You’ve replaced your pizza box balancing on a stack of textbooks with an actual coffee table, and your couch is no longer the one from your parent’s basement. There’s no better way to introduce your crew to the adult you, than by hosting a Friendsgiving! Make sure you ace it with these five tips.
Nail the Food
If you want to be the host(ess) with the most(ess) plan a menu that will wow your guests and not land you in the ER. If you’re not a top chef, pick one item that you are going to cook, and buy the rest. Don’t make something you have never cooked before, and if you do, practice your dish prior to the main event!
The frozen aisle at the supermarket will be your best friend for appetizers and many supermarkets will offer affordable options to cater the event. Or, if your gang likes to get involved, throw a potluck. Control the menu by listing what items you would like brought, and then get confirmation on what each person chooses. No one wants five varieties of green beans and zero turkey for dinner.
It’s All About the Details
Pick a color theme and weave it throughout your home. For example, black and gold, or orange and white, are both great color combos for this holiday. Mix your colors throughout your disposable utensils, paper goods (we’re all for recycling but for your sanity, we’ll allow throw-aways this one time), tablecloths, and table settings.
Really wow them with a centerpiece. It could be flowers (real or plastic), small pumpkins, candles, or a woven cornucopia basket with faux leaves and branches coming out of it. You can also make it functional and stuff the basket with bread rolls or mini corn muffins. For a real mature touch, buy linen napkins and put them in color-coordinated napkin rings.
Expand Your Dining Space
If you’ve got more people than chairs for your dining table, invite friends to sit wherever they please and use your table as the buffet. Just because it’s Friendsgiving doesn’t mean you have to do a formal meal at your table. Keep the mood casual and invite friends to sit on your couch. Provide them coasters if they are resting their drinks on your coffee table. Yeah, you respect wood.
Stock Your Bar Cart
Leave room for your bar cart to be admired as well as utilized by your guests. Make sure it’s fully stocked with a variety of alcohol, or create a signature house drink, along with bottles of beer and wine. Cute cocktail napkins and colorful straws make a nice added touch. Don’t forget ice! Have loads on back-up. Also, have either bottles of water or pre-filled carafes readily available.
Set the Mood
Match your playlist to your desired vibe. If you are looking for things to get rowdy, get those dance tunes in order. If you want more chill conversations amongst friends, find those alternative beats that will enhance the night.
Plan to sleep in the next day (you’ve got a big-kid bed after all) because more than the tryptophan in the turkey, playing the host will tire you out! However, you can rest assured knowing you did it right when your friends start dropping hints about you hosting the group’s next holiday get-together.
