Thanksgiving is a holiday that is too often overlooked, despite the cozy vibes and the opportunity for reflection on what you are grateful for in the year and about your loved ones. Maybe you’re not excited to see your entire extended family at Thanksgiving this year, which is understandable. So why not curate your own perfected holiday surrounded by your found family and celebrate Friendsgiving? We know that hosting can be a daunting task, so here’s our foolproof list of tips to throw the most successful Friendsgiving party.
Step One: Curate the Vibe
If the first thing you do when planning a party isn’t research, then you’re making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Open up Pinterest, read our blog articles, and start making your mood board. This can include everything from color schemes, to table settings, to general vibes you want to emulate. If you start off with a mood board, everything else will fall into place far easier, because you have a point of reference to return to. So, do not knock a Pinterest mood board or a collage, this is the MOST important first step to hosting a successful Friendsgiving that your besties will want to post all over their Instagrams.
Step Two: Plan the Menu
Now that you know the kind of vibe you want to stick to, it’s time to move on to the most important aspect of a dinner party: the food! For this, you’ll want to first make your guest list and mark down any food sensitivities or dietary restrictions; you want your guests to feel comfortable at your party. If you want to host a more potluck style of Friendsgiving, which is the more common approach, you’ll still want to make a base menu including some of the dishes you’ll be providing and some suggestions for people who don’t know what to bring. Traditional dishes are always a staple, but don’t shy away from something new and innovative! Don’t forget to assign at least one person to dessert or everyone’s sweet tooths will go unsatisfied.
You’ll also want to create a cocktail or mocktail specific to your function and name it as such. We recommend this delicious bourbon apple cider!
Step Three: Send Out Invites
Now that you have your menu that you’ve specially curated to your tentative guest list, it’s time to actually invite your friends! We suggest making cute invitations, either on an invitation platform such as Evite or by drawing something cute out on your iPad. Make sure to include a method of RSVP, which will also have people sign up for the dishes they’re planning on bringing. This invitation can be super cute and can match the vibe you curated in your Pinterest mood board, so have fun with it!
Step Four: Start Making
With all your RSVPs and planning behind you, it’s time to start the actual process. Now, the dishes that you are making will all have a bunch of different components. In order to make your hosting day the most stress-free, make a list of all the food items you can prepare in the days leading up to Friendsgiving. Dressings and purees are safe to sit in the fridge for a few days, so get all the small prep out of the way so you can free yourself up to be the best you on Friendsgiving day.
DIYs are also a hugely important way to make your Friendsgiving feel unique. After looking at your Pinterest board, of course, you’ll have many options of things to make. We recommend crocheting placemats, making custom place cards for each guest, and painting candlesticks to sit in the center of the table. Fun bow garlands, dried orange garlands, or even garlands with gourds are a perfect way to decorate. The best way to tie in the idea of thankfulness for your besties is by making a brown paper chart where everyone can write what they’re most thankful for.
Step Five: Host!
Finally, you get to actually have fun! Don’t forget to set yourself a seat at the Friendsgiving table. Even though you have to get through the stress of cooking, setting up, and hosting, your friends are there to be with and celebrate you! They’re willing to be patient with you, so long as you’re interacting and enjoying the party alongside them. Plus, you have no reason to stress—you just followed the most foolproof tutorial for a successful Friendsgiving!
So if you want to relax with your friends and celebrate your love for one another, it’s time to start planning Friendsgiving now! This five-step plan will get you through every stage of party planning, from vibe curation to the actual day of. We hope you have a very fun and reflective Friendsgiving with all of your best friends.
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