How to Plan the Perfect Thanksgiving
If you're hosting Thanksgiving for the first time—or even the tenth—getting everything organized and done in time can be daunting. But, preparing for Thanksgiving is simple when you have a weekly/daily to-do list and pre-planned shopping lists.
By starting your planning in early November, you can eliminate stress and make sure your dinner is a success. Follow the timeline below to ensure the perfect Thanksgiving shindig for you and your guests.
If lists aren’t your thing, hire a planner to help you through all of the steps and take the stress out of the planning.
WHAT TO START NOW
Decide On Type of Gathering
Think about the general feel you want for your gathering: Big, casual, and kid-friendly? Intimate, elegant, and grown-up? This will help you decide how many people to invite and what to start preparing for.
Contact Friends and Family
Reach out to family and friends early on to establish a headcount for your dinner and ask them to reply by within 2-3 weeks of Thanksgiving. Make sure to ask about allergies or special dietary needs. And for guests staying overnight, find out dates and times of arrival.
Plan the Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
Start planning your menu. Think about what kind of meal you want to have and what dishes you want to be included. When it comes to the Thanksgiving menu, planning earlier is always better. Based on your general ideas for the menu, figure out what's doable. Are you willing and able to make everything yourself, or are you going to need help? Decide whether to enlist a cohost or make it a potluck.
Once you have an idea of the type of dinner you want to host, you can begin choosing specific recipes and making lists of what you need to pick up. Make a shopping list of perishables and non-perishables, then you can pick up items slowly throughout the month instead of running through the grocery store in a rush. If you are ordering a fresh turkey, do it now. Be sure to determine any special dietary needs for your guests before setting the menu. That way if you need to customize the Thanksgiving menu plan, it’s easier to find substitutes in advance.
Distribute Thanksgiving Responsibilities
As you begin to finalize your guest list, you can start coordinating table decorations and menu items. If you’re planning a potluck Thanksgiving meal, keep track of who is bringing what to the family feast. Nearby family members can pitch in perishable items (like a favorite Thanksgiving side dish), and family members who are traveling can help by grabbing the non-perishable items—like Thanksgiving place settings. Make a to-do list, listing all the little things you feel must get done prior to Thanksgiving, and indicate who will take care of that task.
2 WEEKS BEFORE THANKSGIVING
Plan Thanksgiving Table Settings & Decorations
No need to rush around setting the table while Thanksgiving dinner gets cold. Decide which china, glassware, and table linens you'll use before the holiday meal, and make sure you have enough tables and chairs for your guests. If Thanksgiving tablecloths and cloth napkins need to be cleaned or ironed, do it about two weeks before Thanksgiving.
Once table settings have been decided, order a floral centerpiece or make plans to create your own. Make a list of anything you need to pick up, like candles or a wreath. Having all of your decor planned out ahead of time will help you focus your energy on the star of the show – your dinner.
Finalize Guest List & Menu
Make a few quick calls or shoot e-mails to follow up with anyone who hasn't responded, then take a second look at your Thanksgiving menu list, considering both number of guests and any special food needs. Map out a cooking timetable to ensure all dishes are done when needed and note which dishes will be made ahead of time.
1 WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING
Put Out Thanksgiving Decorations For Guests
About a week before Thanksgiving, you can put the finishing touches on the guestroom or set out front porch decorations. Prepare guest room with fresh linens and other amenities and rake the leaves when you get a chance. Bring out anything that needs to be cleaned or make final arrangements for guests to bring special items, like a high chair or crib. If you don’t get to everything in the next week, don't fret. Family and friends will appreciate your efforts big and small.
Take Inventory
Double-check your home to make sure you have enough of everything for everyone. Think napkins, plates, serving bowls, name cards—even ice! Wash bed linens, towels, and blankets for overnight guests. This is a good time to wash or dry-clean your table linens, too! Be sure that you have serving platters/dishes for everything you are offering and that everything is ready to use.
Make Room
Now is a good time to make room for everything you will be bringing in from the store. Clear out as much as you can to make space for all the ingredients and dishes you'll need to refrigerate in the coming week. Clean out cabinets, fridge and freezer to ensure that everything will have a place when you come home from shopping.
4 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING
Go Grocery Shopping
With a notebook in hand, peek through your pantry, liquor cabinet, and fridge. Write down any items you'll need to buy; remember to consider meals for the rest of the weekend if guests are sticking around. Turkey should be first and foremost, if it isn't already ordered. Consider purchasing perishables like milk and fresh fruit a day or two before the party so they don't go bad.
Make Ice
Save money on ice by making your own ice cubes now. When they're frozen, dump them in a freezer bag and begin the next batch.
Plan for Leftovers
Speaking of that delicious Thanksgiving turkey—plan ahead for tasty turkey leftovers. Organize to-go containers, bags, and wraps so your Thanksgiving guests can take home the meal's bounty.
Plan Activities
Kiddos coming? Get crafty! Simple coloring stations, board games, and cards are sure to keep the little ones entertained. Get extra-festive by creating Thanksgiving placemats in the shape of turkeys—or better yet, let the kids design their own!
Clean the House
Cleanup is quick and painless if you take it in strategic small steps. Start by room, paying particular attention to those your guests will wander most: the living room, dining room, and bathroom. Take 10 minutes to tidy up, 10 to dust, and 10 to vacuum. Your house will be spic-and-span in no time!
2 DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING
Prep Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Appetizers
The secret to a stress-free Thanksgiving feast? Prepare ingredients in advance and tackle make-ahead dishes where you can. Two days before Thanksgiving, clean and peel any vegetables and refrigerate them (keeping them in water can keep them from browning). Set out the bread for homemade stuffing (stale stuff works best), and pre-make your favorite sweet cranberry sauce and creamy mashed potatoes. You can also whip up a few Thanksgiving appetizers to tide guests until dinner, if your guests aren’t bringing specific appetizer dishes.
Set Up the Bar
A self-serve bar leaves you free to check on food and mingle with guests come party time. Find a convenient spot close to the dining table to set out clean glasses, wine, pitchers, and ice buckets. Fill the pitchers with one or two signature drinks. We recommend apple cider studded with cinnamon sticks. Leave it up to guests to spike them!
Set the Table
Make serving extra-easy with a planned layout. Fill the dining table with your chosen serving bowls and glasses, placing food labels in the proper dishes. If you're buying flowers for your centerpiece, remember to pick those up today.
1 DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING
Make Thanksgiving Desserts & Overnight Rolls
Most Thanksgiving chopping, peeling, or toasting can be done about 24 hours before Thanksgiving. Make the Thanksgiving pies if they need to refrigerate and set out the overnight dinner rolls to rise. As you prepare the side dishes and appetizers that can be made early, remember to set out any dishes or kitchen tools that you will need for Thanksgiving Day. If there’s time, you can even make a staging area for coffee, desserts, and drinks. Stock with flatware, sugar, creamer, and cups to avoid guests finding themselves underfoot.
THANKSGIVING DAY
Recruit Help
Happy Thanksgiving! At last, the day arrived. As guests arrive, assign specific family members or relatives to be in charge of tending the fire, pouring drinks, answering the door, hanging up coats, and watching the children.
Cook the Turkey
Remove the Thanksgiving turkey from the refrigerator for one to two hours and prepare the stuffing. Put the turkey in a preheated oven and baste every half hour or according to your recipe. As the turkey cooks, prepare any Thanksgiving sides or desserts that aren’t finished. Once the turkey is complete, remove the stuffing and let the turkey rest, covered, for about 20 minutes before slicing.
Clean Up
After you’ve finished Thanksgiving desserts and guests are sufficiently stuffed, put away leftover Thanksgiving food in containers, foil packs, or plastic bags. Distribute the leftovers into labeled bags for guests to take home. Quickly fill the dishwasher with one load of dinner dishes and glassware, then wipe down counters. Once the basics are done, organize a family game or turn on a Thanksgiving movie. Don’t worry about what worked and what didn’t—you can always perfect it next Thanksgiving and build the holiday routine that best works for your family and friends.
WITHIN 1 WEEK OF THANKSGIVING
Launder tablecloth and napkins
Put away dishes, serving pieces, and glassware.
Return any borrowed tables, chairs, games, etc.
Make notes on what worked -- and what didn't -- and keep in your recipe box by the "Thanksgiving" tab.
Write and mail thank-you notes.