The ULTIMATE Checklist for Hosting Thanksgiving-Part 1
Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year or you are a seasoned-pro, organization & planning is key for hosting a stress-free meal! I gathered all of my notes from previous years and have consolidated them into The Ultimate Thanksgiving Hosting Checklist. This is the exact list I have for myself to use every single year, and I hope it will be helpful to you! Every day there is a small task to check off to avoid overwhelm on Thanksgiving Day! Depending on your schedule, you may prefer to do the week’s tasks over the weekend. This is great, too! Do what works for you!
I have broken the checklist into three weeks, and will be sharing the specific details for each step for that week. I am also including a downloadable version of the full checklist with broader descriptions so you can look ahead at what is to come! Just remember to check back here weekly for the detailed information that goes along with each item on the checklist! Happy Planning!
Thursday, November 7th: Make your guest list.
Friday, November 8th: Send out invites & confirm dietary restrictions with your guests.
Saturday, November 9th: If your family likes to dress up, make sure you have an outfit in mind. Try it on, and make sure there are no stains or missing buttons. Have your kids do the same! Make a plan to purchase or order your outfits to ensure they arrive on time!
Sunday, November 10th: Plan Your Meal. What will you serve? Has anyone offered to bring a dish? Coordinate with them to ensure you aren’t doubling up on recipes.
Monday, November 11th: Collect all of your recipes in one place. If you are a paper person, gather all of your physical recipes in a binder or spiral. Prefer digital receipes? Pin your recipes to your Pinterest board or take pictures/screenshots of the recipes and create an album title Thanksgiving Recipes on your phone.
Tuesday, November 12th: Place any pre-orders from vendors (Turkey, pies, cinnamon rolls for the morning of, etc.) Do you order your family’s favorite pumpkin pie from that one little bakery? Order it now! Do you buy your turkey from the best meat market in town? Pre-order that baby now to avoid forgetting or missing out!
Wednesday, November 13th: If you haven’t already, make a plan for Thanksgiving breakfast! Our family eats cinnamon rolls from my favorite gluten free bakery, so I make sure I have placed a pre-order for that! I have a friend whose family adds pumpkin pie filling to puff pastry dough to make pumpkin pie flavored croissants! Even if you just have your every day breakfast, make sure you add the ingredients to your shopping list!
With just a few minutes a day leading up to Thanksgiving, you will be able to host the best, stress-free meal with your favorite people! I stick to this very schedule myself every year, and it truly allows me to enjoy the event with zero stress!
Does organizing your kitchen for the upcoming holidays feel too overwhelming, or maybe you just flat our don’t have the time? We offer organizing services that can get your kitchen in tip-top shape for hosting season! Check out some of our previous projects with before & after pics here.
Hosting overnight guests for the upcoming holidays? We are ready to help complete your guest room! If you are missing a few pieces here and there, a Design Day service, would be a perfect option! We offer this service both in-person and virtually, so location is not an issue! Send us a message to get started today!
