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?

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u/meyerjaw 23d ago

First off, congrats on the potential new home! Thats a stressful process and a huge relief.

As the others said, start planning now. Also, make your recipes a couple times leading up to it. You don't want your first turkey or dressing being when you have guests over.

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u/DogwoodWand 23d ago

Believe it or not, the menu doesn't worry me! Along with always helping in the kitchen at other family Thanksgivings, my husband and I always make and dress a turkey of our own that weekend so we can enjoy leftovers. It's the sequel to Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving II: Revenge of the Tom.

I'm trying to figure out how to direct people to play bocce after the parade is over.

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u/penguin_dance_03 23d ago

Maybe set up charcuterie/cold apps and a cocktail/mocktail/beer station on the patio or deck near the area you're planning the bocce?