Thanksgiving is coming up in a couple of weeks, and ours is gearing up to be one of the most special in a long time. Last year was our first year celebrating holidays in our forever home, and we decided to really go big with entertaining. Ian and I hosted a 24-person Thanksgiving, AND a 20-person Christmas Eve celebration last year– both of which were super fun. The kids all turned to me at bedtime and told me how much they each loved the party– I guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree! We decided that we needed to do the same thing this year. In the last 6 months, two of my three sisters moved to NYC– and this is the first year that they’re going to be with us for Thanksgiving in SO long! My littlest brother, Leone, is even flying over from Los Angeles to stay for the weekend.

We are all super excited to have them here again, and since they also cook just like Ian and I do, I know it’s going to be extra delicious. We’ll also have Ian’s parents with us, which is so lovely. This year we’ll have a ten-person gathering, as opposed to 22, which makes things slightly more manageable– I think it will also give me the opportunity to use ONE set of matching china, as opposed to gathering all the plates from my kitchen like I did last year! I think Ian was actually in the kitchen washing forks seconds before everyone sat down to dinner because even the ones we were using for cooking needed to be in somebody’s hand for dinner. LOL.

I grew up with my parents hosting tons of friends and family for pretty much every holiday, and I absolutely loved the energy and warmth it brought our household. It’s always been a goal of mine to create the same type of excitement for my own kids. I truly do love hosting, and I don’t get as stressed by it as some people do. I think it’s because I’ve internalized so many tips over the years. From watching my own family host large gatherings growing up to hosting my own starting at a super young age (I was always the one having dinner parties, etc, even in college!), I really have the whole “gathering” thing down to a science. I thought it would be fun to share some of my best Thanksgiving hosting tips today! Most of these tips can be transferred to hosting any large gathering, but they’re ones that I always keep in mind for Thanksgiving at my own home. I hope they’re helpful and make your time with family and friends even brighter…and more relaxing!

PLAN THE MENU NOW

Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your Thanksgiving menu! I sat down last week (three weeks before the holiday) to map out exactly what we were cooking with a list of ingredients for each. It’ll help to wrap your mind around budget, give you the opportunity to find holes in the menu, and also afford enough time to find coupons or deals on certain food items before that shopping rush.

DON’T FORGET FOOD FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND

I was hosting last year and realized that, while we got an absolutely gorgeous spread on the table for Thanksgiving, I had allotted absolutely nothing for breakfast the next day. Or any other meals the entire weekend, for that matter! We normally make Thanksgiving leftover sandwiches, but having some eggs and pancake mix on hand for breakfast, or even some simple ingredients to make a great pasta dinner the next day, are clutch for if you have overnight guests.

INQUIRE ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES OR AVERSIONS

I’ve learned the hard way about hosting guests who have certain allergies or aversions, and I had totally forgotten to ask. Nowadays, people are much more in tune with food sensitivities, or avoid certain things for health reasons. I like to ask guests a couple of weeks before if there is anything they’re avoiding at the moment so I can make sure everyone is happy and feels seen (and full!).

OUTSOURCE WHAT YOU CAN

If you know you are cooking a bunch of dishes for Thanksgiving dinner, then outsource the apps! It’s totally fine to ask guests to bring a charcuterie, an appetizer, a dip, wine, or even dessert! People are usually looking for a way to contribute so don’t be shy to direct people in a way that will make your hosting experience easier. A huge tip of mine is to outsource your charcuterie board! I love ordering this brand for gatherings because they’re so beautiful and delicious!

PRECOOK WHATEVER YOU CAN

For Thanksgiving, I normally cook most of our dinner the day before: green beans, stuffing, carrots, brussel sprouts, mac and cheese, and cranberry sauce– these all get cooked a day early and then heated in the oven on Thanksgiving afternoon. (I never pre-cook turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, or rolls, however.) This trick helps me cut down on stress and on oven traffic!

DECIDE ON YOUR TABLE SETTINGS AND SERVING BOWLS AHEAD OF TIME

Set aside everything you’re going to use for your table settings, and for serving, well before Thanksgiving day. This will help you make sure everything is accounted for, and clean, when you need it. I have loved my Thanksgiving table settings over the years! You can see most of them HERE, if you need some inspo!

HYDRATION FOR ALL

I don’t know about you, but I’m fluttering around the entire house without stopping on days when I’m hosting. And I can easily forget to hydrate! I make sure to fill up a 40 oz Stanley with water and electrolytes in the morning, and I challenge myself to drink the entire thing before guests arrive. This sets me up for feeling my best, and not getting a headache from wine! I also want to make sure my guests stay hydrated. I set up a “Hydration Station” at the bar with a big dispenser of water with either lemons, cucumbers, or Strawberries inside, and cups to encourage everyone to drink lots of water. I also buy beautiful glass bottles of water (sparkling and still ) to put on my table during dinner so everyone has water within reach.

PLAN ACTIVITIES

I like to have at least one activity just for the kids to engage with during Thanksgiving, and at least one that the entire group can enjoy. We really love playing parlor games after dinner, and games like Ransom Notes that are funny and fun for large numbers. For the kids, I pick up a simple and minimally messy craft at Michael’s that I can toss to them if they’re driving me crazy. I also put a bin filled with yard games and footballs, baseballs, baseball gloves, etc by the back door ( and hang the kids’ coats right next to it) so they can scamper out with different groupings of friends and family to get some fresh air if they get antsy. Another great craft idea is to buy a white crafting pumpkin or two (these are faux pumpkins that will not decompose) and have guests write different things they’re thankful for on them throughout the evening. It’s a beautiful little keepsake to keep on the mantle!

FAMILY MEETING BEFORE GUESTS ARRIVE

I like to call a family meeting before guests arrive, to come together and get on the same page. I give everyone a rundown of the plan, remind my kids about our household rules, and what my expectations are of them in group settings–and if there are any children younger than them coming as guests I ask them to be generous and take care of them like they would their own siblings. I let them know that we are all on the same team and that I’d like them to find ways to be helpful during the party if they notice anything or anyone in need. I also make sure to make a plan with Ian about what each of our responsibilities will be when it comes to cooking, cleaning, and hosting. It’s nice to get on the same page so you know what’s around the corner and assumptions or resentments don’t pop up. Communication is always key!

DON’T FORGET YOUR OWN NEEDS

I have learned the hard way that it’s SO important to support yourself on the day you host. The biggest mistake you can make when you host people is to be so stressed out that you stress out your guests! Make sure you give yourself enough time to get ready so that you feel your best. I even like taking a little walk in the fresh air before guests arrive, or having a glass of wine on my own while I put my makeup on. Centering yourself helps to create a fun and welcoming environment for everyone who steps across your threshold– and most importantly, YOU deserve it!

Photographs by Julia Dags | Copyright © 2024 Happily Eva After, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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