Team KCM’s Ultimate Guide to Thanksgiving Prep

Jazz up your table with this beautiful fall centerpiece, which fits a 4-inch diameter pillar candle and features faux mums, foliage, and pomegranates. Use your everyday go-to candle, a seasonal scent, or invest in a flameless candle you’ll be able to use for years.

If highly decorative tablescapes aren’t really your thing, go with this understated modern-rustic centerpiece instead. You can customize it seasonally by tucking fresh or faux flowers, garlands, and leaves between the metal elements.

Move the party to the patio with a few of City Bonfires’ portable bonfires, which serve as sources of heat, light, and even s’more-roasting stations. They have a three- to five-hour burn time and give all the coziness of a bonfire without the hassle of setup and cleanup.

If you’re a guest, gifting this sleek marble wine chiller is a great way to show your appreciation to the host. And if you’re a host, buying this for yourself will ensure your wine bottles stay cool. Simply pop into the fridge or freezer for 20 minutes, then pop a wine bottle into the chiller to keep your drinks cool.

We all know we should be wearing an apron to protect our clothes, but there’s no denying an apron can really ruin the vibe of an outfit. This beautiful, high-quality choice from renowned apron maker Hedley & Bennett will protect your real clothes without looking lame in pictures. Aside from the looks, it has way more pockets than your average apron, plus a loop for tongs, so you can switch seamlessly from dish to dish without dropping your utensils.

If you’ve been feeling like your go-to tablecloth could use an update, we recommend this richly colored runner that will carry you through all your fall and winter hosting needs. It’s festive without being over the top and will go with tablecloths and linens in a variety of patterns and colors.

When it comes to a seasonal wreath, we can’t help ourselves. This one is nice and full, and the color scheme means you can use it through the fall and winter. 

One part seasonal serveware, one part high-quality cookware, this pumpkin-shaped Dutch oven is as functional as it is beautiful. It can move from oven to stovetop without missing a beat and retains heat so your dishes stay warm until dinnertime. It’s the perfect size for an appetizer on Thanksgiving.

This pan may not be able to fit your turkey for roasting, but it’s good at just about everything else. You can use it to roast vegetables and meats, bake cookies, make a casserole, and it even serves as a griddle on the stovetop. When all is said and done you can even use it as a picturesque serving dish as well. It has a five quart capacity, so you can even fit your thanksgiving sweet potatoes in it. Bonus: The large surface area means there’ll be enough marshmallow topping to satisfy everyone.

If you’re like us, by the time you transfer your gravy from the pot, there’s more on the counter than in your boat. A pot that doubles as a serving dish is practically a dream come true, and Caraway’s Sauce Pan is it. It’s the perfect size for cooking for two (or making gravy for more) and the naturally nonstick ceramic coating makes it both beautiful and easy to clean.

With all these hot dishes hitting the table, you’re going to need some heat protection. Buy a few of these handmade trivets from MINNA, which add a homey touch to your setup and can be used year round. 

Whether you’re looking for a big board to cut your turkey on or something beautiful to hold charcuterie or a veggie platter, the Angled Board from Material is a good bet. It has a groove for catching juices on one side, and the other side is smooth but has an angled edge that makes it easier to scrape chopped vegetables onto a pan or bowl. Plus, it’s made of responsibly sourced wood and looks stunning in nearly every setting.

So you were assigned to bring a dessert but have no clue how to bake? Take stress out of the occasion with something from Bake Me A Wish, which offers nationwide overnight and 2-day delivery on its range of delicious baked goods. Knock it out of the park with the pumpkin cheesecake, which delivers the best of both worlds with classic New York cheesecake flavor, paired with a pumpkin swirl.

When it comes to host gifts, you can’t go wrong with a nice candle. Our recommendation for the season is Freres Branchiaux’s Whiskey Sweet candle, which smells cozy, spicy, and perfect for fall. Stock up on a few for all your cold weather gifting needs.

Between curating your guest list and finding the perfect stuffing recipe, it’s likely you’ve forgotten to consider your glassware. If your favorite set has a few too many glasses missing, it might be time to stock up on new ones. This classic set of six will make your wine — or water — look sublime.

No matter what you’re serving, your appetizers will look extra stunning arranged on one of these glossy ceramic platters. They come in a variety of subtle yet handsome shades, but we love the rosy orange-brown Terracotta color.

OK, so this pick may seem a little elaborate, but hear us out. If you’ve never tried entertaining with a bar cart, just know that having one somehow makes you automatically feel like the most glamorous host with an enviable taste for interior design. We love this farmhouse chic option because it has a built-in wine rack and storage space for stemware.

Here’s a nifty kitchen tool you never knew you needed. This set of two turkey lifters will allow you to easily move your turkey from your roasting pan to your serving platter. This eliminates an inevitable stressor that we often forget about until we’re faced with a hot, greasy, large bird that needs immediate attention.

Buying a gift for a host who loves to cook? This little salt cellar will look adorable perched on their countertop. Somehow both eye-catching and unobtrusive, we love this cellar because its angled opening ensures that no salt will spill.

Leave it to le Creuset to develop a total workhorse of a roasting pan that you can use for baking, roasting, and stovetop cooking. We also love the shape and color of the pan so much that we’d proudly use it as a serving platter, too.

There’s something about a well-chosen cloth napkin that immediately ties a table together. And if you’re going for that “effortless yet totally graceful” look, try this cotton set that mimics the elegantly rumpled look of linen.