6 Steps to Planning the Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner

Taking on the responsibility of planning and executing Thanksgiving dinner should not go unnoticed. Not only will you have all your family members in your home, but also a busy kitchen, a frantic relative wanting to help, and if you are like me, anxiety that everything must go well.

I have put together these 6 steps in hopes of helping ease your stress instead of removing it because let's face it: you're going to be stressed regardless.

1. Get the Invitations Out of the Way

You will have too much going on in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving so make sure to send your invitations ahead of time. Whether you're sending out a Facebook event or printed invitations this is a required first step.

Require an RSVP. I know it sounds antiquated, but an RSVP will help you in so many ways. A head count will let you know how much wine and food you need, if you need to rent additional furniture, and what to expect for the day.

2. Plan Your Dishes

Take a look through Pinterest, my blog, other culinary blogs, etc. to get an idea of what you want your Thanksgiving to be like.

Keep in mind that you have 1 oven, 4-6 stovetop places, and 1 microwave and you're only one person so unless you have help or an industrial kitchen, don't overdo it. 2-3 special dishes in addition to more simple and efficient dishes are enough to wow your guests without sending you under the table with a bottle of wine when you've had enough of timers and cooking steps for your lifetime

3. Decide on a Style for the Dinner

Do you want a traditional thanksgiving style, modern, romantic, rustic? Think through what you want the feeling in the room to be. This may also come from who you are inviting. If you are having more of a Friendsgiving than a family Thanksgiving then you may want something more stylish.

There are very affordable and easy options from Michaels, CORT party rental, and Target to decorate and adorn everything in the way you want.

If you'd like to have someone handle the decorating, I charge a very affordable fee to decorate dinners, events, and parties for others. Contact me and we can work through what you need on a budget you can handle.

4. Preorder Groceries

With services like Amazon Fresh, PrimeNow, Whole Foods, and other delivery and preordering systems, you can easily handle ingredients for dinner ahead of time. AmazonFresh and Whole Foods both offer premade turkeys within a week and a half of Thanksgiving.

Whole Foods offers premade mashed potatoes, turkey, gravy, green beans, etc. so all you have to do day of is heat it up and open the wine.

5. Throwing a Potluck Thanksgiving?

Make sure people know if they should bring a savory or sweet dish so you don't end up with three pumpkin pies and no mashed potatoes.

Last year I created a signup on Sign Up Genius and sent the link to my guests. In the sign up I chose the main dishes for people to sign up for and then added 2-3 slots titled "savory appetizer" or "savory main dish" so they could choose what they wanted to make without there being repeats.

6. Get Some Helpers!

Do you have a partner or friend that could help you with any stage of planning? Reach out to them and recruit some help!

It's not bad to ask for assistance especially when the person themselves will be at the event. Even if they can only help you put invitations in their envelope it will help take stress away from you and ensure that you don't feel alone in your planning.