Being included in a group that makes special memories is a gift — a kindness we can bestow upon each other. With a little planning and purposeful use of our space, we can invite others in for what we all want more of in our lives: meaningful moments of connection and joy. Explore some unique gatherings that give these friend groups lots of fun to look forward to.
Parties on the patio
Angie Morris has a network of friends who take turns hosting swap parties. “We have always had an annual ornament exchange at Christmas time, [but] we decided we should extend the fun throughout the year and exchange different seasonal items,” she says. They have exchanged garden flags in the spring, beach towels in the summer, and blankets in the winter. Angie hosted her first “garden party” at her St. Matthews home in May 2024, with guests wearing floral clothing, eating tea sandwiches, and drinking a signature garden-themed cocktail.
As an extrovert, Angie loves having gatherings but admits that she often has to keep the guest list shorter than she would like because of the limitations of her house. “My home is small, but I do love our backyard patio, so I try to host during warmer weather months when we can sit outside,” she says.
Book club, but for cake
Kim Vidrine, formerly of Louisville and now in Austin, Texas, began unique cake gatherings with a group of friends who were all training for a marathon and had started a group chat. At some point, she shared a Country Living article about vintage cakes from the South. “Kind of on a lark I said, ‘It would be kind of cool if we tried to bake our way through this whole list,’” Kim explains. The chat group members jumped on the idea, and “Cake Club” was born.
The once-a-month gatherings among the six friends, which have been going now for six years, allow members to sample each of the cakes, which they decided had to be made exactly as written with no substitutions. They made their way through the first list of vintage cakes, moved on to a Southern Living list, and then ventured into cookbooks featuring cakes.
Most gatherings are in Kim’s home, although twice a year she does host “Cake at the Lake” at her cabin about a two-hour drive away, which requires everyone to bake and bring a cake that transports easily. She loves vintage dishware and linens and uses them to create an inviting tablescape in her dining room, a process she enjoys. Her large dining table and comfortable chairs ensure everyone has space to enjoy sampling the six cakes and talking for several hours.
Over the years, Kim and her friends have sometimes added a theme or gimmick to their Cake Club gatherings to spice things up. For example, when Kim’s daughter got married, everyone had to wear something bridal and bring a cake that was in some way associated with their own wedding. “For Halloween in 2024, we did ‘Angels versus Devils,’ so [we brought] three kinds of angel food cake and three kinds of devils food cake,” Kim says. Another fun gathering was when they did a “prom,” and everyone had to dress up in a vintage prom dress that cost no more than $15.
While gathering to eat cake is obviously fun, adding occasional themes like these enhances everyone’s connections. “It injects some new life into the gatherings, and when that happens, people are freer to share or talk,” Kim says. “Pardon the pun, but the ‘recipe’ is a little different. Something has changed, and people respond to that in a way they wouldn’t otherwise.”
A few of their favorite things
Amy Smalley has been hosting a Favorite Things party for about eight years. “I was looking for an adult party for women that I could have in January or February, the dead of winter when everything seems bleak and nothing is going on,” she says. “It was such a hit that first year that friends say it is one of their favorite get-togethers of the year.”
For these gatherings, attendees think of an item that is their favorite that costs between $15-$20. It can be a particular cosmetic, a puzzle, a blanket, etc. They then purchase three of those items, which they bring to Amy’s home along with a side dish or dessert to share. After eating, everyone explains the “Favorite Thing” they brought and why they like it. Small groups then rotate through the items with each person “shopping” for three new items that might become their new favorite thing.
Building connections is baked into this gathering because people don’t bring the same items each year; everyone is always finding new favorite things they enjoy. “I liked the idea that I would find out more about my friends by seeing what they consider their ‘favorites,’” Amy says. Plus, she often inserts a game after the meal but before shopping that builds greater camaraderie. “Stories have been shared doing these games over the years that are now classics!” she says.
When planning her party, Amy invites her book club plus some additional friends, but she tries to balance the desire to include people with not allowing the gathering to become too chaotic. “I have many introverted friends, and I know that too many people can make the experience overwhelming for them, so it’s a fine line,” she says. Even though from year to year, most of her guests can’t remember what favorite things they brought or got, what they do remember is the feeling of the party. “They remember how much they enjoyed getting together with friends, sharing experiences, food, and drinks in the dead of winter,” she says.
By Carrie Vittitoe
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