When I was younger I was never really into Halloween. Even as I got older I didn't enjoy the college version of the holiday, and would often just carve pumpkins or stayed in watching Hocus Pocus. Don’t get me wrong I’ve been to Halloween parties and would sometimes make my costumes, but I disliked the overall atmosphere and pressure of “going out.”
With Halloween less than a week away, I thought it would be fun to share a spooky girls night alternative to any Halloween party! Thanks to my best friend, Stephanie, she helped me create a fun night filled with Halloween movies, haunting cocktails, a frightening dessert table and endless laughter. I loved the idea of sharing tips for making a fun, haunting girls night, and hope you enjoy planning your own gathering!
1. Pick a theme for spooky decorations. Sticking to my gold and black theme, I tried weaving in those colors throughout each decor element. For my dessert table I cut out bats from black card stock, and incorporated other Halloween elements such as Martha Stewart’s gold and black tablecloth, spider webs, a cauldron for popcorn and sparkly twigs. I also made confetti balloons with Martha Stewart’s black and gold party confetti and clear balloons, which I then placed on the floor for another festive decoration.
2. All treats and no tricks. Our dessert table had Halloween popcorn (chocolate drizzle and candy corn), ghost Milano cookies (Milano cookies dipped in white chocolate with chocolate chips for eyes), cantaloupe and black berries for an orange and black accent, and classic chocolate chip cookies because those are our favorite!! There are so many other treats you can make too, so be sure to pick options hat satisfy your sweet tooth!
3. It’s all about the Boos. Make your BFFs a Halloween cocktail with a spooky garnish. I chose the classic cosmopolitan (cranberry juice and vodka) with a black berry and bat accent to match the dessert table. When selecting your cocktail, start by picking your favorite type of alcohol and make a recipe that fits your girls night theme.
4. Watch a Halloween classic. There are so many great Halloween movies to choose from, but we decided to go with Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family. Other childhood treasures include Ghostbusters, Casper, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Halloweentown. You can also pick a scary movie if you like extra frightening nights!
5. Instead of costumes, wear matching pajamas. Target has the cutest Halloween family pajamas that Stephanie and I picked up (linked here)! They are so comfy and perfect for hanging out and watching Halloween movies. Wearing matching pajamas also means adorable photo opportunities!
