GETAWAY GUIDE
How to create your first hangout
Name it, give it a cover that sets the mood, pick a theme and effect, choose a date (or decide later), invite your people, then add the venue and dress code once it's live.
STEP 1 · NAME IT
Name your hangout & pick a title style: Setting the tone from the start
A hangout is any get-together that isn’t a multi-day trip — a birthday dinner, weekend game night, rooftop barbecue, picnic, or casual Friday drinks. Giving it a distinctive name and typography makes it instantly recognizable in your friends’ calendars and notifications.
- Tap ”+” Button
- Select “Hangout”
- Type Event Title
- Choose Title Style
- Tap “Next”
Give it a clear, recognizable name
Type a name your friends will understand at a glance: “Rohan’s 30th 🎂”, “Sunday Brunch Club”, or “Diwali Card Night”. This is the only mandatory field to start planning.
Choose from 8 curated title styles
Set the vibe before anyone even opens the invite card. Pick from Classic, Eclectic, Fancy, Simple, Chill, Retro, Cinematic, or Elegant.
STEP 2 · SET THE MOOD
Add a cover: GIF, photo, or text card
The cover is the visual centerpiece of your hangout invite. Invites with a striking cover get opened and RSVP’d to significantly faster, though you can always skip it during setup and add one later.
- Search GIPHY GIFs
- Upload Photo or Poster
- Type Text Card
- Or Skip for Later
Add an animated GIF
Search millions of GIFs to capture the mood — whether it’s a laughing sitcom clip, dance celebration, or cocktail toast.
Upload a poster or personal photo
Search curated aesthetic posters from the web, or upload a photo directly from your camera roll or files.
Type a vibrant text card
No picture handy? Write a punchy note on a high-contrast colorful card instead, such as “BYOB & Board Games 🎲”.
Continue without media
Need to get the plan down quickly? Tap Continue without media. You can customize or change the cover at any time from the hangout edit sheet.
STEP 3 · INVITE
Invite guests, or plan it directly from a group
Gathering your crew is frictionless. Invite existing friends on Getaway, send shareable links over chat apps, or launch the hangout straight from a group so everyone is included automatically.
- Select Getaway Friends
- Share via WhatsApp/Link
- Or Start from a Group
- Instant Push Alerts
Select friends on Getaway
Search your connections list and check off the people you want to invite. When you create the hangout, they’ll receive an instant in-app notification.
Share your way: WhatsApp, Messages, or Link
Copy your unique invite link or share directly via WhatsApp, Messages, or Email. Guests don’t need the Getaway app installed to view the invite and RSVP on the web.
Planning with a group? Start from the group
Open any shared group, tap Create Plan → Hangout. Every member of the group is added automatically with an Included via group tag, and the plan docks right inside the group’s Plans feed.
Group admin permissions
Only group owners and admins can launch official plans directly for a group. Other members can share ideas or suggest a plan in the group chat.
STEP 4 · WHEN
Pick a date & time — or decide later with Date TBD
Coordinate schedules without the endless back-and-forth. Lock in a date immediately, view friend calendar availability, or leave the timing open to run a date poll later.
- Pick Date & Hours
- All-Day / Multi-Day Toggles
- Check Busy Friends
- Or Tap “Skip for now”
Choose date, start, and end time
Pick the day on the calendar, then dial in the starting and concluding hours so guests know what to expect.
All-day and multi-day modes
Toggle All Day for flexible get-togethers without rigid hours, or Multi-Day for a weekend retreat, hackathon, or celebration.
Spot busy conflicts instantly
Friends who share their availability with you appear on the calendar grid. If someone already has an overlapping commitment, they are clearly marked Busy.
Not sure of the date? Tap “Skip for now”
Launch the hangout with Date TBD (“Set it later from the plan, or let friends vote”). You can create an in-app date poll right inside the plan so the group decides the winning time together.
STEP 5 · PREVIEW & LAUNCH
Theme, effect & the final preview
Before making your hangout live, inspect the exact card your guests will see. Dial in dynamic canvas themes, atmospheric effects, and RSVP questionnaires to give your event a distinctive personality.
18 Curated canvas themes
Choose an animated or textured backdrop: Clouds, Starry Night, Ocean, Sunset, Meadow, Aurora, mesh gradients (Vapor Sunset, Midnight Mesh, Bubblegum), earthy tones (Peach, Frost, Forest, Canyon), a custom solid color, or None.
Ambient overlay effects
Layer an atmospheric animation across the page: Confetti, Balloons, Hearts, Sparkles, Fairy Lights, Snow, Petals, Bubbles, Autumn Leaves, Thunder, Flames, or None to keep it minimal.
1-Tap “Match cover”
Experimented with different styles and want to return to the initial aesthetic? Tap Match cover to restore the theme and effect Getaway recommended based on your cover palette.
RSVP Questionnaire
Prompt guests with required or optional questions when they RSVP — such as dietary restrictions, beverage preferences, t-shirt size, or carpooling availability.
Launch your hangout
Tap the floating checkmark button (✓) in the mobile app (or Create plan on the web). Your hangout is immediately live, and invited friends receive an instant invitation notification.
STEP 6 · AFTER CREATING
Add the venue, dress code & details from the Overview
Once your hangout is created, open the plan’s Overview screen to flesh out logistical details and add interactive elements for your guests.
| Module | What it adds to your hangout | How guests experience it |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | Exact address, venue name, and GPS coordinates | 1-Tap navigation opening Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Uber/Ola |
| Dress code | Guidelines such as “All White”, “Smart Casual”, or “Retro 90s” | Prominent visual badge on the invite so no one arrives underdressed |
| Food situation | Meal plan (e.g. potluck, BYOB, catering, or restaurant reservations) | Clear expectations for eating, drinking, and dietary coordination |
| Cost | Estimated spend per person | Transparent budget clarity before guests confirm their RSVP |
| Schedule | Run of show timeline for arrival, games, dinner, and cake cutting | Live itinerary card keeping the event on track |
| Polls | Single or multi-choice polls for food, activities, or playlist picks | Interactive voting directly inside the hangout feed |
| Attach & Notes | Important reminders, entry codes, Wi-Fi info, or PDF tickets | Pinned reference cards accessible to all attendees |
CHECKLIST & FAQ
Your hangout launch checklist
- Give your hangout a clear, recognizable name and pick one of the 8 title typography styles.
- Add a mood-setting cover (animated GIF, uploaded photo, or vibrant text card).
- Select friends to invite, or launch from an existing group to include all members automatically.
- Choose a date and start/end time, or select “Skip for now” to launch with Date TBD.
- Pick a canvas theme and animated effect, or use “Match cover” for automatic color alignment.
- Tap the checkmark (✓) button (or “Create plan” on web) to publish the event.
- Open the Overview screen to pin the Venue map link, Dress code, Food plan, and Schedule.
Common questions
Can I change the theme, effect, or cover after creating the hangout?
Yes. Open the hangout, tap the edit icon or settings sheet, and you can freely change the cover image, theme background, and animated effects at any time.
Do my guests need the Getaway app to view the invite and RSVP?
No. When you share via link, WhatsApp, or Messages, invitees open a responsive web page on app.usegetaway.com where they can see the event details, theme, and submit their RSVP.
What is the difference between a Hangout and a Trip in Getaway?
Hangouts are single or weekend get-togethers focused on vibe, animated themes, covers, RSVPs, and day-of schedules. Trips are multi-day travel plans equipped with AI itineraries, route optimization, map routing, lodging bookings, and flight trackers.
I selected “Skip for now” for the date. How do I finalize it?
Your hangout will display Date TBD. You can open the plan and set the date directly once you’re ready, or create a Date Poll so your invited guests can vote on their favorite time.
Why can’t I create a hangout directly from my group?
Only group owners and designated admins have permission to launch official plans for the entire group. If you are a member, you can suggest the hangout in the group chat and ask an admin to launch it.
Are invited friends notified the moment I create the hangout?
Yes. Friends selected from your Getaway contacts receive an instant in-app push notification when you tap the create button. Guests invited via shared links or WhatsApp will receive your invitation as soon as you send them the link.