7 Steps to a Last- Minute Friendsgiving

Whether your blood family lives far away, or your friends are your family, hosting a Friendsgiving is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate the holiday, particularly if you have a new home that you’d love to show off. 

If Thanksgiving has snuck up on you this year, don’t fret. With a little pre-planning and guided inspiration, you can host a last-minute Friendsgiving to remember.  

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do a last-minute Friendsgiving. 

Assemble the Guest List 

First step: determine how many members of your found family will attend Friendsgiving. 

Knowing how many guests are coming will guide your menu planning appropriately. Similarly, you need to know not just how many, but who- in case there are food allergies, sensitivities or varied diets you need to work around.  

Send out an invitation, but be sure to set a strict R.S.V.P. deadline, so that you aren’t chasing folks down, especially important if your window before Thanksgiving is small. 

Delegate the Dishes 

While you may be keen to channel your inner Martha Stewart to create an Insta-worthy Thanksgiving feast, it’s wise to delegate duties and dishes for a few reasons. 

First, it always takes longer than you expect to create fancy dishes, even if you are a seasoned home cook. If you take on too much, your Thanksgiving day will be stressful instead of enjoyable.  

Second, the focus should be on sharing the occasion with your friends, and inviting them not only to attend, but to participate by bringing a dish or taking on an item for pre-planning (such as offering to run errands) lets everyone share in the event’s success. 

Let’s Talk Turkey (And Menu) 

It typically falls on the host to provide the main dish, and if you’re going for a traditional Thanksgiving feast, that means the turkey. However, the main dish possibilities are endless. Confer with your group and decide what the main attraction should be then everyone can plan side dishes accordingly. 

There is no reason that you need to stick to a traditional Turkey feast. You can opt for chicken, roast beef, a pasta dish or a vegetarian or vegan dish for your main. 

There is always a concern about having enough, especially if you are not accustomed to hosting a dinner party. If you cover the main dish and have your guests supply the sides, appies and dessert, you should be ok. 

Once you get an overall count of who you can expect at Friendsgiving, set up a Google doc and invite everyone to edit. List different categories and have everyone sign up to bring food and drinks to share with the group. 

Pro Tips 

• Diversify the menu by asking those with dietary restrictions– think vegetarian, vegan, or allergies – to bring dishes they can enjoy. This ensures everyone has something to eat and also prevents accidental cross contamination from chefs who don’t normally cook with food restrictions. 

• Another fun idea is to encourage guests to bring a dish that is traditional to their annual Thanksgiving event and then have them share the backstory to the dish during dinner. It’s more personal and you may have some delicious dishes you would never have thought of on your own.  

• Note- if you are serving passed appetizers, typically you plan for four to five bites per person. 

Designate Drinks (and Drivers) 

Don’t forget drinks as part of your menu.  

Suggest guests BYOB, and you can be responsible for non-alcoholic beverages. You should always have a few non-alcoholic beverages on hand, for designated drivers, guests that choose not to drink, or for guests that are drinking to alternate with their boozy beverages. 

There are all kinds of cool mocktails available, or even a selection of sodas works too. If you want to be a little fancier, you can assemble a simple punch with cranberry juice and ginger ale, along with citrus fruit slices for extra tang. 

Pre-plan how your guests will get home from your party safely. Look into Uber, taxi, public transit or discuss designated drivers ahead of time.  

Set the Table 

Lots of food and people means a lot of table space; make sure you’re prepared.

When seated at a table, you need a foot, to a foot-and-a-half between guests to avoid bumping elbows. 

If you are a traditionalist, follow the guidelines for table setting. Remember a Thanksgiving-themed centerpiece that is low and lovely and doesn’t impede sightlines (and conversation). 

If you’d prefer to be more informal, and if your home has ample entertainment space and an open floor plan, this won’t be a problem. You can serve buffet-style, or even have guests help themselves from the kitchen and seat themselves wherever there is space. 

Consider grabbing a couple of long folding tables and chairs to set up for the event. An inexpensive tablecloth from a local party supply store will make you forget they’re plastic. 

While you’re at it, grab some formal, disposable dinnerware and flatware. This elevates the fancy factor of your meal and makes cleaning up easier. 

Space for seating isn’t the only consideration. Make sure you have adequate counter space to put all the food on, as well as storage and prep space 

Plan for After-Dinner Activities 

While the meal is definitely the main event, plan for post-dinner activities, after the dishes are cleaned and put away, of course. 

• Plan to watch a Thanksgiving or holiday-themed movie. 

• Since you are hanging out with friends, as opposed to your grandparents, crack open those games you’re not necessarily keen on playing with your senior relatives (we’re all looking at you, Cards Against Humanity).  

• Or, go old-school with retro game favorites, such as cards.  Charades, Monopoly, Risk or the Game of Life. 

• Invite your friends to BYOG (bring your own game), along with the dish that they are bringing. 

• Rent a karaoke machine and prepare to be amazed by your friends’ hidden musical talents. 

• Plan an after-dinner walk through your neighborhood. There is nothing like a little fresh air and lively conversation on a leisurely stroll post-dinner to digest. 

Focus on Fun 

No matter how you are celebrating, the common theme here is to have fun. Friendsgiving is a time to celebrate the found family that supports you every day. That means, as the host, giving yourself permission and flexibility to go with the flow, especially if it’s a last-minute celebration. 

Hosting a Friendsgiving is a great way to invite joy into your house (after all, that’s what makes it a home).