I officially lost my mind in the third trimester, and decided to host Thanksgiving for both my and my husband’s family – a whopping 22 people. In my defense, hosting is one of my favoriting things to do, AND this is the first big holiday in our new home – a home that is perfect for such an occasion.
Hosting this many people is really not as hard as you think. It’s all about organization and delegation. One of my favorite sayings is – many hands make little work. It’s so true, but you must let go and let people help you. Below are some details on how I hosted Thanksgiving without losing my mind, and as always, without over-spending thanks to my thrifty ways.
Tables
Ambiance is everything, and I wanted this Thanksgiving to feel special. Obviously the food has be great, but so does the feel of your party which you can achieve with inviting decor.
I wanted everyone to be in one room, so first I had to figure out how to seat 22. I used a combination of my dining room table (Southeastern Salvage), my outdoor table (Ikea), and a game table from the living room (Ikea). I also used every chair in my house and on my patio – some I purchased new and some thrifted over the last year.
Luckily everything went together (well enough anyway). I decided to go with a rustic glam look because that it sorta what I had to work with. If your tables look terrible together, it’s ok. Table cloths are your friend.
When you’re mixing and matching I recommend picking a monochromatic color scheme. I always gravitate toward neutrals. It’s elegant and creates a clean feel.
Even though my tables weren’t horrible, I wanted this to feel sorta fancy, so I used table cloths – all thrifted the table clothes from Goodwill. They are Target brand and were new in the packaging. I wasn’t able to find three of the same, so I found coordinating ones. They were $5 a piece. If your table cloths aren’t the right size, don’t sweat it – just layer white ones underneath.
I borrowed greenery and the earthy branch decor pieces from my mother – whenever possible borrow! It’s even better for the earth than buying used. The candle holders, votives, and glass hurricanes were all thrifted. This type of glassware is ALWAYS available at the thrift store for super cheap. I don’t think I paid more than $1 per piece.
Place Settings
In Chicago, I scored these glass plates at Salvation Army before I hosted a Southern-themed dinner party. I found a whopping 12 of dinner plates, 16 salad plates, and 7 bowls. I scored all the tableware for less than $20. This wasn’t quite enough so I mixed in some of my everyday white dinner plates and even some of my wedding China. Don’t be afraid to mix and match. Just don’t have one of anything – make it look eclectic and intentional.
My water glasses are Ikea and I love them. The wine glasses are all thrifted or gifted! I think I got these for 50 cents a piece. Since not everyone drinks in our family, I just put these on the bar instead of on the table. Then I didn’t have to worry about having one at each place setting.
The silverware is a real deal. If you can’t bust out the nice stuff on Thanksgiving, then when can you do it? Since I didn’t have enough of one design for 22, so each table had a different design. All of it is crazy old and passed down from my mother’s side of the family. It’s a pain to polish, but so worth the effort.
If you have the patience and time, add one little extra special touch to your place setting. I tied up the napkins in a cute bow using some twine from my DIY box. You don’t have to go over board, but it adding even an extra detail can have a big impact on the overall look. 
Food
I knew it would be too much to cook a feast for 22 people both due to my 8 month pregnant condition and from a simple kitchen logistics perspective. So, I delegated. Since turkeys are a pain to transport, Matt and I decided to take those on ourselves. I also decided to do a salad. Sides are easy to make in advance and transport, so I delegated ALL OF THEM. This made my life so easy! My food prep consistent of seasoning the turkey and throwing it in the oven. Then I made a super simple salad at the last minute.
The only challenging part was reheating the sides just before, but with a large hot oven and a ex-caterer mother, we made it happen. For a large group and this many dishes, buffet style is the way to go.
All in all it was a great holiday filled with yummy food, loved ones, and lots of laughter. Have any tips for hosting a big dinner and maintaining your sanity? Let me know in the comments!
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