It's that time of year where gathering and celebrating kick into high gear. We come together as friends and family to reminisce about the memories of 2016 and what's to come in 2017. Even though this season is about celebrating and connecting, it's all too easy to get caught up in the flurry of places to be and people to see. How do you slow down and truly appreciate everything and everyone around you? Cue friendsgiving.

Friendsgiving is by no means a new concept so how to do you make it fresh and unexpected? Maybe you ditch the traditional turkey and accoutrements for tacos with tropical flair, making the ultimate tacosgiving. Check the hostess stress at the door and hire a local caterer to whip up some gourmet Thanksgiving tacos with all of the fixings, or host your friendsgiving after Thanksgiving and use up all your leftovers (bye, cold turkey sandwiches)! Make it fun and swap the copper moscow mule mugs for pineapples with drink umbrellas. Think of it as the ultimate fall fiesta. 

Photography by Kate Becker Photography

The Venue Report's Ultimate Friendsgiving Party Tips: 

Picking a Playlist

Assembling the perfect playlist is time consuming and picking an online station can be tricky. Here's a Spotify playlist that is sure to provide the perfect background music to your friend filled festivities - soothing, uplifting, and now, checked off your to-do list.

Bring Your Furry Friends

Thanksgiving with furry friends is a must. Hey, your pup and kitty are family too so don't leave them out. We even found a sweet potato recipe you can whip up for your four legged friend from basic thanksgiving dishes! 

Design Your Menu 

Time to switch up your friendsgiving and serve tacos. Tacogiving here you come! Not only is this wayyy easier to wrangle than a traditional Thanksgiving meal but also more fun and interactive. Here's a few turkey day inspired taco recipes that are sure to wow every taste bud and satisfy everyone from the thanksgiving enthusiast to the vegetarian, all while saving you hours in the kitchen (Stay tuned below for a killer cocktail recipe too).

• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos with Avocado: We love this recipe for the holiday inspired sweetness from the sweet potato alongside the traditonal taco elements. 
• Turkey Tacos with Cranberry Salsa: You can't completely forget about turkey even though you're fiesta-ing! Incorporate the traditional turkey and cranberry into your meal with these turkey tacos. Don't worry, there's still the element of surprise with the cranberry salsa.
• Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing Tacos: Stuffing lovers, this one's for you. Marrying cornbread stuffing with a chorizo taco sounds almost too good to be true. But it is. 
• Vegetarian Thanksgiving Tacos: No turkey will be missed in this veggie friendly taco. Packed with flavor and totally Thanksgiving inspired, this one is sure to woo even the most tryptophan-loving guest!

Words by MAVEN

A dinner with friends is exactly what you need, and it doesn't need to be complicated! First decide what your theme or look will be and start planning! Use things around the house for centerpieces or pick up some fresh flowers, but less is better on a table when serving family style. The details are what really make a party like this memorable, so spend some time finding creative ways to set everything up or serve the food. Consider asking friends to pitch in and have everyone prepare a different detail! That way you won't have to do it all yourself and you can still relax and enjoy the party! 

Local Crate provided a beautiful & tasty Mexican themed menu for family style sharing under string lights and a low lying rustic table setting. Complete with pillows, rugs, decor and our fur babies. The day quickly turned into the night and we spent the entire day talking, laughing and enjoying good food & good friends. 
 

Signature Cocktail from the party, The Salty Dog:

1 1/2 oz Tattersall Grapefruit Crema
1/2 oz Tattersall Barreled Gin
1/2 oz Lemon Juice
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
Pinch of salt

Shake ingredients with ice, strain and serve in a Collins Glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with a grapefruit peel.

Credits 

Photographer: Kate Becker Photography, @katebecker.mn | Styling & Coordination: MAVEN, @mavenevents | Food: Local Crate, @localcrate | Sweets: Farina Baking Company, @farinabakingcompany | Blogger/Hostess: Tamara Waterston of Champagne + Macaroons, @champagneandmacaroons | Custom Tans: goGLOW, @go_glow | Fresh Pressed Juice: Zula Juice, @zulajuice | Furniture + Rentals: MAVEN, @mavenevents | Paper Goods: Champagne Press, @champagnepress | Signature Cocktail: Tattersall Distilling, @tattersalldistilling | Tabletop Decor: Witt + Bliss, @wittandbliss