How to host Thanksgiving dinner — from turkey to tablescape
The turkey may be the star of the show, but anyone who’s ever hosted a Thanksgiving dinner can attest: there are so many things beyond the bird to consider when planning a Thanksgiving party.
From apps and desserts to activities and decor, it can be hard to keep track of everything on your plate. That’s why we’re here with a comprehensive guide to Thanksgiving party planning. Keep reading for the full breakdown!
Psst… for all things Friendsgiving, make sure to check out our Friendsgiving checklist to learn how to throw the ultimate fall feast for your friends.
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Checklist
To make the planning process extra smooth, we've put together this printable checklist of everything you need to do before your Turkey Day gathering.
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Meal Planner
Food is truly the main event of any Thanksgiving gathering. Make sure no dish gets forgotten by creating an organized list of everything you'll be serving. This printable meal planner is the perfect way for hosts to stay totally on top of all things Turkey Day!
BEFORE THE PARTY
In order to make sure you know what to expect by the time Thanksgiving Day rolls around, it’s important to send out Invitations far in advance so you can get an accurate headcount for your gathering.
When it comes to holidays, it’s always best to send out your invitations 4–6 weeks in advance to allow your guests plenty of time to plan and make any travel arrangements.
Once you’ve got an understanding of how big your feast is going to be, the rest is gravy!
Questions to consider while planning ahead for Thanksgiving:
- How many guests will you be hosting?
- How many tables will you need?
- How many place settings will you need?
- Will you need a kids’ table?
- How many drinks will you need to serve?
- How many servings of food should you prepare?
When it comes to entertaining, remember: it’s always best to overshoot and send guests home with leftovers than to have a house full of hungry people.
Here’s a breakdown to help you figure out how much turkey you’ll need based on the size of your gathering:
4 people: 5 lbs
6 people: 8 lbs
8 people: 10 lbs
10 people: 13 lbs
12 people: 15 lbs
15 people: 20 lbs
20 people: 25 lbs
25 people: 32 lbs
You’ll also want to gather any helpful cooking gadgets and seasonal decorations in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Nothing is worse than realizing halfway through the cooking process that you forgot to purchase a crucial tool, so we’ve put together a list of typical supplies you might need on Turkey Day.
Cooking supplies that might come in handy:
As for decor, it’s always good to shop in advance. The more things you can check off of your list before the week of Thanksgiving, the less stressed you’ll be as the holiday approaches!
✅ Go grocery shopping
When it comes to grocery shopping, make sure you’re considering every component of your meal. You’ll want to make one master list of every ingredient you will need for every dish, then start making trips to grocery stores to gather your goods.
Start by listing out each dish you plan on making. Consider any appetizers, side dishes, main dishes, desserts, and beverages you plan to make and write down every necessary ingredient.
It is best to start your shopping as early as possible, buying non-perishables far in advance so you only have to worry about purchasing perishable goods the week of Thanksgiving.
It’s super important to make sure you have the right ingredients for the dishes you plan to make, but here is a list of common items you’ll likely need when cooking for Thanksgiving:
Turkey
Flour
Sugar (white and brown)
Salt
Autumnal herbs (sage, thyme, etc.)
Potatoes
Cranberries
✅ Set up decorations
Gathering your decorations ahead of time helps take the stress out of decorating your space. We recommend sticking with an autumnal color palette and using a variety of textures, but feel free to make it your own! If you’re not sure where to start, try setting the table with earth-toned tableware, placing autumnal plants around the house, and hanging decorative garlands wherever you can.
Decor ideas to spruce up your space:
White pumpkin and eucalyptus garland
Glass hurricane candle holders
✅ Make space for gratitude and appreciation
Don’t worry, no one’s expecting a full-on speech from the host, but it can be a nice gesture to prepare a few words of gratitude to share before your meal. Offer your guests a moment to reflect by reading an inspiring quote or sharing your own feelings of gratitude with the group.
Then, invite your guests to share what they’re thankful for, too! No need to make everyone share, but definitely open up the floor for anyone who does want to share a few words.
✅ Figure out activities
Keep your guests entertained by planning some fun, festive games and activities! Thanksgiving is a great time for bonding with family and friends, and nothing brings people together like some healthy competition.
Here are some of our favorite games and activities:
Apple toss
- Place baskets of various sizes at different distances. Try to throw apples into the baskets. Farther baskets and smaller baskets are worth more points.
Pumpkin checkers
- Just like typical checkers, except with miniature faux pumpkins as your game pieces!
Thanksgiving bingo
- Make your own board or buy a pre-made one like this one from Etsy.
Hand turkey drawing
- A classic Thanksgiving craft. Have guests trace the outline of their hand, then use crayons or colored pencils to decorate it as a turkey!
Sack race
- Nostalgic backyard games are a Thanksgiving must.
Three-legged race
- See above.
DAY OF THE PARTY
On Thanksgiving day, you’re going to want to get as early of a start as you can to ensure everything is ready by the time guests begin arriving.
Multi-tasking is going to be your best friend: start your cooking, get as much as you can into the oven, and then start decorating your space while you wait for the food to cook.
Pro tip… don’t put on your Thanksgiving party outfit until the last possible minute! Between the cranberry sauce, pie fillings, and turkey drippings, messes and stains are practically a given, so spare yourself the extra stress by putting on clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
✅ Set the scene
Hang your decorations, arrange your florals, and prep any centerpieces.
Make sure ingredients for cocktails and drinks are ready to go. Setting up a self-serve drink station is a great way to make guests feel extra comfortable in your space and takes one more task off your plate during the party.
Lastly, put on a nice dinner party playlist to give the atmosphere that extra je ne sais quoi and light any candles.
✅ Prepare the food
It’s a feast, after all, so cooking is perhaps the most important part of your day of preparations.
Make a cooking schedule ahead of time to guide you throughout the day. You don’t need to plan every minute of your day, but having a sense of what time to start each dish, when to put things in the oven, and how long each dish takes to cook will help you stay organized and have everything ready by the time your guests arrive.
Other helpful tips:
Clean as you go
- The cleaner your kitchen is, the less stressed you’ll be!
Make use of Crock-Pots and slow cookers
- Seriously, slow cookers are a Thanksgiving host’s best friend. Work smarter, not harder!
Check your turkey’s temperature as it cooks
- No one wants a burnt bird, so make use of that meat thermometer!
Don’t panic
- You’ve got this!
✅ Set the table
The final piece of any pre-party prep is setting the table. Lay out your decorative table cloth, arrange any centerpieces, set each place and, for an extra fancy touch, add place cards so guests know where to go.
If you’re expecting lots of kiddos, consider setting up a kids’ table with kid-friendly activities like coloring books and crayons at the ready.
Hang up any wall decorations and other adornments to create a cozy Thanksgiving atmosphere. Consider placing candles, pumpkins, and wreaths around your house to really lean into that fall harvest energy.
When the food is ready, decide which dishes you’ll want to place on the table. You likely won’t be able to fit everything, so prioritize the most impressive dishes and the crowd-pleasers. Then, set up a separate table with any remaining food.
✅ Enjoy the day
Take a big sigh and give yourself a pat on the back—you’re ready to relax and enjoy the day!
Freshen up, change into your party clothes, and get ready to greet your guests. Take a last-minute peek at your RSVPs to remind yourself who to expect and brace yourself for any unexpected plus-ones.
Have a good time, eat lots of food, and remember to take plenty of pictures to capture all the memories! Facilitate any games or activities you planned and express your feelings of gratitude to remind guests what the day’s all about.
AFTER THE PARTY
The fun doesn’t have to end when the party does! Thanksgiving’s all about gratitude, so let your guests know how thankful you are for all of them with a thank you card after your event.
✅ Send out thank you cards
Sending out Thank You Cards after your gathering is a great way to express your gratitude for those who came out and to thank anyone who was particularly helpful throughout the planning process and/or during the party.
Evite offers plenty of autumnal thank you cards, perfect for sending after a Thanksgiving gathering. Our cards are easy to edit, with plenty of personalization options like our editable backgrounds and the option to write a custom message on the back.
Once you’ve designed the perfect card, you can quickly add recipients by using the same guest list you used for your Invitation. Then, write a message for everyone or individualize your messages for each recipient.
Sending your cards is super easy. With Evite, you’re able to decide whether you’ll want to text or email your cards. Once they’re off, check to see when your card’s been viewed and see any emoji reactions your guests send back.
Here’s to an unforgettable Thanksgiving celebration
The tur-key to a successful Thanksgiving is planning ahead, so make sure to start prepping well in advance! One way you can get ahead is by finding the perfect Invitation with Evite!
Browse our collection of Thanksgiving designs, including our upload-your-own templates if you’re looking for something extra special, and choose your favorite one. Then, customize it by adjusting your text, changing the background and envelope liner, and adding fun stamps and stickers.
Once it’s ready, add your guests and send your invitations via email, text, or shareable link. Check your RSVPs in real time to always ensure you’ve got an accurate headcount and message guests privately or as a group with any important info.
If you’re planning plenty of parties this holiday season or hoping to send lots of holiday cards, consider signing up for Evite Pro. This subscription service allows you to send an unlimited number of Greeting Cards and Premium Invitations so you can celebrate all of life’s most awesome moments!
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