Thanksgiving Holiday Party Planning

Thanksgiving Day is a day set aside to rejoice the harvest and express gratitude. Friends and family gather around to celebrate with football and good food. It’s a time to catch up with one another from our busy lifestyles that we have created for ourselves and bond. Coming together for this holiday gives us purpose of that long ago harvest festival of our forefathers.

If you are hosting this years Thanksgiving party with friends and family, it is always sensible to plan ahead so that stress doesn’t get in the way of having a good time. You want to create an atmosphere of ease and comfort so that your guests feel welcome. Cooking and entertaining can almost frazzle the best of us if preparations are last minute.

Organization is the key to any successful party. Getting yourself organized starts with creating lists from your guests to your decorations. Here, I’ve provided you with guidelines to help pull your thoughts together to ensure a good outcome.

• List your guests. This will give you a head count and provide you with how many children that will be attending as well.
• Make a menu, and include all “snacks” (such as chips and dip, etc)
• Make a grocery list (go over recipes in your menu for ingredients needed)
• Decide on how you want to decorate, and make a list of things you will need.

When placing your thoughts into your holiday party decorations, your table should be the focal point of your theme. Whether you are planning an informal (everybody sits away from the table), or formal dinner, a decorated table helps to create an ambiance of hospitality. Start with selecting a tablecloth in a color that will blend with your home, (fall colors are usually benign). Then choose a style centerpiece in the theme you want to portray, such as pumpkins, Pilgrims, turkeys, etc. From there you can embellish with small items such as candles, or fall foliage. (Please keep in mind that formal dining is always best with small objects, as they tend to get in the way of food and conversation).

Other rooms in your home can help create an atmosphere of warmth by adding small touches. A small flower arrangement, candles or figurines are always aesthetic. Holiday hand towels in the bathrooms with scented candles of pumpkin spice or apple cinnamon are always nice touches. If you have children in the home, display holiday crafts that they have created. Feeling that they have contributed to the festivities is gratifying in being included as part of the holiday.

As a result of all your hard planning, enjoy yourself above all things! Take the holiday to heart, and be thankful for family and friends. Here’s wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving!