Last-Minute Friendsgiving Ideas

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I can’t believe that Thanksgiving is next week. How can it be so soon? Ready or not, today I’m sharing Friendsgiving ideas you can use for Friendsgiving, Thanksgiving, or another fall celebration.

From table styling tips to quick DIYs, I hope you find these Friendsgiving tips helpful as you plan and prepare for your entertaining adventures.

Unique table setting and Friendsgiving ideas

Celebrate Friendsgiving with these creative entertaining ideas.

What is Friendsgiving?

In case you’re wondering about the difference between Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving: Friendsgiving is with friends, and Thanksgiving is with family. (There are, of course, exceptions to this, but that’s the general rule.)

To me, Friendsgivings also has a sense of casualness. It’s a bit less fussy and more relaxed and fun.

I decided to set up a faux Thanksgiving table on my kitchen island to illustrate a few ideas that you can use for your celebration. I geared them towards Friendsgiving, but you can certainly use them for other occasions.

Last-Minute Friendsgiving Ideas

1. Skip the Cloth. Go with Paper.
I found this fabulous black and white check paper table runner from Hester & Cook at a local shop and knew it would be perfect for this table.

Black and white check Hester & Cook table runner.

Using a paper runner like this (You could even use wrapping paper.) adds pattern and style. It also makes set-up and clean-up super easy. No washing or ironing required.

2. Make it Interactive.I paired my black and white check runner with inexpensive kraft paper.

Paper tablecloth for Friendsgiving

Friendsgiving ideas - craft paper as a table cover

The kraft paper gives your guests a place to have some fun. Supplied with a few markers, guests can play a quick game of tic-tac-toe, write a message to the host, or share what they are thankful for.

More Creative Friendsgiving Ideas:

3. Keep it Charming.
Have you ever been to a dinner or party and accidentally reached for someone else’s glass? This happens to me more than I’d like to admit. Put yourself in your guests’ shoes and DIY creative wine charms to prevent this embarrassing situation and the need for washing extra glasses.

DIY Wine Glass Charms - Friendsgiving Ideas

Here, I just used a mini-clothespin and added an initial. This way, my guests will never have to guess which glass is theirs. If you don’t have time to prep, no worries. Just set it up as an activity for your guests so they can create their own.

Friendsgiving Ideas - wine glass charms

Friendsgiving Ideas - DIY wine glass charms

4. Tis the Season.
I think it’s always nice to have a little gift (a.k.a. a favor) for guests to take with them when they leave to remember the event. One suggestion is to shop the holiday section at the store for inexpensive ornaments.

Friendsgiving Ideas - Place setting decor

Friendsgiving Ideas - Place setting decor

Ornaments come in all shapes and sizes these days, so you can easily find something to suit your table that will also look great on someone’s Christmas tree. Tie the ornament onto each person’s napkin so your gift can do double duty as table decor.

5. Can I Get that Recipe?
Since I’ve been in the habit of sharing seasonal recipes card printables with all of you, I’m trying to get creative with how I’m using them. You can print out a few blank recipe cards (free download here) in preparation for the inevitable question, “Can I get that recipe?”

Free printable recipe cards for Friendsgiving

Also, I think these are great to fill out in advance if you’re sharing a signature cocktail recipe. Guests often like to know what’s in the drink, plus they can take the card home and recreate the recipe (and memory) at a later date.

Toss in a few fresh flowers and your celebration is ready!

Like these Friendsgiving ideas, check out these reader-favorite posts:

Fresh flowers - Friendsgiving Ideas

Friendsgiving ideas - table decor

I hope you found these last-minute Friendsgiving ideas, tips ,and tricks helpful.

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18 Comments

  1. Michael,
    You are my FAVORITE blogger EVER!! So elegant and classy but still so warm and inviting in all holidays, seasons,
    & everyday living!! Always a class act! Keep the talent flowing!
    Cheers!! xxx

  2. Many thanks for the lovely and very creative ideas. I will definitely use the mini clothes pin and initial idea as well as the recipe card-signature cocktail idea. Both will be perfect placed in separate baskets at the cocktail table. Guests may take home along with the ornament. Many blessings to you, your family and friends during the upcoming holidays.

  3. Michael, love love love the idea with the clothes pins for drink markers. Super inexpensive and they look adorable! This table look festive and fresh. Love it.

  4. Love these ideas especially the flowers, clothes pins for identifying glasses and initial ornaments. For the first time we are having 16 and two tables and I feel I need to assign seating so the ornaments are a great way to do that!

  5. Love this, Michael. Love the color scheme and the bold black and white check runner. Great ideas! Thank you! Your attention to detail is sublime. Happy Thanksgiving!