Was raised with my parents either hosting everyone in our home or driving to an Auntie or Uncle's house who'd host everyone at their house. When my beloved Auntie Maggie died, my parents started hosting Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve at their house. While it started as relatives only, it grew to include friends and extended family. Christmas Eve would top out around 80-98 and Thanksgiving could see as many as 70. My parents philosophy was the more, the merrier. Thousands of memories were made, tons of new friendships blossomed, and so so so much laughter and love. And excellent food (both parents loved to cook together and my sisters, aunties and cousins would join in if asked). My parents passed in 2015 and 2016. Their house was sold. Those memories are still alive and richly cherished.
We combine holidays with in-laws and over time they now know each other quite well. It makes it easier plus we all bring our assigned item. I usually bring homemade dinner rolls and broccoli casserole. 🇨🇦❤️
The folks who come to my house don’t need to be related by birth to be “family”. So, yes, everyone on both sides of the family is welcome and enjoys themselves well enough to come back next time. For thanksgiving we go to my parents-in-law. I’m a widow and these folks are my late husband’s parents. They welcome my new partner and my sister, just like they welcome me! That said, it’s your home. You get to make the rules and do what’s comfortable for you and yours.
Between my husband and myself, our families are small. So we have less than 20 people for Thanksgiving. So we combine the families. In laws all know each other and we all live within 30 min of each other. But I see your point, with 2 larger families you just cant have everyone all together.
Okay I have an outlier situation BUT. My in laws have never even met my mom and dad. They’ve met my siblings only. My husbands family lives across the US, they speak another language and we didn’t throw a full wedding back when we married. We have a private ceremony with a witness. His family met my siblings because we lived near them for a period of time and my siblings each flew out for a single visit and it happened to be a time when we were driving to my in-laws and they came. Neither of our families have even mentioned not meeting one another, they’re thousands of miles and a language barrier apart. I would never question someone holding two parties lol
If they all come for kids' birthdays they eventually know each other + his family might enjoy a big thanksgiving .. at least once maybe 😂 + 2 big meals in 1 day seems overkill to me .. i d do the 2nd on another day .. commenting coz u asked 🤣
I don't think it's weird to have separate gatherings between your two families. We do this in my family, for holidays and birthday parties. There are certain family members from one family who make family members (from the other side) very uncomfortable. One family is very large, chaotic, noisy, etc., while the other family is very reserved (and judgmental). It works out well, and there is much less stress with this arrangement.
Lol yea that makes no sense. My mom and mother in law have never even met. So no my third and fourth cousins don't know my husband's uncles. Lol so it would make sense to host separate gatherings.
Was raised with my parents either hosting everyone in our home or driving to an Auntie or Uncle's house who'd host everyone at their house. When my beloved Auntie Maggie died, my parents started hosting Thanksgiving & Christmas Eve at their house. While it started as relatives only, it grew to include friends and extended family. Christmas Eve would top out around 80-98 and Thanksgiving could see as many as 70. My parents philosophy was the more, the merrier. Thousands of memories were made, tons of new friendships blossomed, and so so so much laughter and love. And excellent food (both parents loved to cook together and my sisters, aunties and cousins would join in if asked). My parents passed in 2015 and 2016. Their house was sold. Those memories are still alive and richly cherished.
We combine holidays with in-laws and over time they now know each other quite well. It makes it easier plus we all bring our assigned item. I usually bring homemade dinner rolls and broccoli casserole. 🇨🇦❤️
You do you boo! I would combine and have one dinner. They would only be strangers the first year of marriage. But I think you should do what you want.
We combine any and all holidays. We are an inclusive group.
My in-laws and my parents loved hanging out together & they all came to every holiday no matter who was hosting.
The folks who come to my house don’t need to be related by birth to be “family”. So, yes, everyone on both sides of the family is welcome and enjoys themselves well enough to come back next time.
For thanksgiving we go to my parents-in-law. I’m a widow and these folks are my late husband’s parents. They welcome my new partner and my sister, just like they welcome me!
That said, it’s your home. You get to make the rules and do what’s comfortable for you and yours.
Thank you so much for sharing!! Love the tips, too!!
Between my husband and myself, our families are small. So we have less than 20 people for Thanksgiving. So we combine the families. In laws all know each other and we all live within 30 min of each other. But I see your point, with 2 larger families you just cant have everyone all together.
Love this video! I look forward to your videos! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻😘
Wow, the baby is getting so big! He's a cutie❤❤❤
Did you reheat your mashed potatoes in the oven? After seeing this, I think I'll try making mine the day before Christmas.
We combine some holidays but not others! I think it’s completely up to you! No judgment either way!
I'm from the UK, so never heard of dirt pudding. Can you share the recipe please? 🙏 Thanks 😊
I’m going to make honey butter! Thanks for reminding me this! Warming mats are the bomb!
We just started combining but in total it’s like 8-10 ppl.
Okay I have an outlier situation BUT. My in laws have never even met my mom and dad. They’ve met my siblings only. My husbands family lives across the US, they speak another language and we didn’t throw a full wedding back when we married. We have a private ceremony with a witness. His family met my siblings because we lived near them for a period of time and my siblings each flew out for a single visit and it happened to be a time when we were driving to my in-laws and they came. Neither of our families have even mentioned not meeting one another, they’re thousands of miles and a language barrier apart. I would never question someone holding two parties lol
I am in love with the plate stand, but didn't see a link - was it amazon?
If they all come for kids' birthdays they eventually know each other + his family might enjoy a big thanksgiving .. at least once maybe 😂 + 2 big meals in 1 day seems overkill to me .. i d do the 2nd on another day .. commenting coz u asked 🤣
I don't think it's weird to have separate gatherings between your two families. We do this in my family, for holidays and birthday parties. There are certain family members from one family who make family members (from the other side) very uncomfortable. One family is very large, chaotic, noisy, etc., while the other family is very reserved (and judgmental). It works out well, and there is much less stress with this arrangement.
Everybody does it their own way
Lol yea that makes no sense. My mom and mother in law have never even met. So no my third and fourth cousins don't know my husband's uncles. Lol so it would make sense to host separate gatherings.