One of the most important things college students learn in their first semester is how to develop a support system of their own, without the help of their family. Whether that means bonding with roommates or making plans with peers outside of class, you’ve likely just started adjusting to life on your own by the time November hits.
After a few months together, your classmates, roommates, and friends can start to feel like a family of their own. Hosting a Thanksgiving celebration, a “Friendsgiving,” so to speak, is the perfect way to solidify your friendship and show your appreciation before everyone heads home for Thanksgiving break.
If you are considering hosting a “Friendsgiving” celebration before heading home this Fall, this guide is for you. Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP, manages student housing communities across the state of Florida, and we’ve pulled together our expertise to help you host the perfect food-filled celebration in your apartment with as little mess and hassle as possible. Continue reading to learn our top 6 tips to hosting the perfect “Friendsgiving” this fall.
Thanksgiving time gets hectic, quick. It's a good idea to compare schedules with your friends early in the month, so you can make sure everyone is still free and in town when you want to host your event. Plus, cooking doesn’t come naturally to everyone. If you plan to host a potluck-style Friendsgiving, it's always smart to give your friends adequate notice so they can test out a few recipes before the big day.
Key details to cover while planning include:
If you prefer to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal on your own, more power to you! For most college students, however, this can quickly become overwhelming, expensive, and unmanageable.
Traditionally, the host offers to prepare the most labor-intensive dishes (the turkey!), and the guests bring side dishes and desserts. This means you’ll have to start preparing recipes ahead of time. For best results, we recommend purchasing a small to medium sized turkey and letting it thaw out before you start cooking. If you have roommates, it might be a good idea to enlist their help in this process.
While Thanksgiving food is popular for a reason, try not to limit your friends to typical American-style dishes. Let your friends pick a dish of their own, and your college Friendsgiving can turn into something so much more meaningful. This is the perfect opportunity to share family recipes with your friends, allowing you to learn more about each others’ upbringing, culture, and mad cooking skills!
We recommend creating a sign-up sheet for your guests, so that all types of entrees, sides, drinks, and deserts are covered without duplicating anyone's efforts.
Cooking can be messy. Clean all of your dishes and utensils as you go, so you won’t be overwhelmed at the end of the night. Consider offering paper plates, bowls, and utensils to your guests as well to simplify the clean-up process later on.
Most of our student apartments in Florida come with dining room tables, barstool-seating, and spacious living rooms that are perfect for hosting these kinds of events. Throwing a memorable “Friendsgiving” is about more than just the food. Decorate your apartment to the best of your abilities to really set the scene for your guests. Make paper turkeys, purchase seasonal decorations and themed dinnerware, and play festive music while your guests arrive. The goal is to make your guests feel welcomed from the very beginning of your event.
When shopping for your Friendsgiving party, be sure to grab the following items:
As your guests arrive, make sure you have plenty of space set aside for their dishes. Make room on your countertops for entrees and side dishes, and let guests scatter desserts and appetizers on your bartop and coffee table. Just be sure to leave room for your guests to sit down and eat once the party gets going!
Once your friends arrive, it's important to relax and take in the moment. Take lots of photos, engage in conversation, and suggest watching a movie or playing a board game together once everyone finishes eating.
At the end of the day, Friendsgiving isn’t really about the perfectly cooked turkey or how Instagram-worthy the table looks. It’s about the people gathered around it. College goes by faster than anyone warns you it will, but the late-night laughter, ridiculous stories, and moments shared with friends are what stay with you long after graduation. So take the pictures, savor the chaos, and hold your friends close, because one day, these will be the memories you’re most thankful for.
Don’t let college life pass you by. Live in an apartment that feels comfortable and welcoming, both to you, your roommates, and your guests. Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP owns and manages furnished student apartments near college campuses across the state of Florida, so whether you’re going to school in Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville, or Tampa, your perfect home is ready and waiting. Check out our properties or contact our management team directly to learn more.