Photography: Benjamin Hewitt Photography
Holidays are stressful. If you and your significant other decide to take the plunge and host your families you may feel a little overwhelmed. At first you might have been eager to show off your place but now you’re starting to second guess everything as the date gets closer. You’ve come to realize that designing that perfect tablescape is now the lowest of your worries as you think about the bigger picture. How are you going to be able to create a comfortable atmosphere for your families as well as feed them exactly what they crave?
Ask First
First and foremost, be sure everyone is on board for doing it at your house before even inviting them! Some families tend to stick to a routine and if they typically spend the holiday at someone else’s house they might feel uneasy switching it up. If you do feel eager with taking on the challenge of hosting everyone we recommend reaching out to the previous entertainer first to avoid any offended feelings.
Ask Guests to Bring Dishes
Since your families are now blended, feel free to ask each household to bring their favorite dish! Not only does this alleviate some of the pressure on you making EVERYTHING, but your guests will have the opportunity to try foods prepared differently. This also creates a great excuse to spark up some conversation between the two and share recipes!
Traditions
Traditions can be very emotional for both sides of the family. When households are set in certain ways they may feel insulted if important moments are ignored. We recommend asking each household what custom they would like to see incorporated into the day and try to implement them as best as you can!
Although you might feel exhausted at first, having any kind of excuse to bring your families together can be fun! Don’t forget to avoid sweating about the little things and enjoy your time together as a couple. Remember at the end of the day this is your family and they’re forced to love you anyway ;)