fill people up, but if your dinner is a little later than you intended they can nibble (ahem, something else I learned the hard way!). Good luck! Can you make it a pot luck? If not then it's helpful to have a helper who can pitch in - peeling potatoes, making gravy, opening wine, whatever. Also a comprehensive list is important. A chronological timeline from start to finish, so you know what time things need to go in the oven, etc. Think about how you want your table to look and set it up the night before. Simple is fine. Don't overdo the sides. Stick to the basics. Be sure you have plenty of wine! For me, planning any dinner with guests is about having a plan. I like to plan what I'll cook in advance, and in what order I will cook things on the say of. I try to plan things so I can have fun with guest arrive. I like to have starters that people can nibble on. I like to leave a few things that someone who wants to help can do (usually making the salad) and I like to have a main dish or side in the oven, so I'm not standing over the stove while everyone else is having fun. Then if you have a way way to keep other items warm like a crockpot...that helps. Have fun! REALLY IMPORTANT: If you haven't done all the shopping for your Thanksgiving dinner, do it right