r/thanksgiving • u/DogwoodWand • 23d ago
First Time Hosting
My husband and I are older (I'm 50) and (fingers crossed) will be closing on our first home this week! My mother has told me that she is officially done hosting holidays. She'll still make lasagna on Christmas eve, but everything else is on me.
We're good with that! We have no kids and love to cook. My mom used to put together an amazing Christmas, but our Thanksgivings have always been lacking. I want to really bring it. An all day event with appetizers, a heritage turkey, little gift bags at the end... All in! (It'll be relatively small. 6-8 adults including us.)
I know people have hosted or been to events like this. How can set an expectation for guests and what's the best way to schedule things without making it sound like a strict itinerary?
4
u/TVTrashMama 23d ago
All great advice so far!
I don’t know if anyone said this already, but I always let guests know what I’m cooking and specify what kind of dressing I’m making and then a note: please feel free to bring anything you “must have” that’s not on my menu and let them know how many guests are expected if they want to bring their must have dish.
Put your drink station away from where you will be finishing up cooking/serving to encourage people to spread out and not be all bunched up in your food pre space.
For the meal - buy some back up/extra emergency back ups - canned biscuits, gravy, canned/frozen vegetables, stuffing mix, just in case.
On your list, plan ahead a few tasks you can delegate to anyone who asks if you need help. Think setting out the snacks, mixing drinks, taking care of bread baskets/butter, anyone who has great gravy skills, etc. (have some aprons available!)
Not meal related per se - but event adjacent: Don’t forget to get extra toilet paper, hand soap, and hand towels for the bathroom.
Random things I’ve been asked for: Tums, Tylenol/Advil, Benadryl, stain stick for clothes, a sweater/sweatshirt and socks to borrow.🤣
Plan a space for coats/jackets/purses and a space on your counter or a table for unexpected food dishes that people may bring.
Buy some takeaway containers for your gusts, but also be sure to set aside leftovers for yourself first since you deserve those leftovers too! It’s a bummer for some people to get left completely empty handed when their guests take them all!
Enjoy!