What is Friendsgiving? It’s a Thanksgiving party with friends. Many people don’t live close to family or simply want to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends who feel like family. Personally, I enjoy any reason to have roast turkey.
The nice thing about a Thanksgiving party with friends is that you can easily make it a potluck. If you are hosting, here are a few tips to make your Friendsgiving party fun and hassle-free:
Friendsgiving Tip #1 Take photos
You will want to share this event on social media. It’s what we do now. In order to encourage
people to take photos, I suggest having photo booth props. It seems silly, but I swear people don’t take as many photos as you think they do.
You don’t need an entire formal photo booth set up. Just place these easily downloadable printables on the dining table and/or strategically around the party. People will see them and think they are fun. I did this at my wedding reception and it was a hit. It gave people something to talk about and something fun to do while we were waiting for the food to arrive.
If by chance your friends aren’t sure what to do with them, be a good host and take the lead. Grab a prop and strike a pose. Once they see you doing it, they will join right in on the the fun.
Friendsgiving Tip #2 Create a sides/dessert sign up sheet
The wonderful thing about potlucks is that you don’t have to do all the cooking. You do have to make sure you don’t get three variations of a green bean casserole and no pies. Luckily, there are online tools to help coordinate the sides and dishes. Remember Evite? That’s still around and has a way to list what to bring to the party too.
Friendsgiving Tip #3 Have a coffee/tea bar
Keurig K130/B130 Brewing System (Affiliate Link)
If you are having any kind of adult beverages at your Thanksgiving party with friends, I highly suggest
Friendsgiving Tip #4 Be prepared for overnight guests
Once in a while a friend might overindulge in an alcoholic beverage. Better to let them sleep it off on the couch or guest room than send them off into the night. Knowing this might be a possibility will keep you from feeling put out when it does happen.
Friendsgiving Tip #5 DIY only as much as you want
It’s always fun to have holiday decorations. You can get fancy and create
your own labels for water bottles or you can download some printable decor for the mantel. Do what your abilities allow. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart and drag in half of the yard to create a lovely rustic centerpiece. You can use that easy printable and put it in a frame you already have. Easy and fancy. If you’d like you can also create your own very easily by using PicMonkey. I love that site and made the subway art printables as well as all of my photo booth props on it.
(Please note that this post contains some affiliate links.)
Love all these ideas! A great way to enjoy the holidays with those who don’t have family around.
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving 🙂
Thanks! I do try to invite friends who cannot be with theirs to my family’s Thanksgiving celebration. But it’s also fun to have Thanksgiving with friends.
How fun! I think having the photo props even for family get togethers would be fun, and keep the kids entertained!
Thanks! Yes! I need to work on more kid oriented photo booth props. I recently made some Comic Book ones. The 80s ones I made seem to be the most popular.
Oh my gosh, I love all these ideas Amy!! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! 🙂
Renee@ Two in the Kitchen recently posted…Honeycrisp and Cranberry Salad with spicy chili and nut crusted goat cheese medallions
Thank you! Have a great Thanksgiving too!
Great ideas. I think the message about maybe having to host an overnight guest is important. Celebrate safely.
Heather Grow recently posted…Easy Vintage Curtain Apron Tutorial
Thank you! Most people are pretty good about knowing their limits, but better to be prepared just in case.
Great ideas! I was thinking about hosting a Friendsgiving this year, but I think I’m running out of time. Maybe I’ll apply some of these idea to a Friends Christmas Dinner! Thanks for joining us for Hump Day Happenings.
Jenna @ A Savory Feast recently posted…Hump Day Happenings #37
Yes! A holiday dinner with friends would be great too. Thanks for stopping by!
Love these ideas! I feel like some of my friends are family and love the holidays, so this is perfect 🙂
Montana Ross recently posted…Hump Day Happenings: What’s on my Playlist
Thank you so much! Sometimes friends are like family or even more so.
How fun! My friend Ali (from @gimmesomeoven ) does this I think! If not she does cool get togethers with her neighbors that make me a bit envious!
Thanks! I’m a big fan of having Thanksgiving with whomever is around, including friends and family.
I loved how you are doing a Friendsgiving–so many people don’t have family close by, but you can still do the holiday with friends! I shared it on today’s party on Creative K Kids. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party! I’ve pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board.
Tammy @ creativekkids recently posted…Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party, Week 55 #pinterest #linky
Thank you so much!
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