This year one of my daughters-in-law will host Thanksgiving for the first time. And hosting the big day for 12 or more people is not for the faint of heart! This post is for Rachel and all the other young hostess newbies this year. Because with proper for-thought and planning, you can indeed be the “hostess with the most-est” and keep your sanity at the same time!
PLANNING
The most important thing to remember is that the more you can do BEFORE Thanksgiving, the more at ease you will feel when the big day arrives. This includes cooking and freezing anything you can a week or so before. Polishing your silver in advance. Setting the table the night before. To help you remember those details and more, download my free Thanksgiving Checklist printable.
MENU
To keep things simple, I make the same recipes almost every year. (Except for appetizers and signature cocktail, which I usually change every year). After all, they are tried-and-true, Tabler family favorites! Each image below will take you to the recipe!
On the menu:
1 Pomegranate Cranberry Bruschetta | 2 Turkey Roasted in Reynolds Turkey Bag | 3 Amazing Gravy | 4 Cajun Cornbread Stuffing with Andouille Sausage | 5 Crockpot Mashed Potatoes | 6 Winter Cranberry Martinis | 7 Spinach Madeline | 8 Parkerhouse Style Rolls | 9 Pumpkin Pie Made from Scratch | 10 Sugared Cranberries
Want some more beverage options? You’ll find a slew of them here!
And here is a great idea for all your leftovers!
TABLE SETTING
Remember where everything goes on the table can certainly be a challenge! My Mema taught me when I was a little girl, but it took me years to remember without looking it up. Here’s a handy cheat sheet for setting the table!
One thing that helps me remember what goes where when I’m setting the table or even dining out is this… Beverages (water, wine, coffee) go on the right. Food (bread plate) goes on the left!
TABLESCAPE AND DIY TOUCHES
I love setting the Thanksgiving table! It’s fun to get creative with something new each year. Here’s my tablescape from 2014.
Learn how I made the DIY Napkin Rings and Place Cards here!
I’ve also got other DIY place cards, menu, dessert toppers and food labels you can download for free and print for yourself. You can also download the coordinating free, frameable Thanksgiving art printables.
Last, but certainly not least… I think it’s a lovely gesture to add some “thankful” touches to the day. It’s a great way to reminisce and be reminded of all our blessings! Check out Three Ways to Add More Thankful to Thanksgiving.
A few things you may want or need for hosting Thanksgiving!
That, my friends, should do it! Of course you don’t need to follow every suggestion here to make an incredibly special and meaningful day. Just take the ones you like the most and enjoy your celebration!
xoxo,
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I love your placesetting cheat sheet! I’m going to download your printable right now! THANKS!
Wow, I love this! It would work for Christmas too, except for the printables 🙂
I made your Give Thanks printable into place cards…so cute!! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Great tips, and I love that place setting cheat sheet! My husband and I were just at a fancy dinner with a full place setting, and we had no idea which utensil to use when. :0) Thanks for sharing with us at the Merry Monday Link Party! Hope to see you again on Sunday night!
GORGEOUS! Love the table settings