Hosting the Perfect Friendsgiving Party

Friendsgiving is a relatively new concept, which has gained immense popularity in recent years due to the internet and millenial drop in nuclear family-making. It is a cute mashup of the words "friends" and "Thanksgiving," and as the name would suggest, it is a heartfelt gathering of friends and chosen family to celebrate with Thanksgiving-esque festivities.

Unlike your more traditional Thanksgiving festivities, which are typically celebrated with your direct family, Friendsgiving is a celebration of your own chosen family or close friends. The overall idea behind Friendsgiving is to create a warm, comforting, and welcoming community atmosphere where everyone feels like they belong! This can be tough for some people, and be something that they've never experienced, depending on their background or beliefs. The definitive origin of Friendsgiving is not exactly clear, but it is believed to have originated somewhere in the early 2000s. Possibly in college dormitories, where kids had to be separated from their families from the holidays, or the kids who didn't have that family unit to go home to would be able to seek comfort. The concept very quickly caught on, and now these trendy, but beautifuil Friendsgiving celebrations are held in homes, restaurants, and even outdoors around the country, and even around the world.

The significance of Friendsgiving in embracing the seasonal transition

Friendsgiving is a really perfect way to embrace and celebrate the seasonal transition from a beautiful fall to gorgeous winter. It is an absolutely perfect time to reflect on the past year and express your gratitude for the people you love around you and experiences that have brought you true joy and meaning to your life.

The autumnal season is one of great abundance, with the hard earned harvest providing a massive abundance of fresh produce and ingredients. Friendsgiving is an amazing opportunity to showcase these key ingredients in exciting, creative and delicious ways. It also offers a real chance to experiment with new recipes and cuisines! You can add an instant sense of adventure and excitement to the celebration.

Planning the perfect Friendsgiving gathering

Planning the perfect Friendsgiving gathering will take a little bit of effort and organization, but it's definitely worth it. Here are some important tips to help you plan a very memorable Friendsgiving celebration:

Set a date and time

The first step you need to take when planning a Friendsgiving celebration, is to set a date and time that works for everyone you want to invite. It's best practice to choose a date that is relatively close to Thanksgiving, but definitely not on the same day. This is a great way to allow guests to attend both celebrations, if they so wish. Then, if you're worried about FOMO on the day of, you can plan something smaller with less people and less preparation.

Create a guest list and send invitations

Next, you should create a guest list with cute invitations that match the theme, if you so choose, and send these invitations to your guests. It's important when doing this to consider the overall size of your space and the number of guests you can and want to comfortably accommodate. You can definitely send invitations via text, email, social media, or traditional mail.

Plan the menu

The menu is of course going to be the centerpiece of any Friendsgiving celebration. It's a really good idea to ask guests to bring a dish to share, in a potluck style celebration, ensuring a variety of dishes and flavors. You can also assign the specific dishes or courses to specific guests to ensure the celebration has a balanced meal that doesn't break the bank or requite hours of your own preparation.

Decorate the space

Creating a really warm and inviting atmosphere is by far key to a successful Friendsgiving celebration. You can really have fun and decorate the space with more fall-themed decor, such as pumpkins, leaves, and even scented candles. You can also create a really cozy ambiance with plenty of soft lighting and comfortable seating.