We’re in the final quarter of 2020, Fall has arrived and Thanksgiving’s just around the corner – only, this year it’s going to be one almighty Friendsgiving! That’s right. 2020 did a number on all of us and though we’re all missing our family terribly, this might just be the year to play it safe with your friends locally to avoid travel and other COVID-related issues that may well arise during these uncertain times…
We’ve come up with THE list of Friendsgiving ideas to get you well on your way to excitement (and motivation!) towards your first (or more improved!) 2020 Friendsgiving! From fall tablescapes and color schemes to mulled cider and self-service smores, we’ve got you and your friends covered, girl!
2020: Friendsgiving Ideas
The Decorations
What’s a party of any kind without its decorations? Not much of a party, right? Exactly! Now, traditionally speaking, Thanksgiving is a very family-orientated affair and doesn’t usually allow for setting many new traditions. With that being said, this year we’re all about celebrating with our friends, so let’s start off our Friendsgiving ideas with some beautiful tablescapes and color themes:
1. Tablescape
Fall tablescapes are traditionally neutral, leafy tones that blend well with your pumpkins and other fall-related decorations. We’re not saying allow the influence of Fall on your tablescape (indoors or outdoors!) but you can definitely modernize it! Check out some of this gorgeous example of a Friendsgiving tablescape:
For more fall tablescape ideas, check out our post on 21 Must-See Fall Tablescapes for Those Who Love Fall
2. Colour Theme
Okay, this may – or may not! – go without saying, but every party needs a color theme! Whether it’s Christmas season or Thanksgiving time, color themes are a fool-proof to ensure you set the tone of the party. These Friendsgiving ideas for colors will get you in the decorative mood and get your friends in the mood to celebrate:
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The Food
Let’s be real here, every Thanksgiving is ultimately about the food! The turkey’s the main event, the sides make up the trimmings and dessert is that last little piece of icing on the cake (excuse the pun!) we all need before our food coma’s start creeping in! However, we think a Friendsgiving can look and taste a little different this year…
3. Platters
Yes, the turkey is every Thanksgiving’s centerpiece (or disaster depending on who’s cooking!), but sometimes, tradition doesn’t need to take away from new ideas… No one’s saying there shouldn’t be a big bird at your table, but the beauty of Friendsgiving is that there really are no strict rules to follow. That can only mean one thing when it comes to food: Platters! From seafood, bbq, or veggies, food platters are THE way to do a modernized Friendsgiving this year. Take a look at these tasty turkey alternatives:
4. Self-Service Smores
Have you ever heard of such a thing? Well, let us let you into a little secret… Self-Service Smores absolutely are a thing and we’re here for it this Friendsgiving! Set up a little station next to the campfire outside with all the goodies, or dedicate a table inside next to your platters to get everyone ready for the evening’s treats:
The Drinks
Every party needs a dedicated drinks table – booze or not! It’s a lovely way to separate the food and the drinks and get people mingling over a hot toddy or two! Whether you enjoy a nice glass of wine with dinner or you’d rather save a tasty drink for a special occasion, we’ve discovered two delicious recipes to make your Friendsgiving something to remember – in theory!
5. Hot Mulled Cider
While it may definitely be more of a classic, hot mulled cider is still a golden one for sure (see what we did there)! Hot mulled cider is incredibly easy to make and can sit on a low heat for the duration of your Friendsgiving celebration. Follow this recipe to get the best hot mulled cider added into your unique Friendsgiving ideas this year:
6. Cranberry Mocktails
If you’re not so into hot booze and want to take it easy on the liquor this year, why not opt for a yummy cranberry mocktail? Sometimes, alcohol is not necessary for cocktails, but cranberries most definitely are at Friendsgiving time, right? This cranberry mocktail recipe is THE go-to non-alcoholic drink for your Friendsgiving celebrations for 2020:
More of a mimosa-kinda-girl? Check out these champagne recommendations
The Details
For those of us who love to plan, you may have already considered the details for your 2020 Friendsgiving and are rolling out the details as we speak! For those of us who have no clue what to do, we’ve got you, too! The devil (or angel in this case!) is always in the details which is EXACTLY why they have their own section in our ultimate list of Friendsgiving ideas. We all appreciate the smaller things in life, and this is exactly what these details are here for…
7. Flower Crowns
This may have come as a little surprise, but we think it’s a wonderful way to get you and your friends creating something memorable together, whilst you all think about what you’re thankful for this year. Buy little more flowers for your tablescape decorations and use the leftovers to build some really unique and special flower crowns for you and your besties! Take a look at these for some good old inspiration:
8. Burlap Bunting
On the slightly more traditional side of things lies the bunting and fairy lights of the world. Bunting is diverse in its ability to live indoors or outside and can easily be reused the following year – granted it doesn’t get too close to the campfire! You could always opt for balloons as another alternative detail for your Friendsgiving, but we think bunting is far more fire-proof! Amazon has lots of gorgeous details to choose from, and this burlap bunting is what we’re after this Friendsgiving:
The Activities
Last but most certainly not least are the Friendsgiving ideas for the activities of the day! We know every family has their own competitive way of showing their love on Thanksgiving, but this year it’s going to look a little different… As this is Friendsgiving, we came up with a couple of new ideas you might want to consider instead of Aunty’s famous bingo challenge! First up:
9. Convokins
Our beloved Convokins! These little paper bundles of genius are THE revolutionary party tool, no matter what the occasion! Think ice-breakers, conversation-starters, and gourmet decor, all neatly assembled as a white and gold napkin, ready to get the party going! These little wonders are one of Cotier Brand’s and you can purchase them from Amazon or directly from our website here:
10. Time Capsule
The last time you probably heard the words “Time Capsule”, you were most likely sitting in your friend’s backyard deciding which friendship bracelet to bury in the ground in the hopes that one day you’ll rediscover it… Sound familiar? Yep, it’s still the same thing, but in the context of Friendsgiving, we think we can adult-it-up a little. Gather your friends, ask everyone to write down something they are thankful for this year, and put everyone’s thankful notes into a box and bury it together somewhere. This time next year, dig it up, read it around the same circle and do it again! Hey, it could be your new tradition after all!
Friendsgiving Thoughts For 2020
We know 2020 has really turned our whole lives upside down and the Coronavirus pandemic is a daily struggle, but in many ways, it may even show us how much more thankful we are this year for our health, our friends, and our family – wherever they are in the world right now. Friendsgiving is just another way to get through this year without losing all tradition and creating new, beautiful memories in the midst of a crazy pandemic.
We can’t wait to see everyone we love again, whether that means a Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving this year – ultimately, we’ll all be doing something together: being thankful for what we have. Take a deep breath, a scroll or two through Pinterest and get ready to plan the best Friendsgiving you or your besties have ever seen! Trust us when we say, it will all be worth it in the end.
So, there you have it! The Top 10 Friendsgiving Ideas for 2020! Did we leave anything vital out or do you have a trusty trick we can add to our list? Let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear from you and your girls!
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