"The holiday season is officially here, and first up is Thanksgiving. Personally, I think the best part of the Thanksgiving season is actually Friendsgiving. Who doesn’t love munching on delicious food with their besties to kick off the most wonderful time of the year? The secret to hosting a successful Friendsgiving is bigger than just the menu, however. It’s about the decor, the vibe, and, most importantly, the memories you and your friends will make together. If it’s your turn to host this year, read on for everything you’ll need to ensure your Friendsgiving goes down in friend group history.
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1. Send out real invitations
The first step to planning Friendsgiving is the invites! Do better than a simple text to the group chat and make your Friendsgiving official with actual invitations. If you don’t want to send snail mail, you can create fun and festive invites for free on sites like Canva or Paperless Post. Then simply text or email them out to your guests. Be sure to ask your friends to RSVP so you know who’s coming and if anyone is bringing a guest.
2. Crowd-source the menu
Your Friendsgiving menu doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require some forethought. Remember: you don’t have to cook the entire meal yourself—Friendsgiving is the perfect time for a potluck! When you send out your invites, ask everyone to sign up to bring a side dish (make sure to coordinate so you don’t end up with multiples of the same thing!). You can also request your guests bring a dessert, then set everything out for a dessert bar or make it a bake-off competition!
3. Tweak the traditional Thanksgiving dishes
For the parts of the menu you’re providing, don’t feel like you have to go all out with all the traditional trimmings. For Friendsgiving, taking a few shortcuts is totally fine and, in fact, encouraged. Opt for turkey breasts instead of roasting a whole turkey, or skip the typical meat altogether and make a vegetarian main. Look for side dish recipes you can make ahead or throw in the slow cooker for hands-off prep. And if you’re pressed for time or simply not keen on making something from scratch, as the iconic Ina Garten says, “store-bought is fine.”
4. Craft a signature cocktail
Signature cocktails add a fun and creative touch to any gathering, but they can also save you the stress and expense of trying to purchase enough wine, beer, and spirits to suit everyone’s tastes. Simply let your guests know that you’ll be providing a signature drink and ask them to BYOB if they would prefer something else. To serve your beverage of choice, you can either mix up a pitcher ahead of time or set out all the ingredients in a DIY cocktail station. Be sure to include a recipe card with instructions, as well as glasses, straws, and all the necessary ingredients so your friends can make their own. It’s also a good idea to include some non-alcoholic mixer options so everyone can partake in the mixology fun with or without booze.
6. Serve the food directly on the table
My go-to when hosting is typically to set everything out on my kitchen counter for a self-serve buffet situation. But for Friendsgiving, I suggest setting out all the food on the table itself and serving it up family-style. That way, you can get away with minimal table decor—a tablecloth and place settings are really all you need—thus saving you time and money on setup.
6. Set out place cards for an easy, inexpensive tablescape idea
If you want to add a little extra flair to your Friendsgiving tablescape, custom name cards make an easy but impactful addition. Not only will they let everyone know where to sit, but taking the time to print out place cards adds a thoughtful personal touch that will make each guest feel extra special. Plus, a personalized place setting is a perfect photo opp! Find a template online to customize with your guests’ names or create your own design to match your Friendsgiving vibe.
7. Put something on in the background
Having some background noise is always a good idea to help set the mood and fill in any potential awkward silences. You can either curate a festive playlist yourself or ask your friends to add their favorite songs to a collaborative Friendsgiving playlist. If you want something on the TV instead, turn on a football game, a holiday movie, or even a fake fireplace for cozy vibes. I personally like to queue up a few Thanksgiving episodes from my favorite shows. My number one rec? Gossip Girl Season 1, Episode 9: “Blair Waldorf Must Pie!”
8. Ditch your overhead lighting
Whether your Friendsgiving is a casual, laidback gathering or a more elegant affair, harsh overhead lighting is just not the vibe. If you’re going for a cozy, intimate ambience, line your table with taper candles, switch off the rest of your lights, and let the flickering candlelight set the mood. Or simply place some lamps on or around the table for cozy lighting that still feels plenty bright.
9. Play some games
Games are always a good idea at any gathering. During dinner, have a stack of table talk questions handy to spark some fun conversations. You can either purchase a deck of question cards or create them yourself to make them personal to your friend group. Having a few thought-starters on hand can help you get to know your friends even better—and get familiar with their plus-ones! And of course, while not technically a game, remember to go around the table at dinner and say what you’re thankful for. After all, that’s what this holiday is all about!
10. Provide containers so guests can take home leftovers
Everyone’s favorite part of the holidays? The leftovers. Buy some affordable containers you’re OK parting with so your friends can take leftovers home with them. Disposable takeout-style containers are a great option so you don’t have to hunt your friends down to get your Tupperware back.
Emily Dumas, Contributing Writer
Emily is a Virginia-based content creator with over five years of experience creating content strategies for SaaS companies. Although she spends her days in the tech world, she has spent many years as a lifestyle writer for her personal site, as well as for several publications across the web.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She has over seven years of experience reviewing products, covering trends, and creating inspiring content around all things home. She also holds a certificate in interior design from the New York Institute of Art + Design.