The party doesn’t just start when you get to the bar. I mean, it can, but there is a way to make the night out so much more fun, and it starts with a pregame. Whether it be inviting a million people and having a party before the party or just a few friends over to have a good time, a pregame is crucial. It means spending less money on drinks at the bar, spending some time with your friends before the chaos starts, and getting good photos before you’re too drunk to keep your eyes open. But, what goes into the perfect pregame? From the food and drinks you choose to the games and decorations you have, there are so many ways to make your pregame the best. Whether you’re celebrating a special moment or not, there is always an occasion to have a pregame.
The most important part of the pregame (besides the guest list) is the drink selections. If you’re going out to celebrate something, maybe a birthday or a holiday, it would be fun to have a themed drink. The drinks do not have to be the most difficult cocktails to make. For example, for St. Patrick’s Day, making a pitcher of vodka lemonade and adding green food dye can make what seems like a boring drink more fun for the theme. Other than that, making a pitcher of your favorite drink mixture is also a way to have aesthetically pleasing beverages at your gathering. While you can have an array of different alcohols and juices or sodas for your guests to mix, making a pitcher of something keeps the drink area more tidy and sticks to a theme for the party.
Another fun way to incorporate drinks into the theme of your pregame is with Jell-o shots. I have not met one person who doesn’t like a Jell-o shot; they are a super fun way to spruce up a regular shot while making it taste better. Having something at your pregame that they do not have at the bar makes it that much more fun. The recipe to make Jell-O shots is so easy and quick, and depending on the number of people you will have at your pregame, you’re able to make the perfect amount.
Jell-o shot recipe:
Something else to consider having at your pregame is some light snacks. In college, my favorite was buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips. Obviously, the buffalo chicken dip was store-bought; the best places to buy it from are Target and Trader Joe’s. Postgrad, you can still buy the dip from the store, but there are so many easy recipes to make it as well. Chips and some kind of dip are always a safe option, and finger foods are always your best bet. I found a recipe on TikTok for mini pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate with Oreo dust on the ends. Made to look like cigarettes, it is a fun and easy take on chocolate-covered pretzels that your guests will love.
Buffalo chicken dip recipe:
Chocolate-covered pretzels recipe:
Next on the list are the decorations needed for a pregame. This is an aspect that many overlook but, as I mentioned earlier, the pregame is the perfect time to get good photos with your friends before you’re too drunk to keep your eyes open. Decorations are really a personal preference but I’ve found that you can never go wrong with curtain streamers. You can hang them on any bare wall or in a doorway, and they create the perfect backdrop for your photos. If you want to go all out and have good lighting to create an ambiance, Five Below is the best place to look. If you don’t already have LED strip lights, they have those, along with sunset lamps. The sunset lamps are truly a blessing in disguise. They are bright enough that you’re not walking around in the dark while creating cool lighting for your photos.
Photos using curtain streamers' background
Now that you have the food, drinks, and decorations to create the perfect pregame, it’s time for a fun activity to do before going out. Drinking games may seem juvenile, but it’s a great way to get the drinks flowing while having a good time with your friends. Games like Never Have I Ever are easy to play because you don’t need any materials other than your friends and your drinks. But card games have become popular as well. Target has an entire section you can buy, such as Do or Drink and Buzzed. If you have a table and ping pong balls at your disposal, you can also get a pack of solo cups and play beer pong. Filling the cups with water instead of beer will keep your table from getting sticky and make cleanup easier so you can reuse the cups again. Playing a game at the pregame isn’t always necessary, but it is something different to do with your friends that you may not always do before going out.
The last thing that will make or break your pregame is the music selection. Depending on where you went to college determines your taste in party music. After attending a school with a strong Greek life presence, my go-to party music is deemed frat remixes of popular songs. The best place to find music like this is on Soundcloud, though the music at the pregame needs to fit all of your friends’ music tastes. I recommend making a playlist with your favorite songs, along with songs you know your friends will love, because everyone gets so excited when a song they know comes on.
While a pregame may be pretty straightforward, there is always a way to go the extra mile and try to make it more fun for you and your guests. Having an exciting pregame gets you and your friends in the party spirit and sets the tone for the rest of the night. Whether you’re celebrating something special or just having a night on the town, there is always a reason to pre; I hope these tips and tricks elevate your pregame and set you up for the best night out!
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