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T-Minus one and a half weeks until Thanksgiving Day and I don’t know about you, but my stomach is already starting to grumble!

I think that the majority of us find ourselves as a guest at someone else’s table year after year which, is why I wanted to put together this little list of Thanksgiving Do’s and Don’ts. Hosting any gathering takes a lot of time, effort and resources, so when the day comes for you to head over to your friends or family member’s house for turkey, it’s a nice time to truly consider what it means to be a good guest.

Here are my top tips for being a tip top guest for Thanksgiving this year.

DO Always, Always Bring Something

Even if your host{ess} insists that everything is taken care of, a host can never have too many bottles of wine or too many candles burning around the house. Flowers are a nice gesture, but it honestly takes the host away from her to-do list to put them in water and eventually they die, so I don’t really see how they contribute towards the big picture. I always vote on bringing an extra bottle of red wine or a candle for the home {which is usually a favorite}.

DON’T Expect Your Dishes Back

If you are looking to kill two turkeys with one stone and are bringing a side dish that the host asked you to make, purchase a new casserole dish that the host can keep. There is nothing worse than a big pile of dishes you have to keep track of {who brought what?} and this way it’s also a nice present for the host to keep. If you aren’t into the idea, then put your side dish in a throw away container, so they don’t have to figure out a way to return it to you after the day.

DO Arrive on Time and Don’t Cancel

There is truly nothing worse than a guest who cancels at the last minute. If you are going to be the jerk who cancels on me the day of, then you can expect to not receive an invitation to the next dinner party. It throws off meal planning, seating arrangements and let’s be honest, it’s just plain rude. Oh, and also be sure to arrive right on time – not early!

DON’T Be On Your Phone During Dinner {Or Have It Out}

It doesn’t matter how Instagrammable your Thanksgiving meal might be, do not take your phone out and be on it! Make sure to have it on silent as well, so it’s not making noise when everyone is saying what they are thankful for.

DO Wait To Eat Until Everyone Has Been Served

…and the host has sat down. The host has worked hard to make sure that the table has been set and an amazing Thanksgiving meal has been prepared for everyone. Don’t be rude and sit down and start eating when everyone else is still being served and the host is still making sure that everyone has what they need/want. Make sure that everyone has their food and the host has sat down and is ready to eat before you touch your meal.

DON’T Forget to Help Clean Up

I don’t care if the host has a complete staff, I can assure you that they will notice if you {at the very least} pick up after yourself. If you are making a trip to the kitchen for a wine refill, pick up a few empty glasses on your way there. Every little bit helps and I promise that it really makes such a difference for the person running the show.

DO say Thank You

After the day it’s always nice to send a hand-written Thank You note or e-mail. At the very least, a sweet text message thanking the host for the event is always appreciated. You can also take photos on the day and send them in a nice note afterwards.

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What are some of your top tips for being a good guest this Thanksgiving? Leave them in the comments below!