25 Fantastic Friendsgiving Ideas for 2023 That Go Beyond Turkey

Invitations

hand seen against a white brick wall holding friendsgiving invite, menu and recipe cards with cute little figures on them

Palolo

Sending out invites is a great first step to making your Friendsgiving special, but why not go further? With these delectable printables, you can craft your own menus, recipe cards (for when they just gotta know the secret to your stuffing), and even labels for leftovers.

See more at The House That Lars Built.

Delegate

two women doing dishes at sink with turkey in the background, one is smiling and drying a plate with a towel, the other is out of focus in the foreground and holding a plate

Jupiterimages//Getty Images

Share the workload and the cost of the meal by turning it into a potluck (with you, the host, providing the turkey, natch). Be sure to circulate an email sign-up sheet for side dishes, including an option to help clean up for people who don't like to cook. After all, they're your friends, so they'd probably love to lend a hand!

Kraft Paper

Inspired by Charm

By overlaying your tablecloth with kraft paper and adding some pens in fall colors, you bring a fun, cheerful vibe to the proceedings. Guests can play games, share what they're thankful for, or just jot down a cute message.

See more at Inspired by Charm.

SHOP KRAFT PAPER

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Place Card Mini Bouquets

place setting on table with pumpkins, candles and flowers in background with place card made out of gold votive candle holder, leaves, berries and chelsea in white scripted letters

Lovely Indeed

Place cards add an extra hospitable touch to your table and can act as decor for it—particularly when you DIY them with autumnal touches such as colorful leaves, berries, and seasonal posies like mums. Use inexpensive votives as the vases and they even double as party favors!

See more at Lovely Indeed.

SHOP VOTIVE CANDLE HOLDERS

Friendsgiving Wine Labels

Credit: Amazon

Dress up the bar this Friendsgiving with these witty wine labels that tell it like it is. "In vino veritas," as they say.

Drink Station

group of friends at home bar, one has a cocktail shaker, one is feeding another one a snack, one is pouring something into a martini glass

franckreporter//Getty Images

Speaking of wine, set up a serve-yourself drink station ahead of time where everyone can fill up a glass with their favorite adult beverage. That way, you don't need to play bartender all night.

RELATED: Festive Thanksgiving Cocktails

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Bright Colors

overhead view of table with place settings in yellow, pink and orange with a pie that has thank you for a friend in colorful block letters and a cornucopia with pink and orange pumpkins and corn cobs spilling out of it

Jeff Mindell

There's no rule you have to decorate with muted colors at Thanksgiving. That's especially true for a Friendsgiving meal, which is all about making new traditions—like that adorbs apple pie, which gets its message across with candy letters.

See more at Studio DIY.

SHOP CANDY LETTERS

Volunteer

SDI Productions//Getty Images

There's no better way to celebrate the good things in life—like your chosen family—than by giving back. Grab your crew and volunteer at a clean-up event, in a senior home, or by spending time with shelter animals. You'll fill your heart, then you can fill your bellies with a potluck!

Disposable Tableware

table with disposable two toned cutlery and copper cups with six sided pink paper plates and geometrical black, pink and gray print paper salad plates on top of them with white wrapping paper with a black grid print overlaying the table

Revel & Glitter

These aren't your grandma's paper plates and plastic cutlery! The new generation of disposable (but plenty pretty) tableware makes clean-up a snap, so you can hang with your squad rather than spend all evening at the sink.

See more at Revel & Glitter.

SHOP DISPOSABLE DINNERWARE

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Banner

Homey Oh My11

Buffet Table

thanksgiving buffet on a green bench with turkey, green beans, cubed squash, a casserole, gravy and pumpkins on the floor and a stool next to the bench

Jupiterimages//Getty Images

Buffets just make sense. They're so much easier to serve from, and they keep that tablescape you worked so hard to create uncluttered and looking lovely. If you don't have a sideboard large enough to hold your repast, get creative and use countertops, or even a bench.

Friendsgiving Photo Booth Props

Credit: Amazon

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Signature Drink

three stemless wine glasses half filled with ice and pink liquid there is salt on the glass rim and a clear toothpick with sugared cranberries through it and a spring of rosemary on the rim

Posh Little Designs

Mixing up a signature drink for your soiree is one sure way to add a dash of class to your Friendsgiving. We recommend this delish, seasonally-appropriate Cranberry Paloma, made with tequila, grapefruit and cranberry juice, and club soda.

See more at Posh Little Designs.

Al Fresco Dining

picnic table outside laid with four place mats and table settings with leaves over top and a clear vase filled with glittery cattails for the centerpiece

Design Improvised

If you live in a climate where it stays reasonably warm through Thanksgiving, consider taking the meal outside. Then decorate the table with natural elements like cattails and leaves (both with a little glitter added in this example just to jazz things up).

See more at Design Improvised.

SHOP CATTAILS

Play

James Nord//Getty Images

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A Toast

Elise Randolph

Emma Chapman at A Beautiful Mess suggests including a toast before you tuck in to your Friendsgiving feastie. As she says, "It’s a great opportunity to tell your friends how awesome they are and what they mean to you." If you want to up the merrymaking, the post includes the link to a cranberry jello shot recipe.

See more at A Beautiful Mess.

Wreath

The Merrythought

Mud Pie Friendsgiving Baker Set

Credit: Amazon

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Appetizers

overhead view of round wood tray with small slices of baguette topped with brie and cranberry sauce with rosemary, pecans and a cup of cranberry sauce with a spoon also on the tray

A Pumpkin and a Princess

Serving a round of apps before dinner keeps your guests busy so you have some extra time alone in the kitchen to wrap up any last-minute tasks. Try this brie and cranberry sauce crostini recipe that's just the right combination of savory and sweet.

See more at A Pumpkin and a Princess.

Slippers

Dash of Jazz

This is a flat-out brill idea. If you're like us and prefer people kick off their shoes when they enter the house—or you just want to encourage them to be as comfy and cozy as possible—set out some disposal spa slippers.

See more at Dash of Jazz.

SHOP DISPOSABLE SLIPPERS

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Aldo Pusey

Update: 2024-10-28

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