The ULTIMATE Checklist for Hosting Thanksgiving-Part 3
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!
As I have for the past two weeks, I am including a downloadable version of the full checklist with broader descriptions so you can see the full list. Today I am sharing the final plan…Week 3! It’s the final countdown at this point in the checklist, so enjoy it!
Thursday, November 21st: Put together a playlist for your Thanksgiving celebration! If you have an Amazon Prime account, you already have access to so much free music, but use whatever music streaming service you are most comfortable with. Pro-Tip: Short on time? Frank Sinatra Radio is ALWAYS a good idea.
Friday, November 22nd: Start laying our your serving dishes. Make a post-it note for every dish you are serving and assign each note to a dish. Don’t forget to designate a serving utensil for every dish!
Saturday, November 23rd: Final Shop! Grab all that is left on your list: produce, refrigerated items, and anything else on your list. With the exception of visiting the floral section, you should avoid the grocery store from Tuesday onwards to avoid pure chaos!
Sunday, November 24th: Pull any wrinkles out of your linens. Use a damp towel and toss it in the dryer along with your table linens for 15 minutes for a wrinkle free result! Lay out your linens on the table, so they remain free of creases and are ready for tomorrow’s task!
Monday, November 25th: Start setting your table: Linens, plates, utensils, and glasses. If your daily dinner table if the same on you are using for Thanksgiving, find a place to stack all dishes, glasses, utensils, and linens so they are ready to go.
Tuesday, November 26th: Make a date with the floral section of your grocery store tomorrow to purchase your florals for your centerpiece! Be sure to show up to the store as early as you can to avoid the wild crowds! Create your arrangement when you arrive home and then store in the fridge to keep the flowers fresh until meal time the next day! Pro Tip: I show up to Trader Joe’s 5 minutes before they open every year the day before Thanksgiving. I avoid the rush, and get the best pick of beautiful (yet inexpensive) florals!
Wednesday, November 27th: Prep Day: Do ALL you can today so that tomorrow all you are doing is playing musical dishes with the meals in your oven! Make any casseroles that will site nicely in the fridge until their cook time tomorrow. Chop up any veggies you will need for recipes tomorrow. Pre-measure any ingredients you can. Assemble your floral arrangements and pop them in the fridge until tomorrow. Take a deep breath, accept hep, and listen to your favorite music. YOU’VE GOT THIS!
Thursday, November 28th: Thanksgiving Day: Stick to your cooking schedule, but make time for your favorite Thanksgiving traditions and be present with the ones you love!
Doing a bite sized task each day leading up to Thanksgiving will give you the best stress-free hosting experience! As I have mentioned multiple times, 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!
