Couch Café Party
The Idea —
This girls’ night became an immediate favorite, and I can see why. No extravagant menus, no over-the-top planning, just a simple, cozy night to relax and yap with friends. Lounge attire only, with BYOB: bring your own blanket. I wanted this to feel like a warm, comfy catch-up, and it ended up being just that!
With that being said, I’d seen these ‘at home cafes’ all over social media, and I knew I wanted to take a spin at my own version. The focus here was all about making this evening more intentional and special, without breaking the bank.
After the stress of the holidays, this girls’ night theme was the perfect rest and reset. Want to host one of your own? Here’s how.
How I Prepped —
It really is all about the small things. When it comes to hosting, the personal touches are almost always going to be the most memorable. This doesn’t mean everything has to be customized and labeled, but some hand-written/tangible details go a long way. I did this through:
Mini bouquets in paper cups to spark joy
Hand-written messages and affirmations on bowls and cups
Customized coffee cups with messages reminding us all to slow down for ourselves
Using my favorite unique mugs to hold utensils
Hand-written menu signage with warm goodies like grilled cheese + soup
Customized matchbooks (I do this a lot!)
I promise you, most of these things took 5-10 minutes to do, and everyone was talking about them all night. The mini-bouquets were 100% not necessary (but absolutely worth it)! I, also, set out some self-serve activities like puzzles, coloring, and board games.
What We Ate —
This was meant to be fun and simple, so for food and drink, we weren’t breaking the bank. You don’t have to make an entire four-course spread every time you host! I did this through:
Pre-made snacks from the store like scones, cookies, and fruit
Grilled cheese + chili as the main dishes (easy to make)
You can get fancy with this! For grilled cheese we had three options: classic, caramelized onion/gruyere, and an apple/brie/honey. I baked these in bulk in the oven and then covered them with tinfoil and placed the tray on my trusty warming mat to keep them warm as people arrived.
My friend made this chili recipe everyone loved! Put this in a crock-pot so you can set it and leave it.
Simple drink options: coffee, tea (if you’re like me, get a friend who loves tea and can bring all of their special flavored ones), espresso martinis if you’re feeling it
The Results —
What You Need —
I will always recommend using what you already have, but these are some of the things I purchased. I liked using disposable items so that I could easily customize the items with a sharpie. The personalization of these items is part of what made this night feel so special!
Decor:
my favorite tablecloth (wipeable & versatile!)
basic white bud vases (you’ll use these over and over again)
bistro awning (many color options)
Foodware:
to-go coffee cups (you could thrift a variety of mugs, though!)
