Image via Country Living

Thanksgiving is one of the biggest family holidays of the year (and certainly the most delicious!). Hosting your loved ones for Thanksgiving Dinner is great fun but can also be stressful at times. We have a few helpful hints to make the day go smoothly..also be sure to download the gorgeous templates for Folded Place Cards and Give Thanks cards created by our graphic design extraordinaire, Emily! These printed pieces will look beautiful on your table and add a memorable touch to the holiday.

1. Have seating assignments ready – to avoid confusion and guests wondering where to sit, we recommend having beautiful place cards adorned with each guests name at each seat.
2. Meal Plan & Prep! Embrace “mise en place” a french culinary term that means “everything in its place” and refers to purchasing, preparing and measuring the necessary ingredients for recipes in advance. The more you can make and have prepped beforehand, the more smoothly everything will go in the kitchen the day of.
3. Make sure you know the weight of your turkey. This might seem like a silly detail but it is critical to know the length of time it will take to cook. Guests will be oohing and aching when you pull out the perfectly golden brown turkey from the oven.
4. Make sure your meat thermometer is working – do a test in advance! A helpful guideline for the internal temperatures of your cooked turkey is: 165-170F in the breast, 175-180F in the thigh and 165F in the center of the stuffing.
5. Set the Table in Advance. This will help avoid worrying about last minute details. Plus you can see everything you are working toward in the kitchen by seeing the table set and ready for guests. If you want to place the glasses the night before just make sure to turn them upside down!
6. Delegate – Your family and friends want to help! Even giving them simple tasks like opening wine bottles, folding napkins or lighting candles will make guests feel like they are contributing to the celebration. We all want to help the host!
7. Give thanks! That is what this holiday is about, afterall. Place a notecard at each place setting and ask each guest to write down what they are thankful for. While you are enjoying dessert, you can go around the table and read off the responses. This will become a great tradition for years to come.
8. Have plenty of ice on hand for cocktails and refreshments. Your ice maker won’t supply the entire party – purchase and store extra bags of ice so you can restock and keep the glasses full 🙂
9. Relax, Eat & Enjoy!