I’m just going to say it: sometimes getting ready to go out is far more fun that actually going out.
Picture this: It’s Friday night, and after a long week of classes, you and all your friends are crammed into one bedroom or bathroom. Clothes are practically covering the floor and at least one of your friends are standing in the mirror asking for the fifth time, “Are we sure we like this outfit?” Someone is queuing some bangers on the speaker, everyone’s makeup is dispersed across the counter, and nobody knows what time you’re supposed to leave.
This is usually my favorite part of the night.
There’s something so wholesome and fun about getting ready with your friends that just feels different. You’re straightening your hair while your friend is doing her makeup next to you. Your other friend is desperately trying to find something to wear in your closet because she suddenly is bored of all the clothes she has. Another person is sitting on the bed or floor giving everyone a recap of something that happened with her “situationship” earlier that week.
Then there’s the music. Getting-ready music is its own genre and deserves at least 3 different playlists. Certain songs just sound a hundred times better when you’re applying your makeup and convincing yourself that tonight is going to be the best night ever. Everyone is talking over each other, giggling, and singing along to the music, all at the same time.
And then of course, you have to take pictures.
Not just a couple, more like over 100 pictures that all look almost identical to anyone else but are completely different to you and your friends. Someone’s eyes are closed. Someone doesn’t like how they posed. The lighting is bad. Then you take some with flash. Then some without flash. Now your friends want individual pictures. Next thing you know, another half hour has passed.
Eventually, someone finally asks the inevitable question everyone has been avoiding, “Who’s getting the Uber?”
That’s when the mood drops.
Instantly, someone starts looking at Uber prices, everyone is scrambling around to make sure they have their ID and purses, and people start listing off names of the places to start off at and hoping the line isn’t ridiculously long.
That perfect getting-ready playlist from earlier turns into everyone yelling over loud music, trying not to lose any of your friend group in the crowd, and spending way too much money on something you could have made yourself at home.
Don’t get me wrong, I love going out with my friends. Some of my favorite college memories and sidequests have happened on nights out with my friends. But sometimes when I think about those amazing nights, the moments that bring a smile to my face are the memories from what happened before we even left.
I remember sitting on the floor and laughing until there were tears in my eyes. I remember borrowing clothes from each other and forgetting to give them back until weeks later. I remember doing my friends’ hair and makeup. I remember the most random conversations that turned into philosophical deep life talks while someone put on mascara. I remember the feeling of looking around the room and realizing how lucky I was to have these people in my life.
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Maybe that’s the reason why getting ready can be so much fun. There’s no pressure for the night to be spectacular yet. For those couple of hours, it’s just you hanging out with your friends, listening to music, and getting excited about the possibilities that might happen.
Going out may be the reason why everyone gets together, but getting ready is where some of the best memories are actually made.
Yes, I’ll still go out, I’ll put on a million different outfits until I find the one, take a hundred different photos, and sooner or later, make my way out the door.
But if anyone asks me what my favorite part of the night was?
There’s a high chance I will tell you it happened before I even left.
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