Thanksgiving is often thought of as a big family holiday, but the reality is, not every couple spends the day surrounded by relatives. Some live far from home and can’t travel during the busy season, while others may prefer a quieter, more intentional day together. Empty nesters may be returning to a table for two, and new couples may want to establish their own Thanksgiving traditions before merging family traditions. And for some, it’s not about skipping family and friends at all – it’s simply about creating a few personal rituals to enjoy alongside the larger celebrations.
No matter the reason, celebrating Thanksgiving as a couple offers the chance to slow down, focus on each other, and build autumn traditions that feel uniquely yours. These Thanksgiving traditions for couples can become anchors in your relationship – something you look forward to year after year, whether you’re spending the rest of the holiday at a chaotic family table or simply sharing it together at home.
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1. At-Home Brunch
Instead of stressing over a big dinner, prepare a cozy Thanksgiving brunch for just the two of you. Pumpkin pancakes, cinnamon rolls, and mimosas make the morning feel special.
2. Cook Together
Create the menu together and spend the day cooking side by side in the kitchen. It doesn’t have to be the traditional turkey – you can make your own personal favorites instead. Sharing the workload as a team is the perfect bonding activity.
3. Write Gratitude Letters
Write each other letters about what you’re thankful for in your relationship. They can be short and sweet or long and extensive – the point is to show how much you appreciate each other. Exchange them over dessert to create a meaningful ritual that you can save and look back on over the years.
4. Thanksgiving Morning Walk
Start the day with a brisk fall walk through your neighborhood or a local park. It sets a peaceful tone before the hustle begins. Or, if you’re on the more athletic side, sign up for a Turkey Trot near you.
5. Holiday Movie Marathon
Take turns to pick and watch your favorite Thanksgiving or holiday movies together. It’s a great way to find out more about your partner while you wind down after the meal.
6. Decorating Together
Spend the weekend after Thanksgiving decorating your home for Christmas. It becomes a cozy kickoff to the next holiday while learning more about your partner’s decorating skills (or lack thereof).
7. Wine Tasting at Home
Pick out seasonal wines or ciders to pair with your meal. Tasting them together makes dinner feel more fancy and you may find your mutual favorite.
8. Travel Tradition
Plan a Thanksgiving trip together – whether it’s to visit family, cross something off your bucket list, or just a weekend getaway. Thanksgiving road trips are an economical way to make the holiday feel like an adventure.
9. Photo Scrapbook
Take a couple’s photo every Thanksgiving and add it to a scrapbook. Make a photo plan together and get creative with poses, backgrounds and props. Or take a photo together in the same spot each Thanksgiving – whether it’s at your dining table, on a walk, or even in front of your oven with the turkey. Over the years, you’ll build a visual timeline of your Thanksgivings together.
10. Cook Something New
Challenge each other to cook one new recipe every year. At worst, you will know what to leave out next time. At best, you will have a new traditional recipe. Plus, it adds variety and fun to the meal.
11. Couples Game Night
Pull out your favorite two-player games after dinner. If you’re into video gaming, try It Takes Two or Degrees of Separation for a couples experience that may even make you appreciate each other more than you already do. If you’re not gamers, just a simple game of Truth or Dare or Two Truths and a Lie can help you learn more about each other.
12. Star Gazing
Bundle up and head outside after dinner to watch the stars. Download a stargazing app like Night Sky or Stellarium to help you understand what you’re seeing. It’s a peaceful way to end the day together while learning about the constellations.
13. Charitable Giving Together
Pick a charity to donate to as a couple. This shared act of giving provides a meaningful experience that reinforces shared values and strengthens your relationship.
14. Memory Jar
Start a memory jar where you record one favorite memory from each Thanksgiving together. Over the years, you’ll have a cherished timeline of your life as a couple.
15. Matching Pajamas or T-Shirts
Begin the day or end the evening in matching pajamas while enjoying brunch, watching a movie or sipping cocoa. It’s a fun and comfy ritual. Or get yourselves a matching t-shirt set for Thanksgiving that will bring a smile to your face.
16. Dinner Swap
Each year, one person takes full control of the menu and cooking, while the other does the cleanup. Switching roles makes it fair and playful.
17. Thanksgiving Nap
Digesting all that delicious food can make you sleepy, so make a tradition of taking a cozy nap together after dinner. It’s the ultimate way to unwind and relax.
18. Couples Friendsgiving
Host a small Friendsgiving dinner just for other couples. Sharing the day with other couples adds variety to the holiday.
19. Plan the Year Ahead
Spend time after dinner talking about your goals and hopes for the coming year and start the planning process. It makes Thanksgiving not just about gratitude but also about growth.
20. Thanksgiving Eve Movie Marathon
The night before Thanksgiving, cozy up together with a stack of fall-themed or feel-good movies like Planes, Trains and Automobiles or Home for the Holidays. It’s a low-key way to kick off the holiday weekend and set a festive mood before the busy day ahead.
21. Thanksgiving Morning Hike
Take a short drive to a scenic hiking location near you before the day’s festivities. Hiking your favorite trail is a a refreshing holiday ritual.
22. Thanksgiving Sunrise Coffee
Wake up early, brew your favorite coffee (or pumpkin spice lattes), and watch the sunrise together before the busyness of the day begins. If you’re not morning people, sunsets are beautiful too!
23. Holiday Puzzle
Buy a new puzzle to start on Thanksgiving and finish over the weekend. It becomes “your thing” to kick off the holiday season.
24. DIY Couples Centerpiece
Design and build your Thanksgiving table centerpiece together each year. It could be simple like candles and leaves, or more elaborate if you’re feeling crafty.
25. Couples Gratitude Toast
Before dinner, each of you makes a toast for what you’re thankful for in your relationship that year. It sets a romantic and heartfelt tone for the meal.
26. “Our Dish” Tradition
Choose one signature dish you always make together, no matter where you spend Thanksgiving. Friends and family will come to expect and love it as your couple’s dish.
27. First Holiday Ornament Exchange
Each Thanksgiving, exchange one Christmas ornament that represents something from the past year. When you decorate your tree, it becomes a timeline of your relationship.
No matter how you spend the holiday, having a few traditions that are just for the two of you can make Thanksgiving even more meaningful. These small rituals don’t have to replace family or friends – instead, they can add an extra layer of connection to the day.
Whether you’re celebrating quietly at home or heading to a larger gathering later, taking the time to create your own couple’s traditions ensures that Thanksgiving reflects your relationship as much as it does the season of gratitude. Over time, these moments become the stories you’ll look back on together, year after year.