How to Host Thanksgiving – A Guide to Being the Best Holiday Host

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Being the host of your very first Thanksgiving dinner can seem really frightening! If you’re used to being a Thanksgiving guest, the idea of hosting your friends and family in your home may be new to you. But fear not! Learning how to host Thanksgiving properly is very straightforward, and just requires a few things from you!

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How to Host Thanksgiving – Important Tips

There is more than one way to be a good Thanksgiving Day Host. But we have some great advice that will help make it easier for you to navigate this family-centered holiday. So put on your favorite fall sweater, get your cup of pumpkin-spiced whatever, and let’s get to it!

1. Hammer Out the Details Beforehand

Planning ahead is the biggest favor you can do for future you. Knowing how many people you’ll be expecting, who’s bringing what, and what all you’ll need to provide and setup is half the struggle to put on a holiday dinner. Some details you’ll want to straighten out ahead of time are:

  • How many people will be coming? Who should you be expecting? Get RSVPs here so you have an accurate guest list.
  • Find out if anyone has dietary restrictions that you need to be aware of. Whether you’re preparing the food or having dishes brought, you’ll want to avoid any dietary issues the day of.
  • Will children be present? If so, you may want to consider entertainment for the kids.

2. Make an Extensive Grocery List, and Shop Ahead of Time

The biggest stressor when trying to host a Thanksgiving party is typically the food. Dinner for a large gathering is likely not something you’re used to doing. To be sure you have set yourself up for success, put together a full list of what you’ll be needing. This can include products from the store, additional seating and rented furniture, beverages, decorations, and more.

Most importantly, make your shopping runs ahead of time. The week(s) leading up to Thanksgiving can be chaos at the stores. You don’t want to be finding that one last thing you need for dinner through a crowd of hundreds. Be proactive and get all that you can weeks ahead of time.

Check out Vosges Chocolat, it has got some amazing Holiday Chocolate Collection!!!

You can also plan grocery orders from services like Instacart to make things really easy on you. Again, keep in mind demand around Thanksgiving, so doing these orders earlier is better.

3. Set the Table In Advance

The aesthetic of your home and dining space is another stressor when thinking about how to host Thanksgiving. You want to be your most presentable self, and that includes your living space when you have guests. Spend some time a week or so before the party trying out different tablescapes and arrangements. This will give you time to hammer out the details without rushing to make decisions.

You can find a lot of great table-setting decor at QVC. Their online shop has many great items that can help make your holiday table look warm and inviting!

4. Keep a Clean Space the Week Of

With worrying about prepping, cooking, and hosting, you’ll likely have no time for cleaning your spaces on Thanksgiving day. Make sure to thoroughly clean the rooms your guests will be in well before Thanksgiving day. Not only will a clean house be more presentable to guests, but it will also keep you in better spirits and headspace. It’s best to do a deep clean early in the week so only minor cleaning will need to be done the morning of.

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5. Prep Food Early and Do Trial Runs if Necessary

If this is your first time hosting Thanksgiving, it’s likely your first time preparing a holiday turkey. With large meals, timing and having a process is essential. If you are anxious about prepping and cooking the meal the day of, don’t be afraid to do a trial run of any and all of your courses. This will give you an idea of how to time out the day between appetizers, side dishes, and the main course.

More Thanksgiving Ideas

The most important tip for how to host Thanksgiving is to have a great time and to cherish time spent with your family and friends. And if you ever get too stressed, don’t be afraid to reach out for help from others. Your guests are likely grateful you are hosting and will be happy to help where they can.

Now that you have great tips for how to be a great Thanksgiving host you can focus on what to wear for the big day. These great Thanksgiving outfit ideas will reduce anxiety around being in holiday photos!

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