The Thanksgiving holiday can be a busy and stressful time. If you begin your party planning early you will have a joyous celebration that all will remember.

Starting three weeks in advance may seem like a bit much, but, by starting off three weeks in advance of Thanksgiving you will be able to get a head start on all your preparation and planning. This will make for a much more enjoyable Thanksgiving party.

Three weeks before Thanksgiving:

Begin with your guest list. Will you be serving family or family and friends? Consider inviting people you know or people from church who will be alone on the holiday. My family did this last year at Christmas and we have ended up with two wonderful friends that we might not have otherwise had.

Speak with each of your guests to determine if they have any special requests. We have lactose intolerant family members, so we make two batches of mashed potatoes. You may also have a vegetarian on your list. If you do dont panic, simply ask them what they would like for your Thanksgiving celebration together.

Determine if you will need to rent tables, chairs, glasses, plates, flatware or anything else for Thanksgiving. In some areas of the county the weather is temperate enough that eating outside is an option when you use outdoor space heaters.

Make a Thanksgiving calendar. This will be where you keep track of all the necessities to get accomplished in the weeks before Thanksgiving.