Dear The Bridal Guru,
My new husband and I are about to celebrate our first Thanksgiving together as husband and wife. Naturally, both our families want us to eat with them. That’s a lot of food for one day and too many calories for my little body.
What’s a Newlywed to Do?
Dear Newlywed,
I have to chuckle because when my husband and I first married, we attempted that very thing. We wanted to please both families and eat at the tables of both families. Of course, we thought how kind they were to re-arrange their schedules so we would eat Thanksgiving dinner at noon with my family and Thanksgiving dinner at 6 with my husband’s family. And we did just that. However, we left the second dinner so sick. Our bellies were overflowing. We did not want to hurt anyone’s feelings so we took a bite of everything from everyone. What did we learn and what did we do for future Thanksgiving holidays?
We learned we could not eat two Thanksgiving dinners in the same day. The same holds true for Christmas and Easter. So, we decided to alternate. One year at my family’s home for Thanksgiving and the next year at his family’s home for Thanksgiving. We even did this with Christmas. Of course, if we were at my family’s home for Thanksgiving, then, we were at his family’s home for Christmas and vice versa.
Another idea is to have both families to your home. You may not want to do host Thanksgiving this year, but it’s a great way for both your families to be with you together and to get to know each other even better. My husband and I with our two families found we did not have always play host. His family would ask my family to their homes and my family would include his family in their homes. It made for a huge celebration with lots of yummy food and good time by all.
Of course, once you have children and Santa Clause, then the game changes again. But, for now, alternate homes and only eat Thanksgiving dinner once that day. Your families should and will be understanding. Remember, they were newlyweds once themselves with two families to please.
Finally, I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving with their families and friends.
The Bridal Guru
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