Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Since Adam and I are newlyweds, we know that large family holidays like Thanksgiving can take a bit of maneuvering to keep both sets of relatives happy. Here are some solutions we have found over the last few years of dating to common holiday conundrums.

1. If both families live fairly close to each other, you can probably convince your in-laws to invite a few specific members of your family to their Thanksgiving without it causing any trouble, such as your parents. Since Thanksgiving in my husband’s family is often done potluck style, the addition of a few extra people does not cause any extra work for the host, and there is often so much extra food that a few extra mouths are a welcome alternative to leftovers.
2. If you are overwhelmed with Thanksgiving preparations, a potluck Thanksgiving will take away much of the stress. While you will still have to make the turkey and find someplace for people to sit, you can assign each of your guests a side dish or dessert. This will also bring more variety to your meal.
3. Make sure that everyone’s dietary issues are covered in the meal. While you don’t have to (and probably shouldn’t) make every dish compatible with Aunt June’s diet-of-the-month, she should have at least a few options to put on her plate. For members of the family with medical conditions and food allergies, a little bit of consideration and labeling can literally be a lifesaver. Before the festivities begin, make sure that everyone has at least a few favorites they can choose from, and that everyone knows which foods contain what.

Happy Holidays, and Good Luck!