Thanksgiving is just weeks away, and if you plan to celebrate it with your friends who feel like family, now is the time to start planning your perfect Friendsgiving potluck. Hosting a Friendsgiving meal can be a lot of work, and that’s why we recommend going potluck, to include your friends in the preparations and the fun.
To plan your potluck perfectly, you’ll need to stay organized and think ahead. You’ll want to plan a menu that is inclusive and safe for those with food allergies or dietary restrictions. Its also important to make sure that your menu asks for larger quantities than you might think. Your guests may bring their appetites to your gathering, and you won’t want to send anyone home hungry.
Once your menu is ready, send out invitations and a sign up sheet, and stay on top of any gaps as the big day becomes near. If you have enough food, drinks to quench your guest’s thirst, decor to surprise and delight and the ones who matter most beside you, you can’t lose!
Happy Holidays to you and yours, and enjoy these tips on how to host a perfect Friendsgiving.
Plan for Potluck
Hosting Friendsgiving should be fun for everyone, including you, and that means delegating the cooking by planning for a potluck. People love to contribute and be part of sharing food together, especially during the holidays. Before you send out invitations, plan out your menu completely with a comprehensive list of all the food, drinks, tableware, decor and extras you’ll need. That way, you’ll have friends to truly help you execute this special day.
Keep the Menu Inclusive
When planning your menu, remember dietary restrictions and personal preferences. If you know you have vegetarian friends joining you, plan for dishes that will satisfy their needs. Be mindful of food allergies and sensitivities, too. While you’re at it, try including ethnic foods for those joining you from other parts of the world.
Invitations Out Early & Easy Sign Up is Key
Getting our invitations and your sign up sheet early is important. It will give your friends time to plan and prepare their dishes, and will also help you to know what you have covered as you get closer to your Friendsgiving date. You can use a google sign up sheet to help you keep track of your potluck needs, or use an app like Sign Up Genius. Whatever you do, keep it simple.
More Food is Better
It’s always better to plan for more food than less food. The worst case scenario is that you don’t have enough food to feed your crowd, so prepare a menu that will serve more people than you plan to have. People like to indulge during holidays, and this may mean going for seconds and thirds. Be ready, and keep your guest’s mouths full.
More Than Food
Planning a perfect potluck isn’t just about choosing the right food and having enough of it. You’ll want to make sure you have decorations, table and serving ware and drinks (who can forget drinks!). If you have a wine-loving crowd, let someone who doesn’t like to cook sign up to provide the wine. If your crowd is dry, put someone in charge of mocktails, sparkling waters, soda and juices. Whatever you do, plan ahead for every detail to help keep your guests comfortable and happy.