These Hosting Hacks For Friendsgiving Will Save You Stress Without Sacrificing The Fun
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which means it’s also time to throw one of the most anticipated friend group events of the season: Friendsgiving.
Not everyone loves getting together with their extended family on Thanksgiving day, as the holiday can sometimes be ripe with tension and drama.
That’s why Friendsgiving offers the best of both worlds: delicious food, cozy cocktails, and an opportunity to show your gratitude for your besties.
Now, the idea of putting together two separate celebrations (one with your family and one with friends) can sound daunting. But if you decide to host Friendsgiving this year, there are plenty of ways to cut corners and alleviate stress without sacrificing the spirit or fun of the event.
Without further ado, here are our top Friendsgiving hosting hacks.
Friendsgiving Can Still Be Special (Even With Less Effort)
When you take on the task of hosting, it can feel like a solo mission. But for Friendsgiving, the magic is in collaboration.
So, our first tip is to opt for a potluck-style dinner. They’re easy and can even make your meal more diverse. It’s simple to coordinate, too.
Once you send out your invitations, just ask each guest to sign up for an appetizer, side dish, or dessert. You can create a shared document and have everyone fill out what they want to bring to ensure there are no repeats.
Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
Then, you can handle the main dish (which will probably be turkey) and anything else that’s left over, reducing your cooking responsibilities substantially.
As you consider the menu, remember that you don’t have to go all out, either. This is Friendsgiving, and it’s alright to change things up for the sake of simplicity.
For instance, if you’re not hosting a large amount of people (or simply don’t feel like roasting a whole turkey for hours), you can prepare turkey breasts and thighs separately. Or, you can even just choose to cook chicken!
The same can be said for side dishes, and don’t be afraid to select food items that can be made in advance. My favorite thing to prep ahead of Thanksgiving day is sweet potato casserole.
I boil and mash the sweet potatoes the day before. Afterward, I spread it out in a casserole dish, cover it with foil, and stick it in the fridge. The next day, all I have to do is remove the foil, top the mash with marshmallows, and put it in the oven to warm up!
Aside from food, there are tons of other techniques you can use to set a festive Friendsgiving mood without spending a lot of money or putting in too much effort.
You could craft a signature cocktail, such as a spiked apple cider or vodka spritz, and serve it in a beverage dispenser. This can save you some cash as opposed to buying a larger mix of beer, alcohol, and wine.
Plus, you can inform your guests of the signature cocktail ahead of time, telling them the rest of the celebration is BYOB if they’d prefer to drink something else.
Next, to set the vibe on the day of the event, you can put out homemade place cards that are both adorable and affordable, set the mood with candles instead of overhead lighting, and play something festive in the background.
I personally love a few jazzy dinner playlists I’ve found on Spotify. But you could create a collaborative Friendsgiving playlist, asking all of your guests to contribute a few of their favorite songs. You can also pull up a holiday movie or football game on TV.
Last but not least, we all know that there are going to be leftovers. For a thoughtful touch, provide some disposable takeout-style containers so everyone can bring home a bit of the delicious food.
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