Thanksgiving is about warm food, family and being grateful for the little things in life. So why not do something different this year to make this traditional dinner something special?
A great way to do this is to host your dinner outdoors. The warm food, laughter, and chatter in the cool outdoors make the food taste even better and create a memorable evening. Here are a few tips:
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Plan Your Table in Advance
This is the most important aspect when planning an outdoor dinner party. Get a headstart on this so that your party will turn out exactly as you want it to.
First, calculate how many guests you’ll serve and whether you want to use your house furniture. Owning an outdoor dining set is the perfect solution. However, if you don’t have one or if you’re worried it may not be big enough, renting out some tables and chairs is always an option. You just need to decorate it with some chair covers and linens to make it look nicer and more elegant.
You can set up the table according to your taste. Choose long tables to seat everyone together or multiple tables to seat smaller groups. Separate tables work great for teens and kids so they can talk comfortably without disturbing the adults.
Start Early If Possible
Since Thanksgiving falls in the colder months, daylight hours are short. So starting early means you’ll get more daylight and warmer temperatures, which will keep both your food and your guests warm.
Set up the tables in the morning to keep everything dry and start dinner early, between two and four in the afternoon. Guests will be able to stay longer and you might also have a few helping hands with the dishes.
Request a Helping Hand
Planning a party requires a lot of work. Preparing food, setting up decorations and serving guests can be stressful so don’t be shy to ask for help. This is a great opportunity to get your family involved, enlist the kids to set up tables and ask guests to bring some side dishes.
If you have a long guest list, renting out dishes and cutlery is a good option. You’ll be sending out dirty dishes so this will save you from washing them, and this alone is worth the rental cost. This is a better alternative to paper plates or buying dinner sets you’ll never use again.
This will help your party go smoothly and free you up to enjoy the party with your guests.
Plan to Serve Warm Food
Thanksgiving is all about serving delicious and warm food to guests in the chilly weather. But if your dishes get cold by the time guests go around for a second helping, that defeats the purpose entirely.
Prepare some dishes like desserts beforehand to reduce your workload on the day of the party. You can also chop up the vegetables, marinate meat, and prepare the sauce the night before so you can quickly cook everything a few hours before dinner. This will save you from being stuck in the kitchen during the party.
After roasting the turkey, wrap it up in aluminum foil and let it rest while you reheat the vegetables. You should learn how to carve the turkey tableside so everyone gets warm turkey on their plates. You can serve all the dishes when they’re piping hot.
One way to avoid getting cold food is to serve food inside the house and have guests eat outside, but this is only suitable for small, casual gatherings.
For a more formal gathering, it is better to serve warm food in chafing dishes or a buffet-style serving.
Protect Guests from the Elements
November can be quite chilly so remember to set up an outdoor fire pit to keep guests warm during the dinner. The fire pit also sets up a cozy and ambient atmosphere for the guests after the meal.
If possible, keep some extra blankets in a basket near the table to provide extra warmth if needed.
Set Up Proper Lighting
Winter days are short so lights become an integral part of outdoor parties, both in terms of visibility and decorations. Flameless, unscented candles make great centerpieces. They provide soft lighting without any risk of starting a fire.
Alternative options include table lamps for an indoor feeling, overhead string lights or overhanging lanterns for a celebratory atmosphere.
Nothing is worse than a power outage in the middle of dinner. It gets even worse when it’s dark outside during the winter and there’s virtually no light source to guide you.
Avoid this by having a generator ready to power up the lights in an emergency. A three-phase power source is an efficient and effective option for such cases.
Create a Festive Mood
Setting up decorations with a holiday theme creates a great atmosphere. Firstly, start with autumn-themed tablecloths and choose a centerpiece that appeals to you. Fall-colored flowers are a great start.
Then, decorate your patio with festive flowers and plants in vases and drape outdoor pergola beams or arbors with string lights or ribbons.
Now, move on to the cleaning. Refresh mulch or gravel ground covers, clean artificial grass, and remove any vines and dead plants.
Have a Plan B
Weather can be unpredictable, and something always goes wrong when you have outdoor plans. So, to avoid potential disasters, make sure you have a plan B.
Keep an area ready so you can move indoors if needed.
Alternatively, try to set up a canopy or a shade to protect guests in case of light showers. A covered patio with patio curtains is another great option in emergencies.
Make It Fun for the Kids
Most kids hate attending dinners, and for good reason. For them, just going out to eat dinner can be quite boring, especially with only adults. Keep them occupied after dinner with a holiday movie that everyone can enjoy.
You can also plan fun activities like scavenger hunts, pumpkin painting, donut-eating-on-a-string, coloring pages, and crayons. These activities will make Thanksgiving dinners something they’ll look forward to every year.
Create Beautiful Memories
Holidays are essential for winding down and celebrating quality time with family and friends. It’s a great time to give your guests a unique experience and make Thanksgiving memorable.
Consider grilling or smoking your turkey to try a different flavor, or ask guests to express what they’re most grateful for this year. You can also reminiscence over old memories by playing a photo slideshow while dining outdoors.
Conclusion
Outdoor dining creates a great festive atmosphere during the holidays and is an innovative idea to celebrate the occasion with family and friends.
So, prepare your pans, set up the table, cook your turkey, and cross your fingers that the weather cooperates so you can host a successful outdoor dinner. Happy Thanksgiving!
