How To: Host a Friendsgiving Dinner that Won’t Suck

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just a week away? It seems as if November has flown by. I’m already decorating for Christmas, but I couldn’t skip over the introduction to the holiday season! Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for the blessings in your life, and I love that the concept of Friendsgiving has become popular in the last few years! But if you’ve ever attended a poorly planned Friendsgiving dinner, you know that sometimes they can suck. That’s why I’m here! Now that it’s your turn to host, I want to give you some tips to host a Friendsgiving Dinner that won’t suck.

Disclaimer: As we are in a global pandemic, necessary precautions are recommended before assembling with individuals outside of your immediate family. This post will not detail specific COVID-19 precautions, but you can read my suggestions in this previous post.

Guests

This could be the single most important part of planning. Nothing is worse than mixing unfamiliar friend groups and enduring awkwardness all night, or dealing with feuding friends when you’re supposed to be celebrating. Take care to pick guests that are friendly and sociable, won’t clique up at your dinner party, and squash all beef before arrival. I also recommend allowing your guests to see the guest list on your invitations. It gives them a heads up, and lessens the chance of any conflict. Remember- These are your friends and you’re the host. It is perfectly acceptable to let guests know if they can’t be nice, they can stay home.

Menu

Thanksgiving’s claim to fame is the spread of delicious dishes. But if you’re anything like my family, you’ll be eating holiday food a week after the actual holiday. So you definitely don’t want to overdo it with the same traditional dishes at your Friendsgiving dinner! Shake things up a bit by serving comfort foods that aren’t on the menu at your main dinner.

You’ll have to be mindful of your guests’ dietary restrictions and preferences when building your menu, of course. You might even decide to allow your guests to vote on menu items, to ensure everyone will have something they like.

Here’s a sample menu from my Friendsgiving brunch that was a crowd pleaser:

Décor

While I am usually all for extravagant décor, the meal is typically the star of the Thanksgiving show, and I’d hate to detract from that. Keeping the décor cozy and intimate will set the tone for your gathering without distracting from the spread. A lovely centerpiece like the ones I made here are perfect for your Friendsgiving!

Handwritten name cards will also be a nice personal touch that your guests will truly appreciate!

Lastly, a craft paper runner is an inexpensive décor element that can double as a keepsake! Have all your guests write a message on the runner and frame it for years to come!

If you’re hosting Friendsgiving this year, it doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. It should be quite the opposite! Focusing on the categories of guest list, menu, and décor will ensure you have a Friendsgiving to be thankful for!

Be safe and enjoy your holiday!

Thankfully,