Everything You Need to Host Thanksgiving

I’m hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year for our family members! I’m looking through my cabinets to decide what I’ll need to prepare for the holiday. Special occasions call for a little bit of shopping in my book! I found a bunch of items to help you host an unforgettable Thanksgiving celebration and a majority of them are neutral pieces that can be used year round!

A Thanksgiving meal is an important one and having the right items makes the whole thing a lot easier and less stressful! This is the time of year where we sit and give thanks for all we have. I don’t know about you, but our Thanksgiving is spent completely around the table. We are sharing the best tips for your table setting today. Get your notes ready for a shopping list and let’s get prepped for a Thanksgiving celebration!

For the Table

Firstly, everything we do for the big day surrounds the table. Thanksgiving appetizers, a pie dish, votive candles, a beautiful centerpiece– I spend too much time thinking about it all. Having the right tablecloth, dinner plates, serving dishes and extra silverware are all essential for the dinner table. I love a neutral linen tablecloth, I think it’s great for any occasion beyond a great Thanksgiving! It’s an investment I’m willing to partake in because it gets so much use in my own home. Good food and quality time will always be the main event of Thanksgiving Day.

The table is the first thing people see, especially before all of the food is out. This is the category that should not be the last thing on your list. Place settings on a Thanksgiving table are usually full of creative ideas for an intimate gathering.  A great place to start is your favorite dishes to serve your traditional turkey on. Plates, napkins and decor like pine cones and candles make for not only a beautiful table, but the perfect setting for Thanksgiving dishes. For those that don’t want to have a ton of cleanup, there are stores that make really nice disposable plates! There is nothing wrong with that, if anything, it’s the most efficient option. Cloth napkins are also a go-to for me. I like to change those out for each holiday.

These are simple tips for decor that can be used for various occasions, even just a large dinner aside from the holiday season.  A few must-have items for me are candles with candle holders, holiday-themed decor and simple things that can be used for any occasion.

Table Decor

Let’s start with the table setting. This is the best holiday to decorate for because it’s a balance between themed holiday pieces and an overall autumnal look. It’s so much fun to decorate the table for. I think place cards are a fun, holiday-themed way to set the table. Additionally something like chair covers with a bow could make for a personal touch in the planning process. It can all depend on the size of the gathering, but I begin with an inspiration piece and work my way from there for my dinner party. The most important item is the place setting itself. This is what every guest will be looking at the entire dinner so it’s a good idea to make it fun.

Pumpkin Vase // Candle Stick Holders // Table Runner // Faux Florals // Toile Place Mat // Pumpkin Candle Sticks // Charging Plate // Leaf Cheese Markers // Turkey Place Card Holders // Tablecloth // Pumpkin Place Mat // Napkins

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Serveware

Am I the only one who forgets about serveware? Sometimes I look at the table and focus on decorations so much that I forget about having a pitcher to fill with water, decide between stem vs stemless wine glasses, cocktail items, casserole dishes and the perfect charcuterie board. Even silverware! I think a great idea would be to plan out your Thanksgiving menu as soon as you can, so you are able to plan ahead and figure out which serving items you might be missing or in need of. Side dishes are another small thing that is an important part of the holiday meal! They can be used for appetizers, pumpkin pie, fresh fruit, extra mashed potatoes or anything really. Think realistically about this because you want items you will definitely get use out of for years to come. Think about what you will be cooking and which items would be a big help to your dining table and prep work.

Charcuterie Board // Pumpkin Plates // Pumpkin Jug // Pumpkin Glass Serving Tray // Tiered Platter // Turkey Roasting Tray // Cake Stand // Turkey Serving Bowl // Pie Stand // Pumpkin Bowls // Pumpkin Platter // Copper Pitcher // Copper Tray

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Extras

Finally, there are so many additional pieces to add to your Thanksgiving gathering. I could find a reason to make everything the centerpiece of the meal. First and foremost, to-go containers are a necessity. If you get anything for an stress-free Thanksgiving, it is Tupperware! Everyone can have a helping hand in taking the leftovers and you can even use them for yourself to store some if you run out of tupperware. But it’s a fun hostess gifting opportunity- the have containers ready to send your guests off with.

A few other items you might look into are a cute bar cart, festive fall wreath, large cutting board and fall decor for your Thanksgiving checklist. We have fresh fruits and vegetables so having display items for people to graze over like serving platters are essential. Think about everything you need for your Thanksgiving preparations and walk through the steps it takes to cook and serve them. This way, you know what items you need for the holiday!

Here are some recipes and activities you can print out for the kids this holiday season!

I am so excited to share some holiday themed activity sheets created by Kristina from Curiously Curated Creations! These are perfect to keep the kids busy during Thanksgiving dinner and give them something fun to do! She even made a pumpkin bread recipe! Here are the links to download them, enjoy!

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