How to Host a Game Night

HAPPY SUMMER!!! It’s the most wonderful time of the year, am I right??… I just broke out my jean shorts for the first time last week, and I’m excited to start wearing my cutest summer outfits! I am so anxious for days in the warm sun and in the pool! And hopefully lots of fun times with my friends! Today I want to give you some pointers on hosting a game night in with your friends, but you don’t have to use this guide strictly during the summer- this is a great way to hang out with friends year-round!

Pick a Day

The first thing you’ll need to do is think about a day that would work for you to have your friends over. A weekend evening like a Friday or Saturday night would probably be ideal for most people. Three to five weeks in advance would be a good time frame to pick from, not only so that you’ll have plenty of time to prepare everything, but also so that your friends will have plenty of a heads up.

Choose Guests

The next thing you need to think about is who you want to invite. Think about how many people you can fit comfortably into your space. Will everyone fit on your furniture or around the table together? Will the people you want to come all get along? Is a game night something you think they will enjoy?

Also, keep in mind that there’s a chance not everyone you invite will be able to make it. You may invite seven or eight people, but only two or three might actually be available. Don’t be too discouraged if this happens! Understand that everyone is busy and that particular day just might not work out for them. Small groups can be better anyway!

You can send invitations any way you wish -via mail, email, private message, text- but what I suggest is sending individual text messages directly to your friends’ phones. Texts probably will get opened quicker than the other ways and are one of the more efficient and popular ways to communicate. You can say something like this: “Hi _____! I am hosting a game night at my house on Friday, July 18th, at 5:00 p.m. and you’re invited! I will be providing all the snacks and games. Hope you can make it!” Once they reply that they can come, send your address and check with them about any food allergies they might have.

You might not hear back from everyone right away after sending your invites. Don’t worry! People will need to check their calendars, possibly talk to their parents or spouses, they might be waiting on their work schedule for that month, or they might just be busy. If you see them in person you can ask them if they got the text, just to be sure they received it, but otherwise don’t text them the very next day asking why they haven’t responded! If it’s been a week since you texted and haven’t heard from them or seen them, then you can send a nice text checking in on them and making sure they got their invitation for your game night ok. If they still don’t reply, I would probably just leave them alone at that point and see if they show up the night of. We don’t always know why someone seems to be ignoring us, but all we can do is reach out and be patient and try to be a good friend.

Plan Refreshments

The next thing on your to-do list is choose what snacks to provide. Is this going to be a pizza party, or are you just going to go with cookies and lemonade? Whatever your menu consists of, be sure to have plenty of it for everyone. Better to have leftovers than not enough for everyone. If you hate storing leftovers, send them with your friends. And don’t ask your friends to split the pizza bill! This is your event, so you’re in charge of paying for everything. Your friends’ only job is showing up and having a good time with you!

I think a good game night menu would include a cheese and cracker tray, a fruit and veggie tray, meatballs, chips, nachos and taco dip, cookies, brownies, lemonade, pop, and water. That’s just what I personally have done, but be creative and choose whatever you like! I think the less messy the better, but it’s completely up to you. Be sure to at least have water available! Make a grocery list and go shopping for the snacks at least a day or two in advance of your get-together. I think having a variety of snacks is a good idea since not everyone likes the same things.

Choose Games

Now, decide what games you want to play with your friends. Keep them in mind when choosing. Pick ones that everyone is able to participate in. You may want to choose a couple most people are familiar with and one or two of your favorites that maybe not everyone has played. A few ideas I like include Apples to Apples, Scattergories, Dumb Questions to Ask Your Friends, Game that Song, and Telestrations. The good thing about hosting is that you’re the one that gets to pick everything! But be sure to be a good friend and be considerate. At your party, you can get your friends’ opinions on what to play. You may not have time for all of your games, so I would suggest having three to six choices on hand. Remember that you can play one game more than one round! If everyone is having fun with a game and wants to keep playing it, you don’t have to rush to get to the next one to fit them all in. It’s about what you are all enjoying together!

Be Prepared

The day of your game night, be sure that your house is cleaned up, presentable, at a comfortable temperature, there is plenty of room for your friends to park, your friends know how to get to your house and where to park, and make sure all the food is made by the time your guests show up, or at least finishing up cooking. It’s ok to have brownies still in the oven or the pizza not showing up for fifteen more minutes after the appointed start time, just be sure not to have to scramble to finish getting things ready by the time people start showing up.

Night Of

Welcome your guests warmly with a smile, and show them where they can put bags, shoes, jackets, etc. If they brought a treat to share, add it to the counter or table where your snacks are. Show them where the bathroom is, and then where they can sit while you wait for the rest of your friends to show up. You can ask them how they are and how their day or week was to get conversation started. Be happy that they chose to spend their Friday night with you!

You can let your friends know they’re free to start getting snacks after they arrive, or you can play a game first and then offer food. Be sure to make any instructions clear to your friends and try to make them feel at home. This is your house and you’re the host, so you make the calls. Even if you’re the type who usually goes along with whatever your buddies say when you’re hanging out, this time it’s your job to run things. Your friends might be a little shy if this is the first time they’ve been to your house or met your other friends. You can get their input, of course, just don’t shy away from decision-making when the time calls for it.

As it gets late, don’t rush your guests off when you start feeling tired. I suggest not even hinting at it, unless it’s gotten to be an extreme hour or you’re not feeling well. When they do leave, though, be sure to hug them and thank them for coming. It’s a good idea to ask them before hugging them, of course, but you should make your farewell as warm as your welcome. And don’t forget to send anything they brought back home with them!

I hope your game night is a success! Have fun planning and preparing!

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