If you follow me on social media, you already know that we just hosted our very first Friendsgiving at our new house this past weekend. Let me tell you, it was quite the adventure! Initially, I felt a little overwhelmed trying to pull everything together, but in the end, it was absolutely worth it. Having your home filled with friends and family is truly special – it’s a vibe and a true blessing! After running a poll to see what you guys wanted to know more about, a few topics stood out, so let’s dive into each of them.
TIPS FOR HOSTING A LARGE GROUP
When hosting over 15 people in your living or dining area, coordination and planning are key. Here are three tips I used to manage our large groups:
1. Seating and Space: Create designated areas for seating and mingling. Consider using folding chairs and tables, maximizing couch space by removing unnecessary pillows, and temporarily moving a coffee table to free up space.
2. Timing and Organization: Plan your menu in advance and prepare what you can ahead of time. Create a rough schedule for the day to ensure everything flows smoothly, accounting for the likelihood of some guests running late.
3. Entertainment and Ambiance: Set the mood with lively music playlists and engaging activities. Taboo is always a safe and fun game to keep everyone entertained!
Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything. — Muhammad Ali
FOOD + DRINKS
When it comes to food and drinks, it’s better to have too much than not enough! We encouraged our guests to bring their favorite dishes or drinks but made sure we had plenty available. To save time and stress, we catered the ham, turkey, and some sides from Honey Baked Ham, while our friends and family helped with the rest. One thing we overlooked until the last minute was having appetizers for the early arrivals, but luckily, some friends grabbed quick snacks from the store, a lesson learned for the future.
Honestly, I didn’t personally cook anything this time, which was exactly how I wanted it! But, I did make a holiday punch that was an absolute HIT! Thank me later!
FRIENDSGIVING THEME IDEAS
Themes make any gathering extra fun! Our Friendsgiving theme this year was “Flannel and Friends,” super easy for everyone to join in. Here are a few more themes we considered:
– Pajama Friendsgiving: Everyone wears pajamas.
– Pie Party: Everyone brings their best homemade pie to compete for a prize.
– Name Potluck: Everyone brings a dish that starts with the same letter as their first name.
– Whodunit Friendsgiving: A CLUE themed dinner party.
THANKSGIVING/FRIENDSGIVING OUTFIT IDEAS
Let’s talk outfit ideas. Your choice depends on your day’s plans. If it’s a cozy family affair, go comfy-casual. For a fancier celebration, elevate your style. And if you’re expecting plenty of Insta-worthy moments, go all-out picture-perfect! Here are a few looks I put together.
Outfit 1 | Outfit 2 | Outfit 3 | Outfit 4
I won’t hype it up that hosting friends and family during the holidays is always easy BUT, the laughter, food, and memories make it so special! Cheers to creating beautiful moments with loved ones. 🍁
