Host the Perfect Friendsgiving with These 6 Tips

By Meghen Jones

Thanksgiving holiday will be in full swing in less than a week and that means one thing—it’s time to munch on all of your favorite foods without being that one person who goes back for seconds or thirds. But, in midst of all the excitement of with your highly-anticipated Thanksgiving break quickly approaching, you cannot forget a celebration of equal importance. Yup, it’s only right that you celebrate with your friends over Friendsgiving before you part ways with your squad to travel back home.

Friendsgiving is the perfect excuse to get together with your friends, eat delicious, Thanksgiving-worthy dishes, and catch up on all of the latest tea going on in your lives. If you’ve never hosted a Friendsgiving, let alone planned a Thanksgiving-oriented meal, it can seem like a daunting matter to approach. Here’s a little advice though: don’t allow the stress of planning an event get you down!

Sure, there’s a lot to do in a very short amount of time amidst your end-of-the-semester obligations, but uCribs has your back once again. Check out our 6 Tips for hosting the picture-perfect Friendsgiving that will have your besties talking for years to come.

Give Yourself Time to Plan

As a college student, a busy schedule can often leave you with a planner filled with important dates, but let’s not forget about Friendsgiving! This get-together is the perfect way to recharge your batteries once Thanksgiving break begins, giving you some time to unwind before you make the big trip home.

But, with every successful event, there is an extensive to-do list, and if you’re gunning for the perfect party, it can be difficult not to plan every detail, especially when it comes to Friendsgiving. While Friendsgiving may not be the most formal event around, its large, Thanksgiving-style spread requires advanced planning and coordination with others.

In a designated notebook, prepare a shopping list that includes necessary groceries, utensils, and decorations. If possible with your already-crammed schedule, we advise you that you begin planning a few weeks ahead. This way, you can plan which dishes you are contributing and coordinate with others who wish to do the same. Plus, it gives you plenty of time to make any necessary, last-minute changes.

Share the Kitchen Responsibilities

More often than not, the person hosting an event is the designated individual that is responsible for planning, cooking, and cleaning—and sure, we get it. It’s all a part of being a good, accommodating host. But, why steal all the glory, right? Friendsgiving, like Thanksgiving, is all about community. Why not use this old adage to your advantage, so you are not responsible for the whole shebang? Let’s be honest with ourselves, who really wants to juggle the entire planning, prep, and clean-up process? Yeah, that’s what we thought.

Ask your guests to contribute by bringing their favorite family dish or dessert, but it’s your job to coordinate accordingly as the host. You want to avoid dish duplications, so encourage a variety among your guests. Sure, green bean casserole can be deliciously addicting, but when you end up with two or three renditions of the same dish, it can get old quickly.

Create a group text or a Google Doc with a list of suggestions, so everyone can have an idea of what is still needed and/or what you need more of. Not only does the proper coordination provide guests with a variety of dishes to choose from, but it also saves you the pain throwing together any last-minute additions to supplement all of the duplicate dishes.

Create a Welcome Environment

Have you ever attended a dinner, but just didn’t feel necessarily welcomed? We’ve all experienced feeling a bit uneasy at gathering during one point or another, and well, what can we say other than it’s not the best feeling in the world. But, don’t let it put a bad taste in your mouth. Instead, use that know-how to create the perfect, welcoming environment for your Friendsgiving event.

Think about it: Friendsgiving is all about community. gratitude.  As for the guest list, keep it simple. You don’t have to invite everyone you know. Instead, choose a few of your closest friends that you know would get along well together even if they might not necessarily know each other very well.  Whether it be your long-time BFF throughout your college career or someone you recently have gotten close to during an extracurricular activity, this friend-oriented holiday has “loved ones” written all over it.

You should also consider anyone that may be new to campus, who is unable to travel back home for Thanksgiving. This is the perfect way to lift their spirits, and now, they can still experience Thanksgiving to some extent, even though they are away from home for possibly the first time in their lives. We promise that this small gesture is sure to go a long way!

Keep the Conversation Flowing

There’s nothing more boring than an event where everyone is just staring at their smartphone. It’s true! If no one is really interacting, then you might as well just stay home and succumb to your next Netflix binge. And c’mon, no one wants that at the start of Thanksgiving break.

While it may be difficult creating conversation among a group of individuals that aren’t too familiar with one another, the effort is very much worth it. You might discover that you all have way more in common than you realized, which will encourage the formation of new friendships and relationships. Not to mention, there’s a lot to be discussed in the current social and political climate of American, and isn’t that what college is really all about? You know, expanding your knowledge, perspectives, and all that jazz…

Hey, the conversation doesn’t have to be serious, either.  Try sparking conversations over popular TV shows such as NBC’s hit singing competition, The Voice, or discuss upcoming plans for the holiday season, football standings, professors, good restaurants, hottest video games on the market, best online subscription boxes… seriously, the possibilities are endless.

Allow the Season to Inspire Your Decor

A holiday event just isn’t an event without some sort of decoration, right? Sure, maybe Thanksgiving is not a huge blowout like Christmas where everyone goes all out, but it still requires some decorative effort to distinguish it from just another day of the year.  As we all know, a college student’s budget can limit your possibilities significantly, but it doesn’t have to completely extinguish your decorative flame.

Keeping in mind that Friendsgiving is a spin on Thanksgiving, you will want to emphasize all things autumn! For your decorations, stick to simple, yet natural elements such as artificial leaves, artificial pumpkins, and a neutrally toned tablecloth. If we’re being honest, the simplistic vibe will triumph only any extravagant ideas you had at the back of your mind.

We also suggest incorporating a fall-scented candle or two to create that welcoming environment you’re seeking.  You can purchase reasonably priced candles from Bath & Body Works, which sells a variety of scents such as Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and Leaves. It’s a smell that will have you feeling relaxed in the midst of all your event-hosting productivity!

Serve Your Best Signature Dishes
The idea behind Friendsgiving is simple. Friends come together for a delicious meal full of extras, right before the Thanksgiving holiday.  So, what is Friendsgiving without a Thanksgiving-based menu? You’ll want to make sure you serve up signature dishes including a juicy turkey with mashed potatoes and brown gravy, sweet candied yams, and stuffing filled with spices.

Don’t be afraid to provide your guests with a signature mocktail—a cocktail-style beverage that is non-alcoholic—that satisfies their taste buds with delectable fall flavors. If you’re unsure of what mix up, you can never go with the good ol’ apple cider concoction. Once your guests take a sip of Sparkling Apple Cider Punch, they’ll be hitting you up for the recipe come the next friend gathering.

Finally, put your baking skills to test because it’s pie time. Yes, the autumn season is all about pie, whether it’d be chocolate pecan, pumpkin, sweet potato, or cinnamon apple. As a last-minute resort, each of these pies can be purchased already prepared—but, it’s true that there’s nothing quite like homemade.  Oh, and don’t forget the cranberry sauce, too!

No matter the occasion, hosting any celebrating can come with its perks and downfalls. With these 6 tips, you are well on your way to putting together one of the most warm and memorable Friendsgiving celebrations to come. And who knows… you may even consider doing it all over again next year!

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