The Best Friendsgiving Ever
Friendsgiving is one of our new favorite traditions at Grit & Grace: laughter with friends, buttery mashed potatoes, games, and pumpkin pie? Bring on those post-dinner sweatpants; we are here for this.
This year, in particular, we are practicing gratitude for all the blessings in our lives: wellness and hope for a better tomorrow, as well as friends and a team we are blessed to call family. We are holding our loved ones even more dear and making our time together extra special with thoughtful, personalized touches.
Whether you’re hosting a Friendsgiving in lieu of making the trip home to see family or participating in Friendsgiving and Thanksgiving (we salute you, and we will help you eat those leftovers), we’ve got you covered with a plethora of elegant, inspiring party ideas for your holiday gathering.
Scroll on down for our favorite Friendsgiving ideas, including glamorous place settings, a multitude of Thanksgiving hostess gift ideas, gorgeous decor, and delightful post-dinner activities.
20 Beautiful Friendsgiving Ideas
5 Friendsgiving Decor Ideas
Champagne Wall
Raise a glass!
If this year has taught us anything, it is never to take gatherings for granted. Welcome your guests with a lush champagne wall or creative tiered display of bubbly to kick your Friendsgiving off to an epic start.
Toast to your blessings and the many friendships you hold dear as the evening gets underway.
photo credit: Jenna Marie Weddings
Friendsgiving Gilded Oyster Garland
Let the Friendsgiving shell-ebrations begin when you welcome your guests with our Gilded Oyster Garland.
This handcrafted, elegant garland is a festive work of art that showcases the luxurious side of Lowcountry living. We hand-paint each gilded oyster shell with an ocean of love, and this garland is also a gift that gives back.
Grit & Grace Studio recycles 10 oyster shells from local restaurants to the Charleston oyster reef restoration projects for each oyster product purchased. From $86
Calligraphy Autumn Veggies
Your friends will be saying, “Oh my gourd!” when they spot this welcoming, customized display of autumnal root vegetables. Celebrate the colors and flavors of the fall harvest with your Friendsgiving guests’ names in calligraphy over vibrant veggies in a sweet basket - just be sure to remove the decorated sections of your peels before cooking up those carrots and spuds after the party!
credits: @j.lilydesign @pureluxebride @middletonplaceweddings @thehappybloom @wearepetaloso
Elegant Outdoor Lounge
Add some whimsy and charm to your Friendsgiving by creating an outdoor lounge area. While event rentals are a glamorous option, you can also move your own furniture to a scenic spot - but check the weather first!
Flush out the bohemian autumn vibe with cozy blankets, colorful throw pillows, scented candles, and cafe lighting. If you have a fire pit available, lay out some s’mores fixings for an evening to remember.
photo credit: Danielle Devaney Hulsey
Donut Display
Donut underestimate the beauty of a playful dessert display! We’re all about multitasking during the holidays, so let your desserts do double duty as part of your Friendsgiving decor.
A simple rack of brightly colored and delicious donuts will have your guests coming back for seconds, but an array of “cake pop bouquets” in sprinkles-filled mason jars is also sure to wow.
photo credit: @paperantler
5 Hostess Gifts for Thanksgiving
Decoupage Oyster Shell Christmas Ornament Over Wine
When it comes to Friendsgiving or Thanksgiving hostess gift ideas, it’s hard to beat a bottle of her (or his!) favorite vino. Say “¡Salud!” with an heirloom Decoupage Oyster Shell Christmas Ornament draped over a choice vintage.
The hand-gilded oyster shell is framed with a recycled glass and wooden beads for a unique holiday ornament or lovely addition to their coastal decor.
The Oyster Shell Christmas Ornament is also a customizable gift: let us inscribe your ornament with a loved one’s name, a holiday greeting, or anniversary date for an extra personal touch. $25
Family Recipe Linens
Whipping up some heartwarming hostess gift ideas for Thanksgiving? Give the gift of a beloved family recipe on a kitchen linen! Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving are all about dusting off those cherished family cookbooks and swapping secret ingredients with loved ones over a shared meal, so why not turn them into a gift that’s as thoughtful as it is practical?
If you have a specific recipe you’d like to share, Spoonflower will walk you through the step by step process.
‘Tis the season for giving thanks. Show your Friendsgiving hostess what a blessing they are when you give them a strand of Grit & Grace Studio’s handcrafted Decoupage Oyster Blessing Beads. This heirloom present reminds you to practice gratitude, cherish nature’s gifts, and find the beauty in simplicity. Drape a strand over your mantle or curl them up in one of our signature blessing baskets for an intentional, delightful decor element. $60
Grit & Grace Studio Gift Basket for Her
If you can’t decide on the perfect hostess gifts for Thanksgiving, our curated Gift Basket for Her is a cornucopia of handcrafted treasures. The woven bamboo basket is a gorgeous reusable storage vessel, and we filled it with some of our most beloved products to remind her: the world is your oyster! She’ll delight in the gorgeous Grit Adjustable Bolo Bracelet, gilded oyster jewelry dish, customized calligraphy note, journal, and luxurious Los Poblanos lavender products. From $92
Friendsgiving Meadors Appetizer Board
Serve up some gratitude for the hostess laboring away in the kitchen! This gorgeous, handcrafted copper and walnut Meadors Appetizer Board is the perfect hostess gift for Thanksgiving or an elegant Friendsgiving dinner.
Earn bonus points and take some work off your host’s plate when you opt for Saran wrap over wrapping paper and arrive with an appetizer board filled with delectable charcuterie and gourmet cheese for everyone to enjoy! $270
5 Friendsgiving Activity Ideas
Paint Your Own Friendsgiving Cookies
Playing with your food is not just for kids anymore. Skip dessert and pre-order holiday-themed DIY Cookie Kits from Cookies by Cat for your Friendsgiving party. Gather your besties in the kitchen for a frosting-filled evening that’s sure to end in laughter and a sugar high.
Wreath Making
Get ready to deck the halls! After your Friendsgiving meal draws to a close, continue the festivities by making your own holiday wreaths.
You’ll need wreath forms, scissors, and floral wire, available at most major craft stores, and an assortment of greenery, berries, pine cones, decorative elements, and ribbons. Mix and match the colors and textures to your heart’s content; we’re partial to magnolia leaves, evergreen boughs, and a few of our Oyster Shell Christmas Ornaments sprinkled in for an elegant touch!
Lawn Games
Trade board games for lawn games this Friendsgiving, and relish the crisp fall weather. Gather your loved ones outside with mugs of cider or hot cocoa and kick off an afternoon of croquet or giant Jenga. Oversized checkers, cornhole, and bocci are other crowd-pleasers, and backyard mini-golf is a delightful but ambitious Friendsgiving idea for fledgling Martha Stewarts.
photo credit: @emsontheroad / @thecaitlinlee via blog post
Friendsgiving Oyster Roast
We firmly believe the best memories are made over a steaming heap of freshly roasted oysters. Kick off your epic Friendsgiving party by rubbing elbows around the shucking table or skip the traditional dinner altogether and spend the evening trading stories while you shuck locally raised oysters.
Never hosted an oyster roast before? Charleston catering company The Smoking Pot will “bring their pot to your spot,” and even recycle the oyster shells after the party is over.
DIY Succulent Planters
Sow seeds for lasting friendships when you set up a DIY Fall Succulent Planter station. Let your loved ones pick the decorative pot and succulent of their choice, and they’ll “leaf” with a low-maintenance gift that will keep on giving this holiday season!
Don’t have a green thumb? Keep an eye out for the return of Leaf Me Alone Plant Club’s plant parties, where you’ll “pour one out for all the plants we’ve lost before” and learn the ins and outs of all things cacti.
5 Friendsgiving Party Favor Ideas
Fall Shawl
Bundle up against the autumn chill and settle in for a cozy evening with these pashmina party favors. Offer an array of shades on a decorative Thanksgiving-themed tray, and let guests pick the color that best compliments their outfit.
photo credit: @gregoryblakesamsevents @lucycuneo
Grit & Grace Gift Basket
If party planning is not your forte, the Grit & Grace Studio Ranky Tanky Gift Basket will be music to your ears.
Ranky Tanky’s soul-stirring, Grammy Award-winning album Good Time and a genuine leather journal embossed with an inspirational quote make this a thoughtful gift basket that’s sure to help them relax during the hustle and bustle of this holiday season. $65
Friendsgiving Macarons
Hand-painted macarons make a sweet ending to a lovely night. We love these intricate oyster designs from Ashley Brown Cake Design, obviously, but autumn leaves, pumpkins, and expressions of gratitude are other popular options. We’ll be surprised if this delicious party favor actually survives the ride home from Friendsgiving dinner.
photo credit: courtesy of Ashley Brown Cake Design
Los Poblanos Soap
Hand washing is all the rage this year, so wish your guests safe travels with a lovely and practical party favor: Los Poblanos’ decadent rose-petal infused soap. The base of all-natural ingredients, including cocoa butter and beeswax, will leave skin feeling refreshed, soothed, and delightfully fragranced. $19
Rewined Candle
Nothing holds a candle to a night of laughter and quality time with loved ones, so send them off with a Friendsgiving party favor they’ll cherish all season. Rewined candles are handmade with natural soy wax and packaged in repurposed wine bottles. Pair your candles’ scent to the wine served that evening, or, if you’re feeling ambitious, you can tailor each guest’s party favor to their specific palate. $28
photo credit: Reese Moore Photography
We wish you a fabulous Friendsgiving, surrounded by loved ones and filled with delectable dishes. As we give thanks and move into the holiday season, Grit & Grace Studio is here to help you with all of your gift-giving needs.
Shop our favorite customized products for truly thoughtful Christmas presents and peruse our selection of carefully curated gift baskets for those on the “nice” list!
One Love & Blessings,