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There’s nothing better than a girly girls’ night to catch up, get cozy, and feel like your most playful, creative self again. Whether it’s been a week or a month since you’ve seen your besties, there’s something magic about setting aside time for a night that’s full of laughter, sugary treats, and a little sparkle. I’m sharing six of my favorite girly girls’ night ideas that are perfect for when you want a cozy, ultra-feminine evening filled with heartwarming vibes and Instagram-worthy details.
Over the past year, I’ve made it a goal to host more intentional get-togethers, ones that feel light, fun, and joyful. These nights have been such a sweet way to reconnect, especially when life feels too busy. If you’ve been craving more connection with your friends or just need an excuse to eat cake in your comfiest pajamas, these six themes are for you. From baking to book clubs, these ideas lean into all things cozy, creative, and cute.
Table of Contents
1. Mini Cake Decorating Night
I hosted this last spring, and let me tell you, this one is so much fun. All you need are mini cakes (you can bake them ahead or buy premade layers), frosting in piping bags, and a table full of sprinkles, edible flowers, and candies. Everyone gets their own little cake canvas to decorate however they want.
Tips for success:
- Cover your table with parchment or a cute disposable tablecloth, things get messy!
- Offer a few color palettes for the frosting: think pastels, neutrals with gold flakes, or rainbow brights.
- Get some cake decorating tools like piping tips and scapers.
- Play soft pop or Y2K throwback hits in the background.
- Set up a mini “photo station” where everyone can take pics of their creations (cake stands, florals, and good lighting help!).
Snack idea: Serve prosecco and mini fruit skewers between frosting breaks.
Instagram tip: Before the decorating starts, snap a photo of the flat lay of all the toppings and tools. It’s pure eye candy.
2. Vintage-Inspired Tea Party
There’s something so nostalgic and comforting about a tea party with your girlfriends. I once did this for a friend’s birthday and we went all out with floral tablecloths, mismatched china from thrift stores, and tiered trays of treats.
Make it special:
- Ask everyone to wear something vintage-inspired lace gloves, floral dresses, or pearls.
- Serve a mix of herbal teas, scones, finger sandwiches, and delicate sweets like madeleines or macarons.
- Add handwritten name tags or mini menus for a personal touch.
- You can find matching cute tea sets a thrift stores or buy them online. This one is my favorite.
Decor tip: Fresh flowers (even grocery store ones!) go a long way. Pop them in teacups or small vases around the table.
Cocktail idea: Add a spiked option with sparkling rosé or a sweet elderflower spritz.
3. Cookie Bake-Off
If your friend group is the competitive type (in a fun way!), a cookie bake-off is the perfect cozy night in. Have each person bring their own signature cookie dough, or bake together and judge the final results.
How to organize it:
- Provide baking stations if you have the space, or rotate kitchen use and sip cocktails in between batches.
- Use scorecards for judging: taste, creativity, presentation.
- Offer small prizes like fuzzy socks, a candle, or cute spatulas.
Make it festive: Set the vibe with fairy lights, upbeat music, and pink striped aprons for everyone. You can even print out recipe cards to share or frame the winning recipe.
4. Themed Book Club Night
This isn’t your mom’s book club. I love transforming a book night into a themed experience with cocktails, dress codes, and decor inspired by the novel. One of my favorite examples was when we read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, everyone came dressed in vintage Hollywood glam and we made emerald-colored cocktails.
How to plan it:
- Choose a book with a strong aesthetic or setting to inspire your theme.
- Create a playlist based on the era, mood, or main character.
- Serve snacks or drinks that tie into the story. Reading Where the Crawdads Sing? Think shrimp skewers and spiked sweet tea.
Bonus idea: Include a quick DIY, like making bookmarks or custom tote bags with iron-on transfers.
5. Pottery + Air-Dry Clay Jewelry Dish Night
Getting your hands messy with clay is oddly relaxing and creatively fulfilling. You don’t need a kiln for this one, just grab air-dry clay from your local craft store, a few tools (or kitchen items like butter knives and rolling pins), and paint for decorating once they’re dry.
How to set it up:
- Lay out a plastic tablecloth or parchment paper to keep the mess in check.
- Give everyone a small amount of clay and let them shape trinket dishes, ring holders, or mini vases. (Use an Air Dry Clay Kit with Paints)
- Offer gold leaf flakes, pastel paints, or acrylic gloss to make the final pieces pop.
Why I love this: Everyone gets to leave with a little handmade gift, and it’s shockingly therapeutic.
Snack idea: Grazing boards with cheese, fruit, and dark chocolate always work well for this hands-on night.
6. Cozy Themed Movie Night with Pajamas & Popcorn Bar
Sometimes, all you need is a good movie, cozy vibes, and your favorite girls in matching pajamas. But let’s elevate it just a little: think matching fuzzy socks, a popcorn bar with toppings, and a themed film night (rom-coms, 2000s classics, or even a fantasy series marathon).
Set the scene:
- Lay out floor pillows and cozy blankets.
- Offer a few popcorn varieties and custom popcorn toppings like cinnamon sugar, cheddar powder, and caramel drizzle.
- Get these cute pink popcorn boxes
- Create a little mocktail or hot chocolate bar with whipped cream, sprinkles, and marshmallows.
Theme ideas:
- Parisian night: watch Amélie, sip wine, and eat crepes.
- Mean Girls night: wear pink, quote every line, and serve “burn book” cupcakes.
7. DIY Spa & Self-Care Night
Sometimes, you just need a night to unwind and glow up together. Hosting a DIY spa night is one of my favorite ways to relax with friends while still making it feel like an “event.” It’s low-key, affordable, and everyone leaves feeling refreshed.
Set the mood:
- Dim the lights, light a few candles, and play calming spa music or acoustic covers.
- Set up stations: think face masks, under-eye patches, mini mani-pedis, and essential oil roll-ons.
- Provide fluffy headbands or hair wraps for a luxe touch.
DIY ideas:
- Make your own sugar scrubs with coconut oil and essential oils.
- Provide small jars for everyone to take home their own blend (cute labels optional, but encouraged!).
Snack idea: Serve spa water with cucumber and mint, herbal teas, and a fruit platter with dark chocolate.
Instagram tip: Snap photos of the spa set-up bowls, brushes, and some flower petals make for a dreamy aesthetic.
8. Paint & Sip Night (with a Twist!)
Bring out your inner Bob Ross with a laid-back paint & sip night, but instead of a formal canvas tutorial, keep it casual and fun with freestyle painting or themed prompts like “paint your happy place” or “illustrate your ideal day.”
How to set it up:
- Provide small canvases or watercolor pads, brushes, and acrylic or watercolor paints.
- Add a twist: have everyone paint each other’s auras, or swap canvases halfway through and “collaborate.”
- Not great artists? Try out these cute paint by numbers kits.
- Set the table with kraft paper, floral centerpieces, and individual paint palettes.
Drink idea: Create a signature cocktail to match the paint palette, rosé sangria, lavender lemonade, or sparkling mocktails in pastel colors.
Playlist tip: Curate a feel-good mix of mellow pop, indie, or instrumental tunes to keep the vibe relaxed.
9. Jewelry Making Night
There’s something incredibly satisfying about making your own jewelry, and even better when you’re doing it with your closest girlfriends. Whether you’re stringing beads, working with wire, or making polymer clay earrings, this night feels like a creative playdate for grown-ups.
What to prep:
- Pick a style: beaded bracelets, clay earrings, wire-wrapped rings, or charm necklaces.
- Grab supplies from a craft store or online kit: pliers, clasps, jump rings, beads, stringing wire, polymer clay, earring posts, and super glue.
- Lay everything out buffet-style on a table with cute trays or dishes to hold each material.
Make it meaningful: Encourage everyone to design one piece for themselves and one as a gift (friendship bracelets, anyone?).
Snack idea: A dessert charcuterie board with chocolate-covered pretzels, fruit, cookies, and fizzy rosé or mocktail spritzers.
Instagram moment: Capture the finished jewelry in photos with flowers, silk fabric, or marble tile backgrounds- very Pinterest-worthy!
Go Send the Invite for These Cute Girls’ Night Ideas
These girly girls’ night ideas are more than just fun themes, they’re little rituals of joy and connection. Life moves fast, but when you pause and plan an intentional night in with your favorite people, it fills your cup in the best way. Don’t wait for a birthday or holiday to get your friends together. Pick a Friday, send the invite, and go all in on the charm, sugar, and sisterhood.
And remember: the magic is in the details, but also in the laughter, the messy moments, and the stories you’ll be telling each other for years.
Now, which one are you planning first?
With love,
Bri & Cat
Related Posts to Check Out:
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How to Plan the Best Girls’ Night In: Tips, Themes & Checklists
How to Plan the Best Girls’ Night In: Tips, Themes & Checklists
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