Business -- 12 days ago
10 things your girlfriend wants you to do at summer parties
Words: Holly Macnaghten
It’s the archetypal image of summer, more specifically, summer love. The pretty girl with tanned limbs and a pastel-hued sundress, the handsome man in pale blue shirt and chinos, walking (even gliding it seems) across a perfectly manicured lawn, Pimms in hand as they drift laughing (pearly white teeth a must) from parents to friends, relatives to newcomers, elegantly traversing the British summertime party without even a wrinkle appearing upon either ones perfectly pressed outfits, all laughs and stolen kisses and lustful looks. But alas, gentlemen, for this is Hollywood and not real life. No, my friends, more often than not a real couple’s experience of the multitude of summer parties goes a little something like this…
He gets drunks, gropes an arse – not hers – she sees him flirting with an old flame and retreats with burning fury to the bar to load up on warm, flat champagne (because he didn’t even notice her drink was empty – come to think of it, did he even offer her one initially). Someone’s slightly senile grandfather mistakes her for his mother, he laughs and fails to make a proper introduction. Someone spills red wine on her chiffon dress, she storms out, he stays – the next week is an ongoing he-said-she-said of arguments and fallouts.
Ok, so they aren’t always that bad, but you get the picture. Whatever the occasion, whether it’s a glamorous pool party, a small roof-top drinks reception or your parents’ wedding anniversary in Gloucestershire, there are some things that your girlfriend will wish you had done or said at these parties, from a hand placed on the small of her back to a committed introduction to a friend she’s never met before, here are 10 of them…
1. TELL HER SHE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, Come summer, women have to beautify themselves to the Nth degree – there’s no hiding pasty legs under thick black tights, or a bloated stomach with a baggy jumper dress. She will have spent hours preening to perfection, so let her know you’ve noticed.
2. TAKE HER HAND AS YOU ENTER THE PARTY, It doesn’t matter if she knows every person there or not a single soul, every woman will feel 10 times more confident entering a party knowing you’re by her side.
3. DON’T LEAVE HER ALONE UNTIL YOU’VE INTRODUCED HER TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, Even if the first person you bump into is your best friend from your University days and you have 5 years of catching up to do, never leave your girlfriend standing alone until you’ve introduced her to several people (people she would actually be happy chatting to). And, similarly, if you see her stuck with some boring old man who’s talking at her whilst spraying her with bits of cucumber sandwich, save her!
4. INTRODUCE HER AS YOUR GIRLFRIEND, Firstly, never leave her twiddling her thumbs next to you as you embark on a conversation without introducing her to everyone immediately. Secondly, if she is your girlfriend, then introduce her as such. It doesn’t matter what stage of your relationship you’re in, she wants people to know you’re hers and she’s yours. Simply saying “Charlie, meet Tara” could mean anything – she could be your sister, your lesbian best friend, your flatmate… introduce her properly.
5. ENSURE HER GLASS IS FULL AT ALL TIMES – DON’T WAIT FOR HER TO ASK, She doesn’t want to be seen as needy, or high maintenance, so be the gentleman that notices when her drink is running low and get her one without her having to ask. It’s what a gentleman would do.
6. PLACE A HAND ON THE SMALL OF HER BACK WHEN MOVING THROUGH THE CROWD, There are few things worse than feeling like you’re just ‘tagging along’ with your boyfriend at a party, following them from bar to terrace, from a group of friends and back to the bar, so when traversing the party place a hand on the small of her back to show her you really want her there.
7. KISS HER, It doesn’t (and shouldn’t) be an offensive case of PDA, but there’s something simultaneously reassuring and romantic as hell about a single, but meaningful kiss on the lips or the forehead in a crowd of people.
8. ASK HER TO DANCE (IF THERE IS DANCING), A woman always wants to be asked seriously – all women. If it’s that kind of party then take her by the hand and lead her to the dance floor – she’ll be the envy of every other women in the room as they beg their other halves to dance to no avail. If there isn’t dancing though, best not to be the drunk guy trying to salsa with his highly unamused other half.
9. BE THE ‘FUN’ ONE, Every woman wants to be with the ‘fun’ guy; the one who suggests another bottle of champagne, a game of croquet when the weekend party is becoming stale or the one who suggests the best idea after a drinks party ends earlier than expected. Be that guy.
10. LEAVE WHEN SHE WANTS TO LEAVE, Maybe her feet hurt from wearing heels all evening, or the champagne and sun has gone to her head, but when a woman wants to leave, she wants to leave now. So leave.
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