Before everyone heads home for the holidays, host a Friendsgiving open house and share in an evening of food and friendship. Read below to get our top tips, brought to you by Evite and Chinet® Cut Crystal®.
Friendsgiving Invitations: The More the Merrier
Invite guests two to three weeks in advance. We like this free Evite invitation from our Thanksgiving invitation collection. Let guests know on the invitation that it’s an open house and include a start and end time.
Friendsgiving Decorations: Set the Scene
In the spirit of Friendsgiving, keep it casual but special. Leave the china in the cabinet; instead, set out sophisticated disposable dishware (we like Chinet® Cut Crystal®) for easy cleanup. For a dash of seasonal flair, you can even make these fall-inspired DIY pressed-leaf plates. Cover your main buffet table with a white tablecloth and display food on wooden stands or in baskets to create dimension. Finally, add autumn-inspired accents such as pomegranates, pears and evergreen garlands.
Friendsgiving Food: Eat, Drink and Be Thankful
Opt for an open-house get-together rather than a formal sit-down dinner, and invite guests to come and go as they please. Serve your spread buffet-style so guests can put together their own plates, labeling each dish so they know what’s on offer.
If you’re inviting a lot of guests, consider a potluck. The host usually tackles the main dish, but guests can bring appetizers, side dishes and desserts. To avoid ending up with 8 pumpkin pies, click on the red bag in the “event conversation” bar on your Evite invitation to make a dish wish list. When guests RSVP, they can claim the item they want to bring. Just keep in mind that this approach makes the party even more casual, since dishes will be coming and going as guests do.
If you’re hosting before Thanksgiving, don’t be afraid to break with tradition and forgo the old-school turkey-and-gravy menu. Friendsgiving isn’t meant to be elegant — it’s casual and fun. Mix it up by serving finger foods and alternatives to all the classics: For instance, try turkey wraps with cranberry chutney, turkey sausage or pumpkin cheesecake bars.
Friendsgiving Drinks: Cheers!
Save yourself the hassle of setting up a full bar by serving a single signature drink. Consider stirring up a twist on Champagne — just add crème de cassis for a kir royale — or heat hot cider with cinnamon sticks. Add beer, wine, water and soda and you’re done.
Glam up clear disposable cups (such as these Chinet® Cut Crystal® ones) by adding colored washi tape around the base — bonus points if it’s glittery.
Friendsgiving Leftovers: The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Give your guests a little sweet treat to go by sending them home with leftover pie in these DIY Thanksgiving Pie To-Go Boxes: Just print on card stock, cut out, fold and fill!
Guests can’t wait to dig into seconds of the pumpkin pie? Offer them disposable cutlery for the road. For a finishing touch, spray-paint the handles of utensils metallic gold.
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