Hosting a Friendsgiving this season? Friendsgiving will give you a reason to wine and dine with your besties as you give thanks, laugh and partake in some seasonal deliciousness. Here’s a foolproof guide to throwing a perfect celebration without doing all the work yourself.

Set a Date: The holiday season gets busy, and of course you want everyone to attend—but choose a date that works for you, and stick to it.

Make The Guest List: All of your guests should be able to sit down at a table and enjoy the meal. If your table fits six people, then invite six people. If you can rearrange your living room and rent a table that seats 14 people, invite 14 people. Decide how many people you can accommodate and then create the guest list. 

Send out invitations: Once the guest list is established, send out the invitations. It doesn’t matter if it’s a mailed or a text message, as long as you send out your invitations a few weeks ahead of time, since social calendars get booked this time of year. 

Make It A Potluck: Friendsgiving is a perfect holiday for a potluck since it’s all about the cooking and people want to contribute. Make a list of the dishes you’d like to serve and how many people will be eating. Compile the details into a shared Google Doc so you and your guests can plan together. Ask guests to tell you if they have any special diet restrictions when they RSVP, and make sure those people have at least three things to put on their plate that make a good meal.

Ask your friends to bring their assigned dish prepared and ready to serve in serving bowls or platters. Find out what needs to be heated in the oven, and make a cooking chart to know which dish goes in at what time. Remember to include drinks, desserts, games, napkins and other supplies that you may need on your master list.

Need a little inspiration for your menu? Try Cowgirl Creamery’s Red Hawk Potato Gratin or Caramel Apple Party Cake. Don’t want to whip up homemade dessert? Stop by Mariposa and pick up some fabulous fall favorites like their maple pecan bundts, pumpkin whoopie pies, vegan apple galettes, and their new apple spice muffin with a chai glaze. 

Sips: Assign each guest or couple to bring a signature drink, whether you decide on wine and beer only, or plan cocktails to have as your house drink, and include a punch or cider for designated drivers. Set out a pitcher of ice water on the table so people can stay hydrated. Make sure you have a bag of ice in the freezer.

Set The Table: Create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Real napkins, a tablecloth, wine glasses, and water glasses will dress up the table. Create your own Farmgirl Flowers Fall Tablescape wth these easy tips.

Serve It Up: Take an inventory of your kitchen. Make sure you have plenty of serving utensils, platters, silverware, chairs and glasses. If you’re lacking something, rent it or borrow it from friends. 

Delegate: Consider assigning other pre- and post-party tasks. Sign up a few friends to help you set the table, finalize food before guests arrives, be on drink duty during the meal, take photos, be in charge of clearing the table post-meal, and handle dishes. 

Tunes: Set the mood with your favorite music station or enlist a friend to pull together a playlist you can all enjoy. Try this Ultimate Thanksgiving Music Playlist. 

Games: Table bonding makes a party livelier and more fun. Games are the solution. Have each couple or guest bring a game to share. Board games. Card games. Drinking games. Gratitude and memory games.

Leftovers: Ask friends to bring their own containers so that at the end of the night, they can make their own take home care package. Send them home with leftovers and recipes for a memorable evening that will last days. 

Enjoy: Don’t over plan. Friendsgiving is all about a relaxed get-together, once the date arrives, let the dinner and the festivities flow naturally, relax and just have fun!

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