Thanksgiving is for family. Friendsgiving is for the family you chose. It is the dinner where everyone brings their best dish, the table is a mismatch of borrowed chairs, and the gratitude is just as real. This invitation wraps the whole idea in an autumn wreath.
Wreath, Script and Plaid
The card is 5 x 7 inches with a warm cream background. A large circular wreath of autumn leaves sits in the upper half. The leaves are in rust, mustard, olive green, burgundy, and amber, each one angled as if it has just been woven in, with small burgundy berries tucked between them. Inside the wreath, you are invited to read in brown spaced capitals, then Friendsgiving in a light, looping Sacramento script in rust, Grateful for good friends in olive capitals, and & even better food in Caveat handwriting.
Below the wreath, the details are centred: Saturday, November 21, 4 PM in bold brown, the hosts’ address, a two-line italic note (We’re roasting the turkey. You bring a side, a dessert, or your famous something. Dress code: stretchy pants.) and a rust RSVP line asking guests to say what they will bring. The bottom of the card is a cosy buffalo-check plaid in rust and dark brown, with the OTO logo on a little cream label in the centre.
The Message to Send with the Card
Most Friendsgiving invitations go out by group chat. A short, warm message alongside the image sets the tone and gets replies flowing. Here is one you can copy and adapt:
Friendsgiving is ON! Saturday the 21st at our place, 4 PM. We’ve got the turkey covered. Reply with the dish you’re bringing so we don’t end up with five pies (although honestly, would that be bad?). Bring a container for leftovers. Can’t wait to see you all.
As replies come in, keep a running list so you can gently nudge people towards the gaps: We have three desserts and no vegetables. Who’s brave enough to bring the Brussels sprouts?
Dividing the Dishes
| Category | Classic choices | How many for 12 guests |
|---|---|---|
| Main | Roast turkey, glazed ham, a vegetarian roast | One large turkey plus one vegetarian main |
| Starches | Mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole | Three dishes |
| Vegetables | Green bean casserole, roasted carrots, Brussels sprouts | Two dishes |
| Salads and sides | Autumn salad, cranberry sauce, bread rolls | Two or three dishes |
| Desserts | Pumpkin pie, apple crumble, pecan pie | Two or three desserts |
| Drinks | Cider, wine, sparkling water | Two guests bring drinks |
Traditions Worth Starting
Friendsgiving has fewer rules than the family holiday, which makes it the perfect place to invent your own traditions. A few ideas groups have kept for years:
- The gratitude jar: everyone writes one thing they are thankful for on a slip of paper; read them aloud over dessert.
- The tablecloth signatures: guests sign a plain tablecloth with a fabric pen each year, building a record of every Friendsgiving.
- The worst-dish award: a trophy (a gilded wooden spoon) for the most ambitious culinary failure.
- The group photo: same spot, same pose, every year.
- The leftover swap: everyone leaves with a mix of everyone else’s food.
Recolouring the Wreath and Plaid
The leaf wreath is one grouped object made of dozens of individual leaves and berries. Select it to move or resize the whole wreath, or ungroup it to recolour leaves one by one. Swap the palette to cranberry and forest green for a winter Friendsmas, or to soft gold and sage for a lighter look. The plaid footer is also one group: change the rust base colour to green, navy or grey, and the dark crossing stripes will still read as buffalo check.
Every line of text can be edited with a double-click. Change the hosts, the date, and the address, and rewrite the italic note in your own words. The fonts are Sacramento, Caveat, and Montserrat, all available in the editor.
A Gratitude Toast for the Table
Before everyone dives in, many hosts raise a glass. It does not need to be long or polished. Something like this works for most groups: Thank you all for coming, for cooking, and for being the people we call when things go wrong and when things go right. This year had its ups and downs, but this table is definitely an up. To friends, to food, and to stretchy pants. Then invite anyone who wants to add a sentence to do so. Keep it optional; some people love speaking, and some would rather pass the gravy. A short toast turns a busy buffet into a real moment, and it is usually the part people remember most when they look back at the photos.
Hosting in a Small Space
Friendsgiving often happens in apartments, not dining rooms. Do not let that stop you. Use a folding table extended with a desk, cover everything with one long tablecloth, and borrow chairs from neighbours. Set the food up buffet-style on the kitchen counter so the table is only for plates and glasses. Cook the turkey in pieces (breasts and legs separately) if your oven is small, or roast a turkey crown. And remember, sitting on cushions on the floor around a coffee table is a perfectly valid Friendsgiving.
Kraft Envelopes and a Single Leaf
Download the card as a PDF and print on a warm white or cream matte card for a cosy, autumnal feel. A kraft envelope with a single leaf sticker completes the look. If your group lives far apart or you are inviting coworkers, download a PNG or JPG and share it digitally.
Friendsgiving Questions
When is Friendsgiving usually held?
Often the weekend before or after Thanksgiving, so it does not clash with family plans.
Does the host have to cook the turkey?
Traditionally, yes, but nothing stops you from ordering a cooked turkey or making it a turkey-free vegetarian feast.
Can I host Friendsgiving if I am not American?
Of course. Friendsgiving has become popular worldwide as an autumn gratitude dinner with friends.
Should I set a theme?
It is optional. Some groups bring dishes from home, where everyone cooks something from their family or culture.
Type your date, warm up the oven, and send the wreath out. The best part of the meal is who is sitting around the table.
