Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and gathering together with the important people in our lives. Oftentimes we have familial obligations that mean we don’t get to celebrate holidays with our “chosen” family, our friends. A solution? Friendsgiving!
Friendsgiving is the celebration before the holiday. The vibe is typically more casual than a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Let’s chew over how to host the ultimate Friendsgiving!
Digital Invitations
You have a few options when it comes to sending digital invitations. The first option is using a service like Paperless Post or Evite. They will track RSVPs, send reminders, etc. The cost is around a couple dollars per person. The next option is to create an invitation yourself in Canva or Piktochart, then text it individually to friends. You will have to track RSVPs and send reminders yourself, but this option will save you a few bucks.
Assign food dishes
Just because you are playing hostess, doesn’t mean you need to make every dish yourself. Pick one or two of your favorite signature dishes to make, then reach out to party guests to help with the rest. Offer your guests a few options of things to bring and ask them to pick one to bring. Be general in request, it will allow your guest freedom to be creative with their dish. For example, ask them to bring a potato dish, rather than specifically, potatoes au gratin.
Schedule Wisely
Pick a day that is far enough away from actual Thanksgiving, that will work for most people but won’t conflict with Travel plans. Look for a date 10-14 days before official Thanksgiving. Take into account work schedules and childcare needs, to maximize guest availability.
Decorations
Nicely decorated doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. If you want to go simple, stick with neutral tablecloths and fresh flowers. Add in a few candles and mini pumpkins for an autumnal feel. If you want to spend a little more time, there are lots of DIY centerpiece ideas on Pinterest. If you’ve got a bigger budget, reach out to your local florist and ask them to help craft a stunning table centerpiece for your event.
Favors
Sending guests home with a little treat or token is such a great way to say thank you. If you are opting to just serve dinner at your event, provide a sweet treat as a favor, for guests to enjoy on the trip home. Other favors could be a seasonally scented soap or candle, recipe cards, a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider.
Being able to gather friends together is really what this season is all about. Enjoying good food and spending time with friends are really what makes Friendsgiving so special. Hosting a Friendsgiving dinner will be well worth your time and effort this season.