them with.
With love, Jasmine