5 tips for throwing the ultimate Friendsgiving
Guest contributor: Amelia Edmondson
Friendsgiving is a wonderful way to gather your chosen family for an evening of gratitude and good eats! Not sure where to start? We asked hosting enthusiast Amelia Edmondson to share her top tips on how to create a truly special Friendsgiving.
Take a look below to see her pro tips!
Tip 1: Invitations
A fun way I love to engage my guests weeks before I host a dinner party is by sending them Evites! There are so many fun and unique options to choose from so I can make sure the invitation fits the theme. It is also a great resource to help keep your plans organized and keep track of RSVPs.
Here are some invitations to get you started:
Tip 2: Menu & delegation
Of course, the most important part of the dinner party is the food! Friendsgiving in particular requires more hands on deck since there are so many side dishes. I recommend working on a menu two weeks before the event, then creating a spreadsheet (or a SignUp Sheet on your Evite!) to share with guests. There, they can pick a dish they would like to make and sign up! I make it even easier by sharing a recipe suggestion so that they know exactly what to prepare (an amazing one that I love is this roast chicken recipe, which is perfect if turkey isn’t your thing). This way I can focus on creating an amazing Friendsgiving setting instead of just laboring over the meal all day. It’s also a fun way to get everyone involved.
Tip 3: Decor
For decor, you can go a million different directions. From a minimalist neutral palette to a maximalist and colorful setting, you really can’t go wrong! Here are some of my tried-and-true tips for making a gorgeous table setting.
Seasonal flowers: Run to your local farmers market to see what is in bloom right now! Then use vases you have around or these bud vases to scatter your blooms among the table.
Taper candles: Candles make all the difference truly. I personally love my brass candlestick holders because they are timeless and suit most aesthetics. For an autumnal feel, I recommend using the yellow beeswax candlesticks of ivory! These beeswax tapers are some of my favorites.
Linen tablecloth and napkins: I recommend investing in a good white linen tablecloth! You will end up using it way more than you think. I personally love the linen collection from Crate & Barrel and have this one in multiple colors! To mix things up I recommend getting a neutral-colored napkin or a fun printed one.
Plus… don’t be afraid to mix and match your dishware! If you don’t have enough of one dish set for all of your guests, create an intentionally layered and totally eclectic look by pairing the dishes you already have!
Here are a few of my favorites:
Marin Desert Green European Flax Linen Napkin Set
Menus and name cards
Okay, hear me out, I know it may be extra, but everyone loves a cute menu and place card! There are a ton of templates out there that you can use, or you can make your own! Take a peek at Pinterest or Instagram for inspo, or if you want to take it a step further, you can hire someone to do this for you so they are ready to go!
Tip 4: Autumn-inspired playlist
The music sets the tone of the night! So make sure you have a playlist or two on deck, with a cozy Friendsgiving vibe! If you don’t have a speaker, I recommend investing in this JBL speaker that I use for literally every dinner party (and day to day), or seeing if one of your guests has a speaker they can bring.
Here are a few of my favorite playlists:
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more fall playlists, check out Evite’s official Spotify!
Tip 5: Table topics
I can’t recommend including a conversation card game in your Friendsgiving (or any dinner party) enough! Especially if there are new faces, having a conversation card at every plate can be a great way to spark conversation and make everyone feel more connected. I love hiding them under everyone's plates and then directing them to take a peek under their plate! It definitely keeps things fun and interesting.
Here are a few of my favorite convo packs:
Amelia is a dinner party enthusiast living in Southern California. She is passionate about hosting and sharing nourishing meals and moments with the people she loves the most. When she isn't hosting, she is documenting and sharing her hosting process on her social channels.
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