I am an Evite® influencer and this is a post sponsored by Evite®. All opinions and experiences are my own.
In this post, we are showing you how to organize and host a recipe exchange with friends.
If you have ever joined a monthly book club, wine tasting group or other regular get together with friends, you will love our idea to host a monthly recipe exchange!! Have you ever wondered what go-to family meals your friends make? Or, are you in search of the latest crock-pot or Instapot winning recipe?
Grab a group of friends and swap recipes over some delicious snacks and a glass of wine! We are sharing 3 simple tips below to host your own monthly recipe exchange party!
1. Invite a Group of Girlfriends to Join You
Create a list of friends that enjoy cooking, are looking to simplify their meal making routine, who always make the best dishes, or who simply enjoy a fun girls’ night in. Head over to Evite.com to choose your invitation template from their Premium selection of designs. With Evite’s New Annual Premium Pass, you have access to unlimited, customizable designs and extras with one annual fee – perfect for sending out invitations for those monthly get-togethers without worrying about extra costs. Personalize your online invitation with your event’s details, then customize it with envelope options, photos or inserts. Then, simply send out your invitation via email and/or text messages to your guest list.
Evite Premium invitations combine the flexibility of digital invitations, with the look of printed ones. They are the perfect way to invite guests to enjoy your recipe exchange party!
2. Choose the Recipe Exchange Theme
Kick off your inaugural recipe exchange with a chosen theme, or leave it open for guests to bring their favorite to share.
Some sample recipe exchange themes to consider would include:
- Instapot
- Crock-pot
- Family Dinners
- Favorite Salads; Meals or Sides
- Favorite Desserts
- Cookie Recipes
- Appetizers
- Potluck Meals
- Grilling Recipes
- Side Dishes
- Casseroles
- Breakfast Dishes
Include your chosen theme in the host message to guests as you create your invitation, and request that each guest bring recipe copies to share. A few days before your event, include the estimated guest count for those that have RSVP’d yes so they can bring the correct number of copies. For guests that forget to bring copies to share, have a handful of recipe cards available for them to fill out during the party.
3. Set the Stage for the Party!
As you prepare to host your guests, there are 3 areas to cover for the best overall experience: food, beverages and décor.
When it comes to a recipe exchange, consider providing a variety of simple snacks for guests to enjoy. For a potluck style event, allow guests to sign-up to bring items as they RSVP in your Evite invitation’s “What to Bring” list. For a colorful spread that appeals to all of your guests, consider vegetarian options, fruit platters, charcuterie platter and/or bite sized appetizers.
In addition to offering snacks, set out water, a non-alcoholic beverage such as lemonade or iced tea, and a selection of wine for guests to enjoy. To keep things simple, you could also ask guests to bring their favorite beverage when they RSVP.
In terms of décor, a simple statement centerpiece goes a long way. For our farmhouse recipe exchange, we filled a rustic basket with greenery and fresh lemons. Centerpieces that incorporate fresh greenery and/or citrus fruits are a stunning, budget friendly option.
For our appetizer station, we kept things simple, allowing the food to be front and center. Visual interest was added through the use of rustic wood risers, galvanized serving pieces and fun farmhouse elements. When hosting an event, always shop your own home before purchasing additional items. You will often find baskets, serving pieces, stands, crates and other items to incorporate into your tablescape, thus reducing or eliminating the need to purchase décor items.
In just 3 simple steps, you can set up your own recipe exchange party, establishing a new tradition among friends! Set yourself apart with this unique party idea, and Be There™ with friends more often!
We are thrilled to offer our readers an exclusive promo code for Evite’s Premium Pass!! Head over to Evite.com to enroll in the Annual Premium Pass. Use Promo Code: THEPARTYDONTSTOP for one FREE month added to your annual pass when you enroll.
Vendor Credits:
Styling: Crowning Details
Catering: Crave Catering
Photography: Willow & Pine Photography
sunstylefiles says
September 3, 2018 at 7:49 amlooks easier said than done! with our friends, we’d polish off all the alcohol and forget about exchanging recipes at the end of the evening haha
Juli says
September 3, 2018 at 8:30 amI never even thought that this could be done! Now, I am sure I know of 2 friends who will like this as well.
Shar says
September 3, 2018 at 9:02 amI love the idea of a recipe exchange group! I love trying new recipes and it is so easy to get in a rut with meals 🙂
Debbie O'Connor says
September 3, 2018 at 9:06 amWhat a lovely idea. i love entertaining at home and I guess you would get invited several times in return… Sounds amazing! I love the lemons too!
Joanna says
September 3, 2018 at 9:16 amI think recipe exchange is a fabulous idea! I never thought about hosting an afternoon to enjoy friend’s company and exchange recipes as well. Sounds fun!
Jasmine Hewitt says
September 3, 2018 at 10:05 amthis is such a good idea! it sounds perfect for my neighborhood, where most of us moms want to get to know our neighbors, but don’t have many ideas how to break the ice. this is perfect!
Pati Robins says
September 3, 2018 at 10:52 ami love the idea of recipe party exchange . it sounds like so much fun besides exchanging our own recipes
Mary says
September 3, 2018 at 12:49 pmI saw your lead image on Instagram, and am excited to know the back-story behind it! GREAT party idea!!!
Ada says
September 3, 2018 at 1:28 pmwow, monthly recipe exchange sounds like a fabulous idea! I love everything about this post! Seems like you and your girlfriends had the best time! Such a stunning photos!
Sydney | A World in Reach says
September 3, 2018 at 7:07 pmThis sounds like so much fun! My boyfriend and I just moved in together and we’re trying to come up with new recipes to cook together. Maybe we should start a recipe exchange!
Teona says
September 4, 2018 at 2:15 amThis is such a wonderful idea, I have never thought about it. Great way to spend time with your girlfriends as well as learn something new.
Nandita says
September 4, 2018 at 5:15 amLike your ideas of recipe exchange party…it’s different. I could certainly get used to getting together with friends, having fun and learning something new along the way 🙂
– Nandita
Carmen Edwards says
September 4, 2018 at 8:30 amThis is so amazing! I am new to the area and this would be a great way to make new friends.
Evelyn Hernandez says
September 4, 2018 at 9:10 amLove this idea! I have never attended a recipe exchange party, would love to host one.
Nati says
September 4, 2018 at 9:16 amThis is really a nice idea! Especially to get together with friends of different cultures and different culinary backgrounds!
Mal says
September 4, 2018 at 9:52 amThis is such a fun idea to do with the gal pals! I’m always looking for new recipes!
Tonya Tardiff says
September 5, 2018 at 11:08 amI love this idea! Maybe a recipe exchange party would encourage me to cook more, haha!