10 things you’ll need to throw the best Friendsgiving ever

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means spending cherished time with the ones you love.

While your family is important, it’s also a great time of year to get your friends together for a meal. I’m talking about the time honored tradition of Friendsgiving. Complete with friends, food, wine and no relatives commenting about your weight or the election.

Gather your tribe and get ready to feast. Here’s what you’ll need:

(1) Wine and lots of it

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Head to Trader Joe’s and stock up on that Charles Shaw. The biggest disaster at Friendsgiving would be running out of vino. If you don’t want to foot the bill yourself, kindly ask each of your guests to bring a bottle.

(2) Snack foods to fight the hanger

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You don’t want your friends getting hangry before the feast. Set out some mixed nuts, veggies and dip or some cheese and crackers. Nothing says fancy like finger foods.

(3) A variety of decorative gourds

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Not sure how to decorate for Friendsgiving? Just put gourds all over the place. I’m talking pumpkins and squash in all different sizes and colors. Is your table looking bare? Put a gourd on it. Your friends will think you suddenly morphed into Martha Stewart.

(4) Name cards because you’re crafty

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If you want to really take things to the next level, put name cards at each place setting. There’s something about a tiny, personalized card that makes people lose their minds. Add some little pictures of fall leaves or a turkey? Game. Over.

(5) A delicious, perfectly seasoned turkey

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The host should always supply the turkey since it’s the main event (besides the wine). Turkeys are hard to cook though, which is why the only move is to buy a Bojangles’ Seasoned Fried Turkey. They are pre-cooked so all you have to do is heat and serve. Go preorder yours now before they run out.

(6) Strategically coordinated side dishes

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This is where your friends come in. Since you are hosting and supplying the turkey, it’s customary for your guests to bring a side dish or a dessert. To prevent copycat dishes, create a Google doc and have people sign-up with what they are bringing.

(7) Plates and other adult things

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While you’re busy creating the most magical Friendsgiving ever, don’t forget about the necessities. You’ll need plates, napkins, silverware, ice, etc. If you want to keep things festive and laidback, buy some Thanksgiving themed paper plates and napkins. Easy clean-up is a major plus.

(8) Party games (because how adult are you really?)

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Obviously you will need entertainment and drinking games typically provide that. In the spirit of Friendsgiving, have everyone write down three things they feel #blessed for on a notecard (be vague but funny). Keep the cards anonymous and then have each guest choose one at random. Each guest will read out their card and guess who wrote it. If they are right, the owner of the card drinks. If they are wrong, the owner of the card chooses someone to drink.

(9) A killer playlist to keep the party going

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Any good Friendsgiving party needs an awesome playlist. Add your friends’ favorite songs and a couple of crowd pleasers to keep the mood up. Ignition (Remix) or Wagon Wheel usually do the trick.

 (10) Safe rides home for your guests

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Whether it’s an Uber or a designated driver, make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the night. Your guests will fall asleep thinking about what an awesome time they had at your party.

(Note: This content was co-created with Bojangles’)