7 Things You Need For Your First Thanksgiving Dinner

Surely, November is not yet around the corner, but if it’s your first time throwing an adult Thanksgiving dinner, you need to be prepared as early as now. Most people start shopping for Thanksgiving in October to make sure that they have everything they need. However, since this is your first time, you may need more weeks to pull off a Thanksgiving dinner that everyone will remember. 

Like at weddings, you need to have a checklist of everything that you need before the big day. Thanksgiving dinner is no different. You need to make sure that everything is ready before you begin. The good thing about preparing a Thanksgiving dinner is that it only happens in one part of the house: the dining room. It means that you don’t need to worry much about dressing up the entire house.

What do you need when hosting your first Thanksgiving dinner?

Even if you only have one holding area for the Thanksgiving dinner, you still need to pay attention to even the smallest details. Here is a list of the basic things you need to make sure that your gathering will be a success.

1. Traditional and modern table decor

You must use the right Thanksgiving table decor and make sure that you will stick with the theme. To give a twist on the overall aesthetic of your dining setup, you can combine both traditional and modern Thanksgiving decor. You can start by using wreaths and pumpkins. These are the most common decor used during this type of occasion. You can reinvent pumpkins and use them as a centerpiece or a vase. Cornucopia and cranberries are also a creative decoration idea.

2. Thematic tablecloth

The tablecloth will serve as the backdrop of your overall masterpiece. Hence, it’s important to choose the perfect color and material. Here’s the tricky part. People will often associate Thanksgiving with a variety of colors and designs. However, if you already have a lot of decor on top of the table, you may want to use a minimalist tablecloth. You can always go for cream or off-white satin or cotton cloth. In that way, you won’t need to worry about clashing colors. Also, too much brightness and variety may not look too appetizing.

3. Decorative napkins

Once you have picked the right tablecloth, you can now choose a contrasting decorative table napkin. You can never go wrong with orange or red as it can heighten the focus once it is placed on top of each plate setting. It’s also recommended to use creative ways to fold a napkin. If you have the talent to fold it like a swan or a boat, you can go ahead and play around with it. If not, you can start studying as early as now.

4. Stylish serving platters and utensils

Normal family dinners do not require fancy serving platters and utensils, but this is Thanksgiving. As much as possible, you want to make sure that the entire presentation is perfect. So, if you still don’t have any stylish platters and utensils, it’s time to shop for new ones. The good thing is, there are a lot of thematic platters and utensils for this occasion. It’s your choice if you want to buy something that you can only use during Thanksgiving or you want a fancy platter for all types of occasions.

5. Wine and drinking glasses

Whenever you hold an adult dinner or gathering, it’s already established that you need to serve wine. That is why it’s important to have wine and drinking glasses ready to toast for the occasion. You can set up the table with the basic drinking glass for water, plus you can add a wine glass on the side. However, you might need to have other glasses ready, in case someone wants a Scotch or a Vodka. After all, it’s a party.

6. Comfortable dining chairs

Unlike any other meal, a Thanksgiving dinner will take longer than usual. You will spend more time sharing stories of what you are thankful for in the year, and you will also catch up with your family and friends. Because of that, you must set up comfortable dining chairs that your visitors will not get tired of seating the whole night. Now, you don’t need to buy an entire dining set. You can purchase a few seating cushions to use for the holiday dinner.

7. Leftover storage for takeouts

During special dinners, all homeowners do not prepare just the right amount of food. Most often than not, you will have leftovers for cooking too many for your expected visitors. And since you will most likely be preparing the whole day, the dinner will surely become a hit. To make it more memorable, you can give away leftover foods for takeouts. Using thematic food storage, you can give your visitors a chance to taste your dinner masterpiece at the comforts of their home.

Start shopping for your next thanksgiving

Of course, above all this, do not forget to prepare an unforgettable menu. To start with your Thanksgiving preparations by shopping for more table and dining decorations. Visit Storables.com to get more inspiration.

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