Haven’t you heard? it’s out with the awkward family dinners and in with cozy dinner parties with your chosen family – your best friends.

Don’t get us wrong – we love family! But Friendsgiving is an opportunity to give back to those who have stuck with us through the messier parts of our lives.

Revamp tradition and join us in celebrating Friendsgiving with our list of quintessential must-haves for our new favorite holiday celebration (and excuse to eat more than we should).

1. The Dinner

It’s not Thanksgiving (or an alternative celebration of it) without a feast! But like the day itself, today’s turkey dinner is more of a suggestion than a strict requirement.

Chances are, you’ve got a vegetarian or vegan friend in your close circle. Or perhaps you’re the one looking to redefine this special meal. (Not to mention, making an entire turkey can be quite the challenge.)

So, don’t settle for what everyone else is doing! Friendsgiving is all about comfort food, so if to you that means mac and cheese, roasted veggies, and banana bread – that’s a pretty perfect dinner!

There is magic in making the food yourself, but if you can’t, there’s no need to panic. One way you could make your Friendsgiving extra special is by having each guest bring a side dish. This way, you can focus on one main entree (turkey or other).

2. The Desserts

On Thanksgiving night, there are no rules. You eat what you want, even if it means downing that fourth slice of pumpkin pie.

After all, it’s not Thanksgiving without pies upon pies (upon pies). From cherry to apple, sweet potato, pumpkin, cranberry, and more – there are no rules for how many you can have.

And you don’t have to limit yourself to tradition! Every culture has its own comfort foods and desserts, so don’t be shy in including recipes you’ve never tried or ones your best friends grew up having at home. Show them that tradition does not have to be exclusive, but everchanging.

Want to make the night even more fun? Why not turn into a piemaking night with your friends?

3. The Drinks

Let there be drinks! Friendsgiving is not just your chance to stuff yourself with mashed potatoes and pie. This is the time to celebrate with some drinks. You can get as sophisticated or casual as you want. Craft beer? Don’t mind if we do. Wine? Always a great option. You can keep it simple with a bottle, or make your own warm, mulled spiced wine.

For some extra inspiration, we recommend making some themed cocktails or even a spiked punch! 🙂

We’re getting excited just thinking about it!

4. The Decor

It’s no secret that fall is everyone’s favorite season. And we think Thanksgiving has plenty to do with this.

All year long, you’ve been longing for crisp autumn air and warm leaves on the ground – so why not make the most of it? Your dinner is the perfect occasion to honor this cozy season.

Take inspiration in warm earth tones, like mustard, teal, cranberry, and terracotta when setting your table, planning your invites, and decorating your home. This will make the night that much more memorable and effortlessly autumnal.

5. The Gratitude

Well, we had to do it! Food, pie, drinks, and fall coziness are all great. But the beauty of Thanksgiving is that it brings us all together. So, make sure to make your loved ones feel extra special on this night.

This can mean homemade gifts, handwritten notes, decorating the room with embarrassing pictures of each other, or just simply taking the time to tell the ones you love just how much they mean to you. This is one of the few nights where mushiness is encouraged! Plus, with all the food and booze, it’s bound to be a lovefest.

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Ready to start planning a perfect evening for you and your closest friends this Thanksgiving holiday? Visit thesocialsetters.com/startplanning to make it official!