Easy Hosting Tips for Thanksgiving

This weekend my boyfriend and I hosted our first Friendsgiving. It was so much fun, and I’m seriously still full from all of the amazing food! Recipes to everything we made below… including an unexpectedly delicious mashed potatoes recipe from 2 Chainz ; ). As a newbie hostess, it was also a learning experience! AJ and I love hosting people for hanging out by the pool, birthdays, football, etc. I’m on my way home to Minnesota where I’ll be spending actual Thanksgiving with my family! If you’re hosting Thanskgiving this year, here are some last minute, easy hosting tips that will make the day run smoothly!

Easy Hosting Tips for Thanksgiving

+ Plan ahead – the week before, we planned out our menu and got all of the ingredients in advance. Some recipes can also be made ahead of time, making the actual day itself easier!

+ Timing is everything – when you’re preparing a large meal, it can be difficult to time all of the dishes perfectly! The turkey finished cooking much earlier than we anticipated, and there was a bit of a scramble to keep it warm until dinnertime. Do a little mental math beforehand to make sure all of your dishes will be done around the same time (some will need to be kept warm in the oven!).

+ More food is better than less – you don’t want to run out!

+ Simplify clean up – consider using disposable plates, cutlery, and napkins. I found some chic bamboo plates and cutlery online, as well as some thicker disposable white napkins. We also used plastic cups to avoid broken glass. This made cleaning up a relative breeze!

+ Set the scene – decorations don’t have to be complicated! Small votive candles always add a nice touch to any table, as well as flowers! This time of year especially, there are so many gorgeous burgundy and orange colors you can incorporate into your decor.

+ Fresh blooms go a long way – you can never go wrong with fresh flowers. Gathering a ton of inspiration from Pinterest, I was determined to make some DIY table runners. Visiting the LA Flower Market is an experience in and of itself, and I came out with so many fresh flowers and greenery, and had a blast making eucalyptus garlands at home. It’s also super easy to do yourself! Thinking of making a tutorial on this.

And a couple things I learned…

+ Assign seats – this will make sitting down for dinner a breeze, as your guests will not be scrambling to find a spot to sit.

+ Provide entertainment. Avoid awkward table talk (the worst thing: politics) and provide games or other entertainment for guests when they aren’t eating.

+ Create little tasks for guests to help with – more often than not, they want to help! This gives them time to hang out with you as well.

+ Stop and enjoy the evening – not everything has to be perfect! Take a moment to stop running around and make time to speak with every guest and thank them for coming.

Our Thanksgiving Menu

+ Spatchcocked turkey (note: cooks very quickly and looks obscene, but the meat is incredibly juicy and tender)

+ Gravy

+ Cranberry pomegranate sauce

+ Classic sausage and sage stuffing

+ 2 Chainz garlic mashed potatoes

+ Mashed sweet potatoes

+ Cauliflower gratin

+ Balsamic brussels sprouts with cranberries

+ Green bean casserole

+ Cornbread (usually cheat and buy from store or make from the box, sorry!)

+ Assorted pies (we went the store bought route this year, but I want to tackle this on my own next year).

Do you guys like these types of posts? Should I do more home/hosting/decor related posts?

Happy Thanksgiving week, everyone! xx

See also: Tips for a healthier Thanksgiving.

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