It's almost that time of year: Thanksgiving. This means you're thinking about hosting a Friendsgiving gathering for your friends and loved ones. I love Friendsgiving because you are able to choose who you celebrate autumn with. In years past I've hosted a couple Freindsgiving and have learned some tricks that will help you throw the best gathering this autumn!
Show your friends how much you care by hosting a rockin' Friendsgiving this year!
Friendsgiving is a great time to celebrate the season, friends, and overall life. Show your gratitude and elevate your hosting skills with this killer guide! I did all the hard work for you. Just follow this easy guide for a smooth 'party' planning process. Plus, stay organized with my easy Friendsgiving Planning Checklist.
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WHO ARE YOU INVITING?
It's important to figure out who you are inviting before trying to cram 40 people in your apartment. Make a list of who you would like to invite and take note of how many you can accommodate. 10-16 is great for a small apartment, although I had 40 once 
. Where are you sitting for dinner? In college we all sat on the floor and worked fine for us. Moving forward, I have invested in some affordable folding tables and chairs to fit more people. I use these for all my larger gatherings.
SET THE DATE
Choosing the date for your party is important. You want to plan for before Thanksgiving day. The weekend (Saturday) before Thanksgiving week seems to be best choice for me. Some things to consider for choosing the right date are work/school holiday breaks, best day for getting boozed (if drinking), and giving people enough time to prepare a dish.
SEND OUT INVITES
Friendsgiving is a great time to go all out with invites. Although you can opt for online invites, there's nothing like receiving a physical invitation. For Friendsgiving it's nice to think about details and this one matters. I have used Paperless Post for digital invites. However, I HIGHLY encourage some nice handwritten cards to show your friends how much you care.
DECOR + SET-UP
Make sure you are prepared with some fall/Friendsgiving decor if you haven't already. Friendsgiving is typically potluck style. So, have a dedicated space for putting food (buffet style).
Lately I have been into keeping things minimal but playing it loud is great too! Here's a couple of my favorite go-to looks and how you can easily recreate them.
1. Buffet Table Set-up
3. Simple Table Setting
4. Trendy Bar Cart
Recreate This Look:
ALL ABOUT FOOD + DRINK
You can serve anything at Friendsgiving. You are not limited to traditional Thanksgiving food (I once had international food style). As a host, I find it important to take on some appetizers, a signature drink, main dish, 1 or 2 side dishes, and a maybe dessert. Don't worry, it does not need to be complicated. It is expected for friends to bring a side dish too. NOTE: Consider coordinating what dishes people are bringing so you don't end up with 7 pumpkin pies.
I have a post with easy ideas for great food and drinks you can make yourself. Alternatively, you could just order takeout? (I won't judge)
PARTY ACTIVITIES
The party you host can go any direction you want. Keep it casual and play some games or watch a movie. If you're looking to get boozed up, play drinking games. Here are a couple activity ideas:
1. Have A Great Playlist
Get the party vibe going with some killer music. Browse through Spotify and Pandora for the vibe your group likes. I'm in love with Chill Vibes on Spotify because its soft, yet current.
2. Friendsgiving Games
Who doesn't love games! Games are a great way to have fun with your friends and keep the night going after dinner. Here are a couple of my favorites:
3. Great Movie Ideas
Who doesn't love games! Games are a great way to have fun with your friends and keep the night going after dinner. Here are a couple of my favorites:
GUEST FAVORS
This is totally optional! If you have the time and resources, create some 'party' favors for your guests. It's a nice touch to send people home with a little treat or such. This is a sweet way to make them feel special and really show you are thankful for their friendship.
Recreate This Look:
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