Thanksgiving is all about reflection, time with loved ones, and food. A newer tradition and spin-off of the traditional Thanksgiving celebration is called Friendsgiving. Friendsgiving is exactly what it sounds like — Thanksgiving but with your friends! Friendsgiving is said to have started in the early 2000s and is often rumored to have been inspired by the beloved sitcom, Friends.
Maybe you want to host your own Friendsgiving celebration but don’t know where to start. Keep reading for a list of 10 things you can do to make your Friendsgiving seamless and fun!
Make a Guest List and Invite Friends
I know it’s not Christmas yet but make your list and check it twice. Make sure you’ve invited all of your pals to the celebration. Thanksgiving is that time of year when it’s important to be around people you love and who love you, so make sure you invite your buddies. They’ll be glad you did! You can send out e-vites or letters!
Prepare Your Menu
This part is so much fun! Do you want to go the traditional route or do something different? After establishing the direction you’d like to take your menu, contact your friends and see what they’d like to eat. In addition to this, see if anyone would like to pitch in and bring anything. Some people enjoy bringing their best covered dish for everyone to enjoy. You also want to gather information about any food allergies or dietary restrictions as you prepare your menu.
Choose a Theme
This is optional but super fun. What do you want your theme to be? Maybe you want a cozy pajama theme. Perhaps, you’d like a more elegant theme. The possibilities are endless! Choose this carefully, as it will be the center of your color schemes and decorations.
Get Your Home Ready
You’ll want to make sure your home is ready and safe for the party. If any of your guests have children, ensure your home is safe for them. Make sure everything is nice, clean, and sanitized.
Decorate
Next to prepping the menu, this is the most fun part! Decorating! Get your place Friendsgiving ready with decorations. Your decor should align with your theme! So, if you’re going for that cozy pajama theme, try using a lot of different comfy pillows that are nicely placed around your living room. If you’re going for the elegant theme, use dimmer lights and a neutral color palette.
Goody bags
Don’t we all love goody bags? Create cute little bags with Friendsgiving keepsakes in them for your friends to cherish forever. You can even have an instant camera or camera booth on deck to take photos for them to stick in their goody bags. Friendsgiving memories for life!
Pick Your Outfit
This part is also fun! Remember, as the host, you’re going to be doing a lot of moving around. While your outfit should correlate with your theme (should you decide to pick a theme), also ensure that it is comfortable for you to be able to host your guests in comfort.
Make It Fun
Have some fun games available for your guests to enjoy. If they have children, get them involved by playing games like pinning feathers on a turkey!
Designate Your Cleanup Crew
After everyone has eaten, chatted, and played games, you’ll have to do the not-so-glamorous part which is to clean up and put everything away. Communicate with your friends and see who your cleanup crew will be before your Friendsgiving. Depending on the size of your crowd, you can have anywhere from two to five (or more) people helping you clean up!
Send “Thank You” Notes
No matter what, nobody has to attend an event that is special to you. Friendsgiving is a special event, so if someone takes time to attend, make sure you take time to send them a “thank you” note. You can also send these electronically, as well, if you aren’t able to send a paper note.
The Last Bite
One of the joys of life is having friends. As we celebrate Thanksgiving and reflect on what we are thankful for, remember those people who we choose and who also choose us. Hosting (or attending) a Friendsgiving is a great reminder of what matters most during the holiday season — fun, friendship, and making memories for life.
