5 Tips for Hosting your First Holiday Together

Feeling Post Wedding Planning Blues? No really, they are a real thing, complete with a feeling of “what next”.  One of the best ways to beat these blues is looking forward to and planning the many “firsts” you will now have as a married couple.  One of those firsts is hosting your first holiday together, and we have a few tips on how to make it special for you and your families.

Here are 5 tips for hosting your first holiday together!

Be sure everyone is on board for doing it at your house.

Does your sister usually host Thanksgiving, or maybe your spouse’s mom looks forward to hosting the whole family at her house every year?  Are they okay breaking with tradition to allow you to host at your home?  If so, do you have enough room to invite both sides of the family (if you are lucky enough to have them all live close by)?

Take traditions into account and try to incorporate them into your new blended family!

Maybe your family always watches the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, but your partners family is all football all day.  Does your family dress up for holidays or is there a special centerpiece that is always on the table?  This is a great time to introduce your new spouse and your families to each other’s holiday traditions and maybe make a few new ones along the way.

Try to have a favorite dish from each side of the family.

Having a dish from each side of your families will bring a familiarity and nostalgia to the dinner, making it truly feel like home for every guest!

Don’t be overly ambitious

We know you just planned an epic wedding and feel like you can take on any event, but preparing to host a holiday at your house comes with a slew of different stresses, from cleaning to cooking to entertaining.  Therefore, Make it a bit easier on yourself and stick to recipes you know or are easy for you to prepare ahead of time in case one doesn’t go as planned.  This isn’t the time to try an overly complicated Pinterest recipe!

Accept Help

We know you can do it all, but why should you? If someone asks if they can bring the sweet potatoes or an amazing appetizer, let them!  Share your menu with those you have invited in advance to help avoid duplicate dishes.

BONUS TIP:  Enjoy the Day!

You are making amazing memories together that you and your families will enjoy for years to come.  Unlike a wedding, a marriage lasts a lifetime!