Friendsgiving has recently become a popular alternative and supplement to Thanksgiving. It gives people, especially singles living far from family, a different, less traditional way to celebrate the holiday.
Even those who enjoy wonderful family Thanksgivings are starting to plan Friendsgiving dinners for their closest companions. Since you’re reading this post, maybe that’s you this year.
Hosting an event like this is fantastic, but it can also be intimidating. This post breaks down all the steps to host your first successful Friendsgiving. Don’t worry, it’s not as hard as it seems.
What Is Friendsgiving?
If you’re new to this whole concept, you might be confused about what Friendsgiving is in the first place. Friendsgiving is a Thanksgiving dinner with friends, generally hosted a week or two before the actual holiday.
Many people enjoy Friendsgiving as an alternative to Thanksgiving, but plenty celebrate both. It’s a way to get together with friends to enjoy food and each other’s company however you like.
Part One: Planning
Take a Deep Breath
Before you plan a single thing, take a few deep breaths. It can be scary hosting your first adult event. But with proper planning and prep, your Friendsgiving will go off without a hitch.
Decide the Date
The first thing you need is a date for your Friendsgiving. The sooner you decide this, the more friends can make it. Good times include:
- 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving
- Weekends
- Weeknights
- The week after Thanksgiving
You’ll also want to decide the time for your party. The evening is traditional, but maybe you’d prefer a big midday meal or an all-day hangout.
Choose the Vibe
People love Friendsgiving because it’s much less formal than Thanksgiving. You can go all out on the turkey and stuffing, but you can also do a regular potluck or just junk food.
Decide what kind of party you want to have right at the start so you can set everyone’s expectations. Maybe you go all-out formal, allowing everyone to wear their nicest clothes. Or maybe you’d prefer a laid-back event where pajamas are acceptable.
Invite Guests
You can’t have Friendsgiving without friends! Your next task is to invite them to the party.
A simple text will do, but sending a digital or physical invitation is more fun. Include all the details, such as time, date, and when they need to RSVP.
Create a Menu
Another vital part of this holiday is food. Since you’re hosting, it’s up to you to create the menu for the feast.
That doesn’t mean you have to make everything or decide all the dishes. You just need to create a general plan for the meal.
Start by deciding if you want to go with traditional Thanksgiving food or not. Then, list all the major dishes you’d like to have. Decide which ones you want to make before sending the rest to your friends to claim. Make sure to write down what everyone is bringing so you don’t accidentally end up with repeats.
Part Two: Prepping
Go Shopping
It’s best to do all your shopping at least a week in advance for big events like this. That way, you won’t run into any last-minute issues the day of.
Your shopping list should include:
- Food or ingredients
- Drinks
- Ice
- Serving dishes
- Tableware
- Party decor
You might not need all this, but it’s a good place to start. Especially check you have enough plates, cups, and silverware for all your guests. If you don’t, paper plates and plastic utensils are great alternatives that are far easier to clean up.
Decorate
Decorations aren’t necessary for Friendsgiving, but they can make the party feel more legitimate. Plus, taking time to decorate can show your friends how much you care.
A few decor ideas you could try are:
- A table centerpiece. Create a centerpiece using pumpkins, gourds, burlap, or dried flowers. If you’re not sitting at a table, put it on the surface with the food instead.
- Place settings. A simple place card can do wonders at elevating regular dishes. If you have the time or desire, creating whole place settings can elevate the table further.
- Front door wreath. A wreath is welcoming and one of the easiest pieces of decor you can put up.
- Dining room decor. Use garlands, balloons, and streamers to decorate the eating space nicely.
Cooking and Baking
A day or two before the party, sit down and make a timetable for cooking. Figure out what should be started, when, and how long everything will take to ensure a smooth cooking experience.
Also, see what you could start or completely cook the day before. You could cut vegetables, prep the turkey, or bake any desserts ahead of time to save on oven space the day of.
Have Help
Just because you’re hosting doesn’t mean you have to do all the work. As your friends arrive, assign them tasks to do to help finish prep. You won’t be inconveniencing them. In fact, they’ll be eager to help.
One person could set the table, another could prepare drinks, and a third could set out appetizers. Make the holiday a joint effort so everyone feels like they contributed.
Part Three: Party
Set-Up
It’s almost time to begin the fun! But first, you need to set up your food and eating situation. Those with plenty of space can put everyone around the table, even if you have to pull up a few extra chairs.
If that’s not an option, consider laying out all your food buffet-style in the kitchen and having people sit wherever they want in your home or apartment. It’s not as formal, but you have to work with what you have.
Music
Don’t forget tunes to keep the party hopping. You can create your own playlist, have a friend act as a DJ, or find a Spotify playlist to jam to.
To make sure everyone can hear the music, get a big Bluetooth speaker or have a friend bring their sound system. But if you use a portable speaker, charge it the night before for the longest-lasting results.
Activities
Eating is the main activity at a dinner party. But after everyone’s full, it can be fun to pull out games to play. If you have that one friend obsessed with board games, this is a great way for them to contribute.
Have Fun!
You’ve put a lot of work into this party. Now, it’s time to kick back and enjoy it. Don’t worry if things don’t go perfectly to plan. The point of the day is to enjoy being with friends, not have a flawless party.
Friendsgiving is a fun holiday that anyone can enjoy. Consider hosting your own party this year to make memories with your closest friends.
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