Christmas Special: A Timeline for Your Christmas Dinner

Creating a Timeline for Your Christmas Dinner Will Make it Easier and Stress-free During This Busy Time of Year

A Timeline for Your Christmas Dinner

Creating a timeline for your Christmas Dinner will make it easier and stress-free during this busy time of year. If your make brunch instead of dinner or have your dinner on Christmas Eve just move adjust the timeline ahead slightly to suit your specific needs.

Late November
Invite all of your guests. Even if they “know” to come each year it’s nice to invite/remind them. You’ll want to do this several weeks out because people plan early for the big day.

If the dinner is a potluck, keep a list of who is bringing what for the feast. (Tip: in the event they can't come at the last minute have a similar dish you can substitute if necessary.)

Determine any specific dietary needs for your guests and plan for this.

Make lists – a grocery list split into nonperishable and perishable items, decorating, house/yard cleaning and food preparation. Create a menu list and timetable for when to do what on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (this will eliminate forgetting to serve the vegetables, etc.)

If you’re serving a fresh turkey or a honey baked ham, order it now.

Take your shopping lists and check the weekly newspapers for specials and note what products are on sale on what store on each list. You can buy the nonperishable items on your regular shopping trips. By mid-December you’ll have most of that shopping completed.

Late November/Early December

Decide what table linens, china, crystal and serving pieces you’ll be using. (Tip: You can also do this when you take out the linens, dishes, etc. for your Thanksgiving Dinner if you’re also hosting that holiday.) Send your table linens out for cleaning or pressing if necessary, or, launder and iron them at home. Buy any necessary items. (Tip – Use plastic cups for cocktails, & Christmas themed paper plates for appetizers & dessert.)

Create any decorations you want to make. Pull out of storage any of your other Christmas decorations and lights. If you’re planning to use a floral centerpiece, order it now and see if they’ll deliver it. (Tip: Try to use your centerpiece and other decorations more than once if you’re hosting other parties.)

Decorate your home and outside. You might also want to put lights outside in your backyard also. I have the little white twinkle lights around the square columns in my patio and I light them whenever I entertain (even indoors) because they look very festive.

Buy your tree and decorate it. You may be a family that prefers to do a day or two before the actual holiday, or, even on Christmas Eve. I do it as soon as I get home from my Thanksgiving Holiday – I LOVE the holidays. It also stays up through “little Christmas,” January 6th.)


Mid December

Finish shopping for all your nonperishable items, including, film, batteries, candles, wine, soda, etc.

Complete your decorations and major house cleaning. Make sure your back and front yards are presentable

Clear your refrigerator out so you’ll have room for the extra groceries.

Create any favors, place cards and similar items. Wrap any gifts you’ll give to your dinner guests.

Order any fancy desserts or anything else you need for your dinner table.

Bake and freeze or store any dishes that can be prepared ahead.


The Week Before Christmas or Early Christmas Week

Purchase your perishable food items, trying to avoid going to the grocery store on Christmas Eve. (Tip – I’ve always found Tuesday and Wednesday early evenings the best time to shop for groceries.)

Verify any dishes your guests are bringing if it's a potluck

Again, bake and freeze or store any dishes that can be prepared ahead.

Dec. 23rd

Clean your produce, bake the pies and cakes and similar items. Actually, these this day is the best for cooking anything that keeps until Christmas Day

Clean your house

Thaw the turkey, if necessary

December 24th

Pick up any last minute items (the fresh turkey, bakery items, Prepare any other dishes that will keep until the next day
Set your table & bar area, buffet, dessert serving areas, etc

Chill the wine, champagne, sparkling cider, etc.
Do any last minute household chores (Tip: check the guest bathrooms to be sure they’re “good to go” and that your guest closet looks nice and has room for your guests coats and jackets.)

Christmas morning
Get the turkey roasting (or BBQ, frying in oil, etc) to fit your day’s timetable

Double check your table setting and add the necessary items

Cut the bread and cover and place on the table (or rolls, etc.)

Prepare your appetizers if you’re serving them

Prepare the remaining dishes you’ll need for the day

Clean up wrapping paper, etc. if you opened gifts at your home

Do any last minute dusting, etc. if necessary

Leave enough time for yourself to get dressed, do your hair & make up


Have a Merry Christmas!