Inspiration Blog

Entertaining Guests for Thanksgiving Dinner: Hosting Made Simple

Thanksgiving will be here faster than you can say, “cranberry relish.” That said, now is the time to think about a menu and setting yourself up for successful entertaining at home--literally. Following are our expert tips to host a Thanksgiving meal people will be talking about for months.

Start with the basics

A yummy meal is definitely enhanced by its tablescape presentation and the overall atmosphere. You’ll want to create a cozy and inviting look yet be able to accommodate everyone. Long tables or farm tables will accommodate a small group yet allow for conversation. From here, you’ll want to make sure you have adequate seating.  You might want the look of a rustic metal chair or a cross back chair to deviate from the standard folding chair scenario. Then be sure to choose table linens that fit your aesthetic and theme.

Next, it’s all about the details. Wow them with a first-class place setting of china, flatware, and glassware. If you prefer a classic look, choose a full on collection - Dinner Plate, Salad Plate, Bread and Butter Plate, Coffee Cup, Saucer, and Bowl. However, the trendy way to go is eclectic where you mix and match the patterns between the salad and dinner plates and even the appetizer/dessert plates.

With your flatware, you’ll want to be consistent with your motif. For example, if you go with a gold patterned plate, you’ll want to go for gold flatware and likewise with silver or even copper flatware.

And finally, the options for glassware range from timeless to more modern. At the minimum, you’ll want to have glasses for water, wine, and champagne.

In general, don’t forget to match the presentation to your home’s personality and the guest list. For example, if your guests are mostly close family, you might not feel the need to roll out all the stops. However, if you are entertaining neighbors or new friends you might want to up the ante.

 

Think outside the box

Don’t be afraid to buck tradition, even. That means getting creative with colors and table décor. There’s no hard and fast rule that you have to use colors of fall in a Thanksgiving spread.  Don’t be afraid to express your style and personality. As a starting point, think about the things for which you are thankful and let that guide you in how you express it in your tablescape. There’s no right or wrong way!

 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

There is nothing wrong with calling in a caterer to help with your feast. A proper Thanksgiving meal calls for hours of preparation and some skill. It’s no small feat, especially for amateur cooks. If you’d rather not bother with it, call in the pros! Imagine all of the time you’ll have to truly enjoy the company of your guests without the headache that comes with the prep. What is your time truly worth?

 

Now that you have our top three tips all that is left to do is create the guest list! While we don't handle this part, AAYS Event Rental can help guide you and offers all the rental items you need to be the Hostess With The Mostess