Making an evening with just two couples fun?

[BippityBobbityBoo]

I’m hosting another couple at the weekend, we’re very close to them and all like a good drink, no kids present. How can I add a bit of fun? Google suggestions range from pizza parties to fancy dress. Just no.
Ive got the food covered. I was thinking along the lines of wine tasting or maybe something relating to music which we’re all into. Any good ideas MNrs?
x

Isn't having a catch up and a chat enough? Play a board game or a party game maybe?

What’s wrong wrong with just eating, drinking and talking? Do you see them so often you’re bored by the prospect already or something?

Depends on what you like, but the idea of fancy dress for 4 adults is horrific to me. Just eat, drink and chat, and maybe play a board game?

Cards Against Humanity

A board game all the way!

Quiz? Board game? Murder mystery?

Another suggestion for board games. We’ve had fun playing Herd Mentality, Telestrations, Articulate which are fairly light hearted and feel way less of an argument generating slog than something like Monopoly. Pandemic is a cooperative game rather than a competitive one, so mig he be good if there’s a board flipper in the group! I also have Throw Throw Burrito which I haven’t played yet, but looks like it will be fun!

But background music and chatting is good. I’d be well up for a wine tasting too. If your group like spirits, a tasting set like these could work, but potentially expensive.

Board games can be ok with the right people, but I really just like just seeing my friends for a catch-up and some drinks - I'm not overly keen on organised fun.

We have a monthly games night with another couple. We start off with a meal and we then play games such a Uno, Exploding Kittens, Gyrating Hamsters, Dobble, Kluster and Cards Against Humanity. We always have such a
laugh.

Thanks for the suggestions. I’m seeing another friend tomorrow who has lots of board games so I’ll ask them to bring their fave.
I agree about chatting actually so that’s good to hear.
I’ve invited them because I’m rather housebound at the moment. They’re a bit younger, childless and usually out out at weekends. I’m just a bit worried and self conscious about it being a bit shit.

Honestly, if you feel they’d prefer to be out clubbing and are likely to be bored by dinner and talk, I really don’t think that whipping out Exploding Kittens or Monopoly is going to transform the evening!

Be confident, OP! You’re hosting, but there’s also some onus on them to be entertaining guests! It’s not all on you.

Aww thanks for this! Really 😊It made me LOL, you’re quite right.
I’m very anxious lately and if I act like a wet lettuce it probably will make things awkward!
I have a nice home, I can be good company (with a bit of confidence), I’m making nice food with good wine and they can leave whenever they please!
🙏 Thanks 😊

All you need is good food, drinks and some background music.

Good company is all you need.

I would hate a board game etc being included. If they are coming, they already like your company. Have fun

A very small orgy?

😬

🤮it’s my brother 😩😩😩

I think so long as you're all compatible personality wise then the night should just flow naturally, hopefully lots of chat and fun. Background noise (ideally low music not tv!) is really good at reducing initial awkwardness, cos it can be a teensy bit awkward at the start of any event if it's really quiet.
A drink or two loosens everyone up also.
Some nibbles as soon as they arrive (crisps and dips or something) gives something to do with their hands and a small 'activity'.
Once ice is broken and everyone chatting either go with the flow of the chat, or if you want an activity then a funny lighthearted board game (ie not complicated with tons of rules) can help and be a really good laugh. It helps if someone already knows how to play it so you're not stopping reading rules and making it all serious and boring.
Hope you have fun!

I personally can't think of anything worse than a board game at a dinner party (or at any other time really).

I would get a jug of cocktails on the go for when they arrive- something yummy like margaritas or negroni that you can finish off when they are there. Then all you need is great chat and decent food that's not too much of a pain to cook or eat.

If you really need something to make the evening drag out a bit then since it's your brother you could get a few baby photos out of the loft and have them on the table like "lol look what I found". Or make sure the fire is going in the sitting room and you've got some decent music on a playlist. Or have a relaxed game out on the table and let your brother and his wife raise it if they fancy playing. Needs to be something that doesn't take much time or brain power though. This is fun https://www.amazon.co.uk/Players-Handheld-Handmade-Fast-paced-Interactive/dp/B0BLVLRNC2/ref=ascdff_B0BLVLRNC2/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606750245506&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11931538833710529277&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046309&hvtargid=pla-1945692296625&psc=1&mcid=cdfe2e45e2193cf68e3525abefc1968b

I must admit, my idea of hell would be feeling obliged to play a board game. I hate board games and i hate enforced "fun".

But I loved your idea of music. My DB and I always have a sort of jukebox evening when we meet up, on Spotify or You Tube. We each take it in turns to choose a song. You end up with a fantastic mix of golden oldies and being introduced to new artists you'd never have heard of. And it doesn't interrupt the flow of chat. If you are stuck into a really good conversation, then You Tube just chooses the next song, but if there's a lull, you get going again by saying - who's turn is it to choose - what mood are you after? And you end up talking about concerts and festivals or why a song is important to you. If your friends love clubbing, you could all end up dancing all night long!

I quite like Desert Island Discs, i.e. everyone takes it in turns to choose the next song on Spotify and either dancing or slagging off their taste in music ensues 😀

We sometimes plan something fun to do, but once everyone has had a drink or two it inevitably devolves into "taking turns to put something on Spotify"

Name that tune (you just play a few seconds of something from your playlist)
The paper game / name game. For non board game fun.
Recreational drugs

If I was just seeing someone for the evening, as opposed to staying with them for several days, I wouldn't need time fillers. Just food and drink and a catch up. We often have people come to stay the whole weekend, 3-4 days and we do need to figure out ways to entertain them (mostly, I just find excuses to hide and leave dh to deal with them as they are his houseguests!). But if I was just going over for an evening, I would be slightly horrified at the suggestion of a board game, unless of course, you're all big into games.

I once went to visit some of dh's uni friends before Christmas as they'd invited us for like a friends Christmas a few weeks before. And they insisted we play charades because it's their family tradition every Christmas and I pretty much wished the ground would have opened beneath me to save me from charades! Just chatting and catching up is lovely.