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Thanksgiving is supposed to be cozy, delicious, and full of gratitude… not a full-contact stress sport. At The Party Goddess!, Marley Majcher and Alison Harik sat down on the podcast Every Day’s a Trainwreck to spill their favourite Thanksgiving hosting tips, potluck hacks, and “let’s-not-burn-the-turkey” reminders.

If you want Thanksgiving hosting tips that keep things warm, fun, and actually manageable, you’re in the right place.

Listen In: Thanksgiving Without the Meltdown

In this episode, Marley and Alison talk about:

Why Thanksgiving is secretly one of the best holidays
How to blend family + friends without losing your mind
The magic of Friendsgiving (and yes, Drinksgiving ?)
Potluck strategy, leftovers, décor, and food safety
Handling spills, awkward comments, and that one relative who always goes there

Queue it up while you’re doing your grocery run, setting the table, or hiding from your to-do list.

Tip 1 – Hosting Doesn’t Mean Doing Everything Yourself

One of the biggest Thanksgiving hosting tips from the episode? Hosting does not mean you cook every dish, set every place, and hand-polish every fork. Hosting means organizing beautifully.

Think potluck: assign a side, salad, or dessert to each person. Dad brings the potatoes, your sister handles pie, your overachiever friend brings “a little something extra.” Everyone gets to contribute, and you’re not face-planted in the mashed potatoes by noon.

Tip 2 – Organize the Chaos

A legendary feast still needs a game plan.

Start a group text as the host and outline what’s needed: turkey, sides, salads, dessert, drinks. Then, if you want to go slightly next-level, keep a simple Google Sheet for yourself with:

Dish
Who’s bringing it
Approximate servings

You don’t need a 47-tab event binder (that’s our lane). You just need enough structure so you don’t end up with five cranberry sauces and zero vegetables.

Tip 3 – Leftovers Like a Pro (Label It & Let It Go)

Leftovers always sneak up on people even seasoned hosts. Marley and Alison talked about treating leftovers like part of the plan, not an afterthought.

Save takeout containers in advance or grab a multipack of simple containers. Have tape and Sharpies ready so guests can label their goodies. As you clear the table, start packing things up and handing people their little “Thanksgiving to-go kit.”

Bonus tip from the episode: put your name and cell on the bottom of any dish you actually want back.

Otherwise? Thank you, next.

Tip 4 – Respect the Bird (Frozen Turkey Is Not Your Friend)

Turkey disasters are basically a Thanksgiving rite of passage… but let’s not.

Marley’s big reminder: check your oven temperature a few days before. Use an oven thermometer to make sure 350°F is actually 350°F. Then, tackle the turkey situation:

Defrost in the fridge, not on the counter
Plan on one day of thawing per 4-5 pounds
Don’t cut the timing close; the turkey always takes longer than you think

Write down “Turkey in” and “Turkey out” times on paper and set timers on your phone with real labels: “Turkey OUT,” “Start green beans,” etc. Simple? Yes. Effective? 100%.

Tip 5 – Décor That Feels Intentional, Not Intense

You don’t need a florist on retainer to have a gorgeous table. Alison talked about easy, elevated décor that still feels like you:

Mason jars or mismatched vases
Leaves, branches, or greenery from the yard
Twine, ribbon, or coffee bean bags wrapped around not-so-cute vases
Pomegranates, walnuts in shells, or seasonal fruit running down the table

You can even create a gratitude tree: branches in a vase with little notes where guests write what they’re thankful for. It looks pretty and gives you a built-in moment of connection.

Tip 6 – Manage the Mood (Spills, Drama, and “Did They Really Just Say That?”)

***Real talk: the hardest part of Thanksgiving isn’t the turkey. It’s the people.

From the episode:

If someone brings up politics or something explosive, deflect with humor and redirect the conversation. “How about those Dodgers?” works.
Have a “designated diplomat” guest who can jump into tense convos and help steer them elsewhere.
Turn disasters into games: “Worst spill of the night wins a prize,” or let kids race to Google the best stain-removal tricks.

Wine on the tablecloth? Salt, quick action, and a sense of humor. Turkey running late? More time for apps and trivia. Thanksgiving isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating an experience people actually enjoy.

Tune In for the Full Thanksgiving Deep Dive

These six Thanksgiving hosting tips are just the highlight reel.

In the full episode, Marley and Alison also jam on:

Friendsgiving and Drinksgiving traditions
Making Thanksgiving feel inclusive when people are going through a lot
Games, gratitude rituals, and easy ways to get everyone involved
Why planning ahead (even a little) saves you from a full-on trainwreck

Pop in your earbuds, pour something festive, and listen to the episode “Turkey, Tinfoil & Takedowns: Thanksgiving the Party Goddess! Way”on Every Day’s a Trainwreck.

Work With Us

Want help planning a Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or holiday sitch that looks effortless and feels RIDICULOUS in the best way?

Let’s start planning something ridiculous.

We handle the details so you can actually enjoy your own party. Ready to crush it? We are.

Stay Connected

Love parties, pop culture, and behind-the-scenes chaos that somehow turns into magic?

Follow The Party Goddess! for event inspo, business real talk, and plenty of “did-that-just-happen” moments from Marley and the team:

Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
LinkedIn
X (formerly Twitter)
TikTok

And of course, don’t forget the podcast: Every Day’s a Trainwreck.
Because if you’re going to host the holiday, you might as well make it memorable – in a good way.

P.S. Want more tips and tricks? Don’t miss our latest blog on Pasadena Weddings: The best garden venues for luxury couples!