Putting Together the BEST Affordable and Aesthetic Friendsgiving Set Up

When the autumn leaves start to fall, your friends want to stay in and binge watch Gilmore Girls, and you are finally craving a warm, comforting Scout latte, you know that the season of autumn has officially begun! As Fall Quarter starts to wrap up, it is the perfect time to plan a cute get together with your closest friends before finals takes up the remainder of the time on our busy schedules. Friendsgiving is a great way to commemorate the endless memories of the quarter and spend an evening filled with laughter and nostalgia, all while being the aesthetic friend group of your dreams. Planning an event can take a lot of time, and being the FRIEND  in charge of hosting seems like a lot of pressure, but there are plenty of things you can do to make it just right. 

There are also a plethora of ways to put together a sustainable and affordable event that will be remembered and cherished long after its ending. Having a party does NOT have to mean wasting food, buying expensive hobby lobby decor, or throwing everything out after the party ends. Sometimes it seems rather efficient to do just that, but actually there are plenty of ways to use what you already have, minimize costs and material purchases, and simply relish in the present moment. The most memorable times you have with friends are often centered around simply cherishing one another for the bond you have built and sustained. There is little you need besides the blessing of those who would do anything to spend time with you.

1. Pick An Easy Theme

 A great idea for those, who like to plan super specific parties or have a passion for getting dressed up, is to make your friendsgiving party have a theme. An example I recently saw was a 70’s inspired friendsgiving where a girl thrifted some easy orange and yellow toned trinkets for table setting, wore flowy pants, her nicest boots, and a crochet top, all while encouraging her friends to do the same. Themes could be based off of your favorite sitcom like “Friends” or even “New Girl” and you could easily put on an episode of the show during the evening, so everyone can share in the fun. Another idea could be a food related theme, such as the Greatest British Baking Show, hosting a miniature competition where you bring various baked goods, and designate a winner for the night. 

2. Thrift Glassware Sets That Would Impress Your Grandma 

Going on a little drive with friends, and hitting up some thrift stores such as your classic “GoodWill” or even supporting local places like “Mission Thrift” or “Fred and Betty’s Consignment Store” in San Luis Obispo would be an awesome place to start with your party planning. I am always blown away by the awesome glassware, china dishes, and table setting trinkets I have been able to find for insanely affordable prices. These can also perfectly compliment your theme and bring some cohesiveness into the party, making everyone think that you should change career paths and legitimately be a party planner. My grandma taught me to always check thrift stores first, and some of my very favorite pieces she owns and uses for the holidays happen to be thrifted. Also some of the best gifts I have ever received are thrifted glasses or mugs, and I still use them today. 

3. Digital Camera To Romanticize The Night  

Digital cameras have been rising in popularity, and I cannot think of a better time to use one than a friendsgiving party, where all of the closest people in your life are gathered together to make memories and traditions with one another. There is something so special about the old timey look of film style photos. You could get these pictures developed and send them out to friends after the party as a little thank you for attending.  If you head over to Target or Walmart, you can find a pretty good deal for a digital camera, and get clicking! 

4. Make it A PotLuck (Everyone chips in)

In terms of affordability, a potluck where you ask all of your guests to each bring a different dish is a super great option. It is actually a lot of fun this way too because you can see some of your friends’ favorite dishes that they grew up enjoying. Some parties also decide to make their potlucks have a theme too. They will ask guests to bring a dish with the same letter as their first name, or opt for a charcuterie or snack board theme. You could make a shared note or a Google doc and have everyone list their ideas to ensure lots of different foods arrive at the venue, ensuring for a delicious, diverse meal. And yes, everyone chips in, even your friend’s boyfriend who happens to be in town or your neighbor who showed up when he heard the immaculate soundtrack for the party.  

5. Make A Shared Spotify Playlist 

This one goes out to all my Spotify users, (sorry Apple Music fans) but the shared playlist feature is a pretty awesome addition! You could send out the link a month or two ahead of time, and have a compilation of all you and your best friends favorite jams to belt in the car on road-trips, or even some classic oldies that seem to hit every time. This way when they walk in, they will immediately feel ready to party and dance the night away. It just brings the enthusiasm, and when faced with any awkward moments simply turn up the Abba song and watch everyone’s worries fade away. One of my favorite nostalgic songs that gets all my friends singing, for reference, is Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes by Edison Lighthouse. 

6. Leech off Your Friend With a Costco Card

Hey, what can I say? I mean we all know someone with a Costco card right… This is the perfect time for that friend to come in hand. Costco is great for buying drinks in bulk, or you could even consider the greatest idea of all time, purchasing a Costco rotisserie chicken. A year or two ago, I finally learned how much buying a Turkey costs and I was astounded!! That’s one of those things you never even consider as a kid when attending family get-togethers during the holidays, but luckily, most people would probably be just as happy with this easy alternative for only $4.99. What a steal! You can all make a quick pit stop at the food court during your trip for a classic Costco sundae, churro, or hot dog. Party planning has never been easier. 

7. Write Your Gratitudes on Old Scratched Vinyl Records

Finding old vinyl records for a dollar or two is super easy, as a lot of times thrift stores carry bins of them!! Getting crafty with a group of friends can always make for a fun night, so I highly recommend this project. It’s something that you might end up putting up as wall art in your bedroom and holding onto, as they truly turn out so cute! Just use some paint or paint pens and get to writing or doodling. You could write a few gratitude around the rims, and fill in your vinyl with sketches of the moon, flowers, maybe even a turkey if you are really feeling festive. 

8. Trader Joe’s Bouquet 

I could rave on and on about Trader Joe’s flowers, but I think many people already get the hype. They are an awesome deal when compared with many other grocery store flower options, and there are so many online tutorials on buying and compiling them into the most beautiful bouquets I have ever seen. Maybe consider getting some Spray roses, golden rod, and garden roses as a start. Also consider checking out the instagram a_trader_joes_florist for endless ideas of Trader Joe’s Bouquets.

9. Fabric Store Table Cloth

Table cloths can be a fun addition to the table set up for your party, but sometimes a nice one costs WAY too much. A really great idea with endless options and patterns is simply heading over to a fabric store and picking up a few pieces of fabric that are really just calling your name! You can lay these over the table, and will most likely get so many compliments on the uniqueness of your table cloth, which can match perfectly with the color scheme of your homemade bouquet. Two small businesses in San Luis Obispo you could choose to support would be “Printing Daisies,” and “Quality Fabrics and Foam Supply Co,” which are both conveniently located on Higuera Street. 

10. Play Hot Seat to Spice Up the Night

My sister actually taught me about this game, but as the evening approaches and your party winds down it’s a pretty awesome one to play with friends. It might even add some unexpected excitement to your friendsgiving, and is much more affordable than those premade party games you pick up at the store. All you need is your friends, and a chair each one of you can sit in that will act as the “hot seat.” Then, once one friend is put on the hot seat, everyone gets a minute to ask them ANY questions they want, no matter how silly or absurd it might be. This brings about so much authethnic conversation, and for guests who may be still opening up, it could be an awesome way to make them feel included within the friend group. Warning: it might also reveal your deepest, darkest secrets too, but a little chaos is warranted for a good time. 

Be Grateful For The People Who Support You

These tips might come in handy when planning your friendsgiving party this fall, or even just for putting together an aesthetic dinner night in general. It is nice to know that the majority of what goes into being a good host or hostess is the ability to make everyone in the space feel welcome and included. Creating sustainable and environmentally friendly events is just an added bonus, and can be easily implemented into any plan with a little creativity. I encourage you to use your  friendsgiving as a time to openly tell the people who support you that you’re grateful for their presence in your life. Oftentimes, we fail to give enough verbal affirmations to those who matter to us, but it can mean the world to share your deep, and heartfelt appreciation for them. After all, we couldn’t have friendsgiving without these crucial and wonderful human beings who stand with us day in and day out. 

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