So you have decided to host Thanksgiving Dinner… now what? Whether this is your first time hosting or your fifth you’ll want to create a plan! Having a plan will not only keep you on track for the day it will also help you enjoy your guests and meal stress free! Over the years I’ve learned a lot about hosting and have compiled some tips and tricks into this Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner.
When creating your hosting plan think about it in sections. You’ll need to consider serving dishes/decor, food and drinks, clean up and entertainment. In addition it is helpful to determine a Thanksgiving Dinner vibe and share this with your guests so they can plan accordingly.
WHAT TO SERVE
When it comes to Thanksgiving Dinner you really can’t go wrong with the tried and true standard dishes. Turkey, cranberry sauce, mash potatoes, green beans, stuffing and sweet potato casserole. But don’t be afraid to surprise your guests with something unexpected like brussels and bacon, turkey poppers, lobster mac-n-cheese, crab cakes, shrimp cocktail or another family favorite! Once you decide your menu you can then start to plan your table decor and serving dishes needed for dinner.
DECOR/SERVING DISHES
It’s true there is a lot that goes into hosting events and family gatherings. Give yourself less stress by planning ahead and doing small tasks a few days prior to your event. One of the first things you will want to decide is how your guests will eat Thanksgiving Dinner and what is need to make it happen. For example will your dinner be casual and serve yourself style or formal with a seated dinner. Write down on paper each item you will serve with dish that it will be served in. Another idea is to actually pull out your serving dishes and stage them on the table with post-it note as to what will be served in it. This will also help you decided what serving pieces you may need to borrow or add to your collection.
In addition to the serving dishes you can start to think about your decor. Are you a Martha Stewart and plan on making your own DIY Thanksgiving decor? If so start early! Even if you purchase your holiday decor now is the time. The in-store shelves are starting to look bare and inventory is low. If you want to add a little decor without going over the top I recommend a centerpiece, linen napkins, napkin rings, and charger plates. Be sure to check out the affordable Thanksgiving decor inspiration below.
DRINKS
You will no doubt have plenty to do on Thanksgiving Day along with trying to enjoy time with your guests. Do yourself a favor and setup a drink station so guests can get their own drinks throughout your time together. If you plan on serving adult beverages consider having a signature cocktail that you can make ahead of time and have plenty refills on the ready. If you prefer beverage options ask your guests to bring a bottle to share and set up a make your own area for drinks.
CLEAN UP
I grew up watching my Mom host many events where she was often stressed and then after the meal or entertainment she was in the kitchen cleaning away. She really didn’t get to enjoy the meal or her guests. While I too love to host, I also want to enjoy the day and have found a few things that really help with the clean-up.
First, empty all the trash cans, recycling bins and dishwasher prior to your event. Prep as much food or fixings as you can so you can wash the dishes you needed to use ahead of time. Store items in ziplocks instead of containers so they can be thrown away rather than washed. Second, discuss with your partner a clean up plan. Assign who will be responsible for certain things and determine if the major clean will happen after guests leave or the next morning. Third, as dish and drinkware are used put them in the dishwasher. Even if the items aren’t dishwasher safe just hide them in there for the time being. And pull them out once you actually start the cleaning.
WHAT’S YOUR VIBE
There is no right or wrong Thanksgiving Dinner vibe! You’re hosting your people, the people you love and who love you! It can be as casual as sweats and loungewear or formal with suits and heels. Heck you can have the best of both worlds with fancy dinner attire and then ask everyone to change into their “I ate too much pie” clothes! Either way be sure to let your guests in on your dinner vibe plans so they can dress and plan accordingly.
HAVE FUN
Hopefully you found this Guide to Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner helpful and are excited for your guests! You have just over a month to plan, don’t let it stress you out! Remember to accomplish things early and have fun! At the end of the day Thanksgiving is all about being thankful and loving your people!
