Hosting Your First Thanksgiving? Here's Everything You Need to Know!

by Scott Zielinski

Hosting your very first Thanskgiving can seem like a huge undertaking. And, well... let's be honest - IT IS! Have no fear. Here's everything you need to know to throw an amazing Thanksgiving dinner - from preparation, to the day of and clean-up:

Preparation: 2 to 3 Weeks Pre-Thanksgiving Day

Plan the Event

Figure out who you want to invite and how. Begin by planning things like where you want guests to sit and where you want to put the food. When you have several guests, say more than can fit at a large table, a buffet is the easiest way to go.

You don't need a huge space to host Thanksgiving, but you will need to figure out where everyone is sitting and have a plan in place for each person.

Create a Menu

It may seem like a great idea to try a new recipe for your first Thanksgiving, but we recommend keeping it simple and sticking with recipes you know you'll nail. Don't forget to keep drinks in mind, as well. If you want to create a seasonal cocktail for everyone to try, that's a great way to keep your menu interesting.

For your grocery list, separate perishables and nonperishables. Nonperishables can be bought ahead of time. Get perishables a day or two before Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that some grocery stores will be closed on the big day!

It never hurts to use a printable calendar and fill in which days you will shop and prep food. This is great for organizing any other dates or deadlines that are relative to your Thanksgiving dinner, all in one place.

Order Your Turkey

You'll want to do this part as soon as possible to secure your bird! This is a great opportunity to order additional sides or desserts, too.

It's no secret that everyone loves Thanksgiving leftovers, and while it's never a good idea to waste food, you'll want to make sure you have enough. The general rule of thumb is to order at least 3/4 lbs of turkey per person.

Keep in mind that turkeys take time to thaw - specifically about a day per 4 lbs.

Confirm Your Guest List

Reconfirm your guest list at least 2 weeks prior to the big day. Don't be shy when it comes to asking for help or for guests to bring a side dish or desserts. Most people tend to offer this, anyway! Keep in mind that you will definitely want to know what people are bringing so that you don't have duplicate dishes or desserts.

One Week Before

Decor & Table Items

Taking care of the Thanksgiving table decor or arranging the flowers ahead of time will save you some stress. If you can't do it a week in advance, a few days ahead will save you time and stress. Place cards are a fantastic idea if you're having several guests.

We recommend sitting close to the kichen so that you can head back and forth easily.

Shopping

As we mentioned earlier, you'll want to get non-perishable items about a week before and leave the perishables for a day or two beforehand. This also gives you time to make sure you aren't forgetting anything, as you'll be reviewing your lists more than once or twice.

Thanksgiving Week

Inventory Checklist

Make sure you'll have everything you need to cook, clean, serve and beyond. Don't forget about things like a thermometer for the turkey, plates/silverware, and a plan for plenty of side dishes.

Anything That Can Be Cooked Early, Should Be

If there's anything you can cook or prepare the Sunday or Monday of that week will save you lots of time and stress the day before and day of.

The Big Day!

Make A Schedule

Have a plan and schedule in place from the time you'll wake up to when guests arrive and stick to that plan to ensure everything goes smoothly. We recommend having yourself cleaned up and ready at least at hour before guests arrive, as some may arrive early.

Appetizers and beverages should be ready to go at least 30 minutes before "go time."

Keep Food Warm

You can use the microwave for short-term food storage and a thermos for the gravy. Ovens and crock pots that aren't in use will help keep sides warm, too!

Final Cleaning and Walk Through

It's likely you've already done the majority of the cleaning you'll need to do, but clean up anything that can be cleaned and do a final walk through your home. Keep in mind if kids are coming and that you don't have anything worrisome laying around or hazardous. Make sure there's plenty options for discarding trash and cans accessible to guests; check that all of your trash cans are empty with a fresh bag.

Don't forget to have cleaning items nearby for spills and stains! When there's a lot of commotion, it's not uncommon for a hiccup or two along the way.