Golden Girls Friendsgiving Planning Guide

Invitations & the potluck sign-up

• Set the date, time and guest countMost Friendsgivings land the weekend before or after Thanksgiving. A late-afternoon start (around 4 pm) gives you daylight for arrivals and a long, candlelit dinner.
• Send invitationsA group text or e-vite is fine. Open with "Thank you for being a friend" and ask guests to RSVP 2 weeks out.
• Start a potluck sign-upYou make the turkey and the cheesecake. Let guests claim the rest: 2 potato or stuffing dishes, 2 vegetable sides, rolls, a salad and a second dessert. A shared note or spreadsheet keeps it from turning into five green-bean casseroles.
• Ask about food needsAsk about allergies and who is vegetarian, so at least one main-size side works for everyone.
• Optional: dress codeCome as your Golden Girl: Dorothy (long cardigans and big shoulders), Rose (soft pastels), Blanche (florals, pearls and a little drama) or Sophia (glasses and a wicker purse).

Order your party supplies

• Tableware for 8The Standard or Deluxe Pack Prime Party covers this. To build your own, get dinner plates, dessert plates, luncheon napkins, beverage napkins and a table cover.
• Gold flatwareGrab 20 gold forks and 20 gold spoons Prime Party. Add plastic knives from the store for the turkey.
• CenterpieceThe A Dozen Red Roses bouquet Prime Party next to the "thank you for being a friend" pumpkins (see the DIY section).
• Yard signA personalized Golden Girls yard sign Prime Party that reads "Welcome to our Friendsgiving." Personalized signs are printed to order, so order these first.
• Water bottle labels (16)Waterproof bottle wraps Prime Party. They set how many bottles you buy.
• GamesGolden Girls Bingo, Pin the Glasses on Sophia and photo booth props Prime Party.
• Photo backdropThe Golden Girls fabric wall banner Prime Party behind the dessert table doubles as your photo spot.
• Streamers & balloonsGold and bright pink streamers with gold and pink pearlized balloons Prime Party. Keep them near the photo spot so the dinner table stays candlelit and calm.
• Favor boxes (8)Golden Girls favor boxes Prime Party, one per guest. They double as leftover boxes.

Plan the menu

• TurkeyPlan on 1½ lb per guest, so a 12–14 lb turkey for 8, with enough for leftovers. Order a fresh one now or buy frozen.
• Sophia's Sicilian sideAdd one Italian dish to the table, the way Sophia would: baked ziti, meatballs or a big pan of lasagna. It is also the easiest vegetarian main (skip the meat).
• Fill in the potluck sidesCheck the sign-up. You want 2 starches (mashed potatoes, stuffing), 2 vegetables (green beans, roasted squash or Brussels sprouts), cranberry sauce, rolls and a salad.
• Cheesecake (the real centerpiece dessert)One 9-inch cheesecake serves 10–12. Strawberry topping is the classic. Serve it on the dessert plates with a pumpkin pie on the side.
• DrinksA pitcher of the Picture It, Sicily Sparkler (recipe below), plus coffee for dessert. Plan for 2–3 drinks per guest, plus 2 labeled water bottles each.
• Gravy and backupsMake or buy 4 cups of gravy, and keep an extra box of stuffing in the pantry in case a guest cancels their dish.

DIY: "Thank You for Being a Friend" pumpkins

• Buy 6 white pumpkinsOne for each word: thank · you · for · being · a · friend. Faux pumpkins last for years; real ones cost less.
• Letter the pumpkinsLightly write each word in pencil, then go over it with a gold paint pen. Do two thin coats rather than one thick one.
• Stand them upSet each pumpkin on a white or gold candlestick holder in different heights, and line them up behind the turkey. Add gold candles and a strand of pearls.
• See the full how-toStep-by-step photos are in our Golden Girls Friendsgiving party guide.

Games, toasts & the photo spot

• Golden Girls BingoPlan 3–4 rounds after dinner, while the turkey settles. Winners pick from a small prize basket: scratch tickets, mini candles or chocolate.
• Pin the Glasses on SophiaTape the poster at eye level, blindfold each player with a scarf, spin twice. Closest pin gets first pick of the leftovers.
• The "Thank You for Being a Friend" toastBefore anyone eats, go around the table and have each guest finish this sentence: "Thank you for being a friend, because…" Have tissues nearby.
• Kitchen-table confessionsOver cheesecake, pass a bowl of slips with prompts: "Your most St. Olaf story," "Your best Blanche moment," "A Sophia-level comeback you wish you'd said." Everyone draws one.
• Photo spotHang the fabric wall banner, set out the photo booth props and prop a phone on a tripod or a stack of books.

Favors & leftovers

• Fill 8 favor boxesChocolate truffles, butterscotch candies, a mini candle or a cheesecake bite.
• Plan for leftoversBuy a box of zip-top bags or small containers. Send everyone home with turkey and a slice of cheesecake.
• Optional take-homeHand each guest a rose from the bouquet on their way out.

Thaw, prep & set the table

• Thaw the turkey in the fridgeAllow about 1 day for every 4–5 lb. A 12–14 lb turkey needs 3 days, so move it to the fridge 3–4 days before the party.
• Confirm the potluckText a reminder 2 days out with each person's dish and arrival time.
• Set the table the night beforeTable cover, gold chargers, Golden Girls dinner plates with dessert plates stacked on top, napkins, gold flatware and the pumpkins down the middle.
• Wrap the water bottlesPeel off the store labels, wrap with the Golden Girls labels and chill.
• Fill the favor boxes and hang the bannerInflate the balloons last. Air-filled clusters last longer than helium.

Run of show