How To Throw The Best Friendsgiving Dinner

One of the many perks of living in Houston in the fall is fantastic weather. When I decided to host an outdoor Friendsgiving with a handful of friends, it turned out to be a time to remember with good food and great laughs! We had the best time.

Today, I am sharing some tips on how you can throw the best Friendsgiving on your own, and even if you aren’t into cooking how you can work around that.

What Is Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving is an unofficial holiday that started in the mid-1990’s. It’s a way for friends to come together to celebrate Thanksgiving. The actual term, Friendsgiving is a combination of the two words, Friends and Thanksgiving. Its original origin is still unknown.

Some say this “holiday” may have started with the show Friends. Who remembers the episode when they had thanksgiving together?? The thing is the word “Friendsgiving” was never used in that episode. So, it’s still unclear how this fun unofficial holiday all got started.

How Many People To Invite

Once you decide you want to host a Friendsgiving the next step is to get your invite list together. Something to consider is your space and seating area. From there you can get a good idea of the number of guests you can accommodate.

You want to be sure there will be a seat and table available for anyone who’s attending. You can keep it as small or as large as you like. Remember to consider your own personal preference too. If a large party is overwhelming to you, keep it on the smaller side.

What Do You Need To Host

Host(s) Responsibility

Create an Invite That Will Provide Info for Party
Create and Manage Guest List
Organize Menu
Provide Ample Seating/Tables For Guests
Table Linens, Decor, and Plates/Silverware

What To Serve At A Friendsgiving

There are a few different ways to handle what to serve at a Friendsgiving which is great with a range of budgets.

You can do a potluck where the host makes the main dish and guests are asked to bring something specific like a side. If you enjoy cooking you can cook it all yourself and maybe ask the guest to bring desserts and wine.

For those that are not into cooking and want to keep it simple for everyone, you can have it catered. Which is what I did for this boho Friendsgiving party. I had local businesses(Rollin’ Local and Flourishing Fern) do the cooking, serving and clean up. It was so worth it!

Here’s a Red Moscato Blackberry Goat Cheese Crostini which is fabulous to serve at a Friendsgiving.

**Alley’s Tip** Don’t feel limited to sticking to only traditional thanksgiving foods. Be creative and think outside the box.

Hand Crafted Tea Made by **Flourishing Fern**

What Do You Bring To Friendsgiving

The host will typically share an invite and may indicate what is expected from guests. If it’s a potluck party a side and a bottle of wine may be a nice thing to bring. Confirm with host(s) what their needs may be. I also like to bring a little gift to the host as a thank you. Maybe flowers, or a special bottle of liquor or candle.

If you decide to plan/host a Friendsgiving be sure to plan around what is comfortable to you. Friendsgiving is meant to feel relaxed and less stressed than a full-blown Thanksgiving. Have a good time planning it and keep it simple.