Friendsgiving is a wonderful tradition that allows you and your friends to come together and celebrate the joys of friendship during the holiday season. It's a time to relax, enjoy good food, and create lasting memories. If you're planning to host an annual Friendsgiving, here are 10 tips to make it the best one yet!
1. Plan Ahead:
Start planning well in advance. Create a guest list, decide on a date and time, and send out invitations. Planning ahead ensures that everyone can mark their calendars and make arrangements to attend. I use Evite (it's free 99) to send my invites out to my friends via text message. Keep an open line of communication with the guests, be flexible, understanding and organized.
2. Consider Potluck Style:
Friendsgiving is all about sharing and coming together. Embrace the potluck style and ask each guest to bring a dish. This way, everyone gets to contribute and showcase their culinary skills. It also takes the pressure off the host to prepare everything. If you don't like doing, that allow friends to bring whatever they like (drinks, desserts, a Charcuterie) so they don't feel like they are showing up empty handed. Catering the meal can also take the preparation pressure off of the host, but it can add up pretty quickly.
3. Mix Up the Menu:
While traditional Thanksgiving dishes are always a hit, depending on when you schedule your party, everyone will be eating that same food for the next few weekends, so don't be afraid to mix it up. If you are doing it potluck style, encourage your girlfriends to bring dishes from their cultural backgrounds, a dish based off their dietary restrictions or try out new recipes. This adds variety and excitement to the feast. If you are making all the dishes yourself or having the party catered, consider a brunch style menu instead. My friends love chicken and waffles paired with a holiday themed drink!
Also P.S. make sure to keep track of dietary needs and allergies so that there is plenty of safe food for all of your guests!
4. Create a Cozy Atmosphere:
This step is as important as planning ahead. Set the mood for a memorable Friendsgiving by creating a cozy atmosphere. Decorate the space with warm colors, fairy lights, and candles. Play some soft background music to create a relaxed and inviting ambience. YouTube has great jazz and lo-fi music themed for the season. To avoid overstimulating your guests, avoid having the music too loud or the smells too strong. I have a no-shoe rule in my house so I gift everyone with a gift bag that includes fuzzy socks or slippers, hand sanitizer (we are post-pandemic ready at all times) and a cute mug or gift to remember the party by.
5. Have Fun with Table Decor
Make the table a focal point by having fun with the decor. Use fall-themed tablecloths, place cards, and centerpieces. Incorporate natural elements like leaves or pumpkins for an extra touch of seasonal charm. If you don't have a table, holiday up the severing area by using lights and garland. I also like to put cute cake toppers in the desserts.
6. Plan Activities:
Keep your guests entertained by planning some fun activities. You can have a DIY craft station, a photo booth with props, or even organize a friendly game of charades. These activities will help create lasting memories and laughter. My friends and I have done Culture Tags (Target) and another year we did a painting. We shared so many laughs!
7. Don't Forget the Drinks:
Aside from the delicious food, make sure to have a variety of drinks available. Don't forget to know your friend group as you don't want to have alcohol around someone who may be on a journey to sobriety, also they do have to drive home! My favorite, non-alcoholic fall drink is called Caramel Apple Cider. It uses apple cider, ginger ale, pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon, and caramel coffee syrup. I like to add razzle dazzle but putting apple slices in there as well. Encourage your guests to bring their favorite beverages as well. You can never have too many drink options.
8. Capture the Moments:
Have you ever been somewhere and enjoyed it so much, but forgot to take pictures. That's me all the time! As the host it can be hard to host and take photos, so designate someone as the official photographer or set up a photo corner with props, a tripod, a ring light and a camera. Encourage your girlfriends to take pictures throughout the event. These photos will serve as cherished memories of your annual Friendsgiving. Make sure you have them send you the photos they take too!
9. Keep the Tradition Alive:
After hosting a successful Friendsgiving, make it an annual tradition. Keep the momentum going by planning the next year's event before everyone leaves. This way, you can all look forward to another memorable gathering filled with love and laughter. What I like to do is personally text each guest and thank you and open the floor for conversation for what they would be interested in doing the next year.
10. Have Fun!
Take moments in between hosting to soak up the memories for yourself. It's easy to find yourself cleaning, checking on the tissue supply in the bathroom, keeping the food warm and the drinks flowing that you forget to enjoy the party yourself. For the 2 years that I have hosted, all of my friends say "I can't wait until the next one." Nothing makes me more happy than to hear that my friends enjoyed themselves and we were able to forget about the stresses of life and have fun for a little while.
Hosting an annual Friendsgiving for you and your girlfriends is a fantastic way to create memories that will last a lifetime. By following these 10 tips, you can ensure that each gathering is a celebration of friendship, good food, and joyful moments. So, start planning and get ready to host the best holiday party ever!
