A Few Easy Steps: Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner
I have been hosting Thanksgiving dinner for years now with a whole house full of guests. After all this time, one thing is for sure, there are a few steps that I would love to share with you that has helped me to prepare for both a successful and memorable Thanksgiving dinner.
I am a 30-year trained project manager; event planner and designer and I use these tried-and-true processes every time I prepare and execute an event whether it is for an external client or for when I am hosting at my home.
Along with the holidays comes increased stress. There is nothing worst than getting ready to bake your favorite dessert only to find out you are missing a small buy key ingredient! I have found that with just a few steps, you can relieve your anxiety and move to a more enjoyable experience by relieving the burden of unforeseen issues.
Hosting Thanksgiving gives me such joy. I have a whole house full of friends and family members ready to gather at my table to share stories and eat a delicious meal prepared just for them. There is nothing I love more than to watch each one enjoying themselves and CHERISHING the moment. How much better can it get than that!
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are just a few tips that I can give you that I always follow:
Decide on a guest list a month beforehand
Who will be in attendance? Adults and children? Do they have any dietary needs? Always ask in advance if you are not sure and plan accordingly. Send out invitations whether verbally, electronically or mail. Do it 3 - 4 weeks ahead of time so that people can plan accordingly.
Create a meal plan a few weeks in advance
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Order a fresh turkey or purchase a frozen one ahead of time. (If you buy a frozen turkey, plan for at least a few days for thawing it). This goes for other meats or fish depending on what you are serving.
Side Dishes / Salads / Soups / Rolls / Desserts
Beverages (for both adults and children if they are all in attendance) both adult cocktails and for non-alcohol beverages.
Tip:
There is nothing family loves more than to bring something to your dinner such as a side dish or dessert. Do you have a relative that loves to bake or cook? If they ask to bring something, then by all means let them. It is a common practice with dinners that have close family members. It will save you time for preparation. Be sure you know exactly what they are bringing though. You don’t want your guest all bringing the same dish. If someone wants to bring their family’s favorite sweet potato casserole, ask another to bring a pie. Mix it up so that you have a variety at your meal. Be sure to mark it down so that it can be eliminated from what you need to make.
One caveat! If you don’t know a guest member well, and they want to bring something, suggest that they bring a bottle of wine. Let them come and just enjoy everyone’s good company and food. They will appreciate it even more.
Big Tip:
As said before, Ask each guest if there are any allergies or preferences to foods or beverages prior to planning your menu. People will appreciate it and it guards against any unexpected accidents that may happening during your meal.
Make a shopping list
Create a shopping list based on your meal plan and beverage list. Write everything down so that you don’t forget anything. Look at all the ingredients and check your stock to see if you have it in your pantry. If not, put it on your list. There is nothing worst than forgetting butter or a certain spice when you need it most…I’ve done that a few times!
Go shopping a few days ahead of time for all perishable food items such as fruit and vegetables.
Tip:
For non-perishable items such as wine, soda, spices and flour, I will go weeks ahead of time and cross them off my list as I purchase them. Often times I find those items on sale and I like to get them then.
Plan your table design
Select a theme and design around it. What color do you want to put on your table? Will it be a Thanksgiving theme with decorative pumpkins or just beautiful flowers? Anything works. It is really whatever you feel is beautiful and within your own imagination. Don’t be afraid to put your creativity into it. I assure you; your guests will love it. Again, if you see you need a few items for your table that you don’t have, put it on your list.
Big Tip:
Set up your table and decorate your surroundings a few days ahead of time. By doing so, it frees you up to concentrate on food preparation. It takes time to cook a Thanksgiving dinner and you should do it in a relaxed environment. I generally have mine done 2 days to 1 week before the event. This gives me enough time to tweek my design if I want to and reduces my stress level.
Press your linen tablecloth or runner
Iron your linens if you are using them a few days ahead of time. What about your napkins? Linen, cotton, or paper? Again, up to you. Just be sure that if they are linen or cotton, that they aren’t too wrinkled. Iron them if you must. The style today is to be casual and not too fussy, but too wrinkled is never in vogue no matter the table design.
It’s all about the detail in a complete design. Carrying common colors and adding different textures throughout your table makes it more cohesive and interesting look and feel.
I always add linen napkins when entertaining. I often use vintage napkins to add warmth and more depth to my designs. They are both soft from years of usage and easy to care for.
For more about how to care for linen tablecloths and napkins, go to my blog: Oh, Those Daunting Linens.
Fresh Flowers
If you are using fresh flowers buy them a few days in advance so that they can open nicely on Thanksgiving. Sometimes it takes roses days to open. Ask your florist if you are not sure about a specific shelf life of a flower.
TIP: A beautiful arrangement of flowers in the center of your table is truly so lovely, but make sure they aren’t too high. The rule of thumb is that they should not be any higher than the length from your elbow to your wrist. You want to be sure that all your guests can see each other across the table without any obstructions. Conversation flows better and everyone sees each other no matter where they are sitting.
The centerpieces I have here were placed on my sideboard and I keep the remaining small pumpkins and other little bud vases in the center of the table. I wanted to be sure that my guests were able to see each other. I love a dramatic look on my table with big vases but always remove them when it’s time to eat. They then make great focal points in other areas such as my dessert or drink bar.
Christopher Graham, owner of Artistic Manner Flower Shop and Green House in Pelham, New York, states that if you're using a tall vase, the entire arrangement from the very top to the bottom should be two and a half times the height of that vase. "Different designs bear different heights and widths, but what is most appealing to the eye—what looks the best, what's most accepted, what you'll find in a book—is two and half times," Graham explains. So, if your vase is 10 inches tall, the height of your entire arrangement should be 25 inches tall. For smaller vases, like a cube, you should be looking to accomplish one and a half times the height of the vase and two times the width. Graham further offers that "the reason being is so that guests can see over the floral arrangement, have conversations, and it looks good on the table."
Setting an amazing table
Guests love to see a beautifully decorated table and feel so special when they see how much attention you put into creating one special just for them. Setting a table is amazingly easy, but if you don’t know how to go about doing it correctly, it can be a bit intimidating. It truly isn’t hard at all! I have embedded within this blog a video of my table so that you can get an idea as to how to go about it.
When designing your table, Pay attention to the center. Try to fill the center with items such as votives, candleabras, natural elements you find outside such as pinecones or small pumpkins and anything else you can think of. Different textures and patterns keep the eye moving and make for a more interesting tablescape.
Beverages
Set up a bar area where your guests can serve themselves. If you have a dry bar or bar cart, that works great. If not, look for another area in your main living space that you can clear for a beverage area. It should be easily accessible to your guests. Be sure you are aware of what people like to drink. I like to have a mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks ready. Have an ice bucket filled with ice, a corkscrew, bar towels, jiggers, and the like. Again, make a list of those things you don’t have and put them on your shopping list ahead of time. Wine and cocktail glasses should be placed on the bar and ready to use.
BIG TIP: If you are planning to serve punch, be sure you put a label on it if it has alcohol added. I have seen time and time again at other events where children will get into a punch bowl when it had been spiked with alcohol. Have a non-alcoholic punch ready for children and put it in a separate place. put a label on it “for children.” Make it crystal clear! be sure to take the time to inform parents exactly which punch is for the child and which is for the adult. They will be extremely thankful and it will prevent major unforeseen issues.
Desserts
Prepare your desserts ahead of time. Plate the items that need to be on platters such as cookies, cupcaks, and cakes. Pies are alway nicely presented on a cake plates for presentation purposes. Place desserts can be placed in an area if you have room along with your dessert plates, forks, spoons and napkins.Be sure if you have condiments for your desserts that they are also in their specific serving containers and put in the refrigerator ready to be uses.
Once you are finished with your dinner, remove your dinner plates and bring in the desserts to be served to the table. If you have only one dessert you can serve them individually already plated if you like. If you want you guests to serve themselves from a dessert buffet, just be sure they are easily accessable just as your dinner buffet was. Have tea and coffee ready to go along with any condiments needed
Atmosphere
Lighting
Lighting is really important when setting a table. Lighting sets the mood in the room. Beautiful candelabras or lit votives that have a soft warm glow creates a more intimate and engaging presentation. Scatter votives throughout the center of your table even when using candlesticks. Use them whether you are entertaining during the day or evening.
Place other candles around your living space. I like to put one in the bathroom, a few in the kitchen and some in the living room. One caveat, if you have children coming to dinner, it is wise to have electronic candles instead of real flames. If you don’t have them, omit them from your living space all together. Just put them on your table and be sure the children are supervised.
Music
I love to put some music on before my guests arrive. I like to have it a bit upbeat to get the atmosphere more festive. Once my guest arrive, I will serve drinks and a light appetizer. Nothing too heavy. Your meal will be enough to fill everyone, and you don’t want anyone going to your table already full.
When it is time to sit for dinner, I put on a more subtle selection of music. I tend to pick some calming jazz or soft classical dinner music. The music should be just in the background. It shouldn’t be too overbearing and overtake your conversation during dinner. The music should be just loud enough to hear but not so loud that you can’t hear each other talk.
When your guests arrive
Once your guests arrive, have them put their belongings in a secure space that doesn’t obstruct your living and serving area. A closet or another room is perfectly fine. It will give everyone more room to mingle and move around.
Serve drinks and a light appetizer if you want. You can put out some crackers and cheese or something light. I’ll just serve a drink or two, mingle for a while and then call everyone to dinner. I assure you; they will be ready to eat when they smell that wonderful aroma of your Thanksgiving dinner.
How to serve your dinner and beverages
Choose between having a buffet or a sit-down dinner. If you have a good amount of people, a buffet is usually best. The kitchen island is a popular location for a buffet. There is plenty of room all around the island for people to access the food and you can display all the food at once.
If you don’t have a kitchen island, a folding table that has a pretty tablecloth on it works perfectly as well. Just be sure that it is set up in a place where the food is easy to access.
Carve your turkey in advance and let that be the focus on your buffet or table. Presentation is everything. Garnish with colorful fresh herbs and fruits like oranges or pomogranates.
Here I’ve curated this table runner to match my little salmon tea roses in my centerpiece. I also always add a piece of candy to mark the occasion. This is a little chocolate pumpkin.
Put a carafe or two of wine on your dinner table. One red and one white are nice to have. It will totally depend on what your guest preferences are.
I’ve added a Turkey Cheat Sheet from Williams Sonoma that I often refer to when cooking my turkey.
Photo and all information on this document by Williams Sonoma. For more on cooking a turking follow this link. Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner or click on document to learn more.
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner can be busy but extremely rewarding! With these simple steps, you can both host a lovely party and enjoy it as well. Planning ahead is the most critical step! Most of all, relax and enjoy the day.
As with everything I post on my blogs, please feel free to comment or if you have any questions, please either ask on my blog or email me through my contact page. I welcome it anytime!
“May your home be a place where friends meet, family gathers, and love grows. ”
Design with your heart™️
Happy Entertaining!
Mary
Click on the picture below to see my video
This video is a table design that I created with inspiration from our New England Fall Foliage. The salmon table runner is a product I am designing.
