5 Wow-Worthy Friendsgiving Gift Ideas: What to Bring (Without Cooking)
This candle gift set may be your solution.
Friendsgiving has become an annual tradition for many, a time to celebrate friends and practice gratitude before the busy holiday season really kicks in.
If you’re gearing up for Friendsgiving, you might:
1. wonder if you should bring a gift (spoiler alert: the answer is ‘yes’), and
2. be looking for the type of gift to really ‘wow’ and be most appropriate for the casual occasion.
Let’s break down the purpose of Friendsgiving, why you should bring a gift, and the 5 wow-worthy Friendsgiving gift ideas that just might cause your hosts (and friends) to shed a happy tear. 🥲
Related: Bring this candle HGTV named “Best Fall Candle” in 2024 →
PERSONAL OR CORPORATE GIFTING
Here’s 5 reasons why a candle gift set makes the perfect gift:
What Is Friendsgiving?
Friendsgiving is exactly what it sounds like—a Thanksgiving celebration with friends.
It often happens before or after Thanksgiving Day, giving people a chance to enjoy a relaxed holiday meal without the traditional family dynamics (or stress).
Bringing a Gift to Friendsgiving: Yay or Nay?
While Friendsgiving doesn’t typically involve a formal gift exchange, whether it’s potluck-style or your host takes on all the cooking, bringing a gift is a great way to show appreciation for your gracious host.
Even if the gathering is casual, something small like a luxe candle to set the scented ambiance, a yummy dessert (we’ll share our favorite cookies below), or even a handwritten note is generally welcomed and acknowledges their hard work organizing the intimate gathering.
It’s a small ‘thank you’ for their hospitality.
A Friendsgiving gift can also help you contribute to the celebration in a meaningful way—because not everyone is a culinary superstar. 👩🍳
If your cooking skills are less wow-worthy than your gifting skills, don’t worry.
We’ll get into what to bring to Friendsgiving without cooking, but you might find the most inspiration in our top five list below.
🎁 SHOP TRIO SETS 🎁
5 Friendsgiving Gift Ideas for Friends
1. Scented Candles
A well-selected scented candle can set a cozy ambiance and serve as a lasting memory of the gathering.
Pick a fall scent—think warm spices, pumpkin, or crisp autumn air.
Bonus points if the candle has a story, piques your senses, is handmade, award-winning, and supports a small business. (Shameless plug for Spoken Flames 😉)
2. Holiday Cookies
If you’re not much of a cook or want to bring something that’ll last beyond the Friendsgiving festivities, holiday cookies can be both a thoughtful and practical gift.
It can be a simple holiday cookie mix, or when we really want to get fancy, we love Last Crumb cookies.
Want to get even more creative?
Fill a mason jar with a holiday cookie mix and attach a name tag for each friend at the party. Now that’s tasty and thoughtful. 😋
3. Board Games or Party Games
What’s better than keeping the Friendsgiving fun going? Bring cards, a board game, or a party game everyone can enjoy after dinner. This is a great Friendsgiving gift idea if you’re with a large group. It helps spark conversation and laughter.
4. Handwritten Thank You Note or a Gift Card
Sometimes, a simple handwritten note or an e-gift card can go a long way.
Whether for a favorite local coffee shop or their go-to grocery store, this gesture is perfect if you’re short on time but still want to offer something meaningful.
5. Houseplants or Succulents
A small, easy-to-care-for plant can brighten up any space. Succulents are low-maintenance and can be a lively addition to your host’s home décor.
They’re a gift that lasts long after the event and can even become a new household favorite. We love to shop at our local plant store (Little Shop of Soil in Brooklyn, NY) or online at The Sill.
Related: Really WOW them with this luxe Fall-Winter candle gift set→
🏃 I’M READY TO GIFT - LET’S GO! 🏃
What to Bring to Friendsgiving Without Cooking?
If cooking isn’t your forte or you’re traveling pretty far for the event, don’t worry.
There are plenty of other edible options for what to bring to Friendsgiving without cooking.
You can opt for a nice bottle of wine, some artisanal bread, or a gourmet cheese platter.
And don’t forget, non-edible gifts like scented candles are still a win.
You could even lend a hand—offer to help with setup or cleanup.
A Friendsgiving gift can come in many forms.
Pro Tip: When You’re Invited by a Friend of a Friend
If you’re attending a Friendsgiving hosted by someone you don’t know well, consider sending a thank-you gift a few days after.
While bringing something small to the gathering is still thoughtful, sending a gift after (like a handwritten note or a gratitude candle) adds an extra layer of thanks for being welcomed into someone’s home.
May these five Friendsgiving gift ideas make you the talk of the party (in a good way)!
6. Candles can help increase focus in a work from home environment
The rise in WFH and remote work means our workspaces are full of comforts—and distractions. But why would anyone light a candle at their work desk? To keep those distractions at bay. From chatty co-workers (albeit via Slack) to social media, candles are a thoughtful corporate gift that can help us focus and create space for us to do our best work.
Consider it a productivity hack. 💡
The presence of a candle flame can set a calming mood. Wooden wick candles in particular have a unique soft-crackling sound, which can serve as natural and relaxing ambient sound in one’s space. Plus, select scent profiles, like citrus, woody or a floral scent of a scented candle can influence physiological responses that help keep the mind on track.
7. Candles can be an environmentally responsible gift choice
First, it‘s a candle, next it’s their favorite whiskey glass. 🥃
Depending on the candle’s vessel, most candle jars can be upcycled after the burn cycle of the candle. It can be used as storage, glassware and more, so you can feel good knowing that your gift will keep on giving! And your candle gift (once upcycled) can be a pleasant reminder, if not a conversation piece in their home, of your thoughtfulness.
A candle gift set solves my gifting needs—but wait! I don’t know what candle scent they may like 😟
Bonus tip: How to pick a candle scent for a gift
So a candle gift set meets your needs, but you’re not sure what scents they like 😟 Pro tip: consider an unscented candle or a gift set that offers a variety of scents.
The unique thing about Spoken Flames’ Trio Sets is that each candle gift set has a variety of scents with great range—from woody, citrus and floral in our F, Yes Collection, for example.
Your gift recipient would never get bored, and it increases your chances for satisfaction with a broad range of scents in their hands.
Because Spoken Flames candles are message-driven, our motivating candle statements (even without scent) mean that you’ll still win big with this meaningful gifting choice!
Best Candle Gifts for Friendsgiving
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