Honor the Groom, Host a Historic Bachelor Party

Ian’s Bachelor Party – Photo Courtesy: Andy

It is easy to get lost within the rigamarole of planning such an event-filled celebration for a friend or loved one. As you begin planning, it becomes easy to forget that the party is for them. I mention this because even though the bachelor party is thrown in honor of the groom, every man there is looking forward to a night out. As a result, the men invited often influence the one planning to sign-up for activities and visit places they wish to go. As the event planner, it is your duty to stay on top of this and decide on what the event will entail. If you find yourself having trouble with the planning process, follow this guide. It will help you formulate and stick to your goals.

Bachelor Party Planning Guide

Honor the Groom, Host a Historic Bachelor Party 2 — Bachelor party in Lillsjödal, Sweden – Photo Courtesy: Olof Werngren

1. Set Goals

Prior to planning anything, start by talking to the groom. That is, unless you already know and are 100% positive regarding what the future groom wants for his bachelor party. For example, does he want something small and nearby at a local bar or is he wanting to go all out with a destination weekend trip for the men? With that said, you need to figure out what the main goal is and whether it involves planning something small or an over-the-top, event filled weekend.

2. Nail Down Details

Although many people believe the bachelor party details should be a surprise, this isn’t always the case. I mean, if this is a celebratory event signifying the end of those crazy nights out with the boys, you better make sure it is something the groom desires. You should also remember to tread lightly here. You do not want to go too overboard because the man is getting married, so you do not want him going too wild. The idea is to have fun but also, stay out of trouble. I mean, you shouldn’t have to police the poor man but definitely, keep an eye out for him. That is definitely part of your duty as the best man.

Number of Guests

So, back to the details. Make sure to speak to the groom and decide on the number of guests they wish to have. Also check to see if there are any specific people that must be invited and if uncomfortable with handling this yourself, simply ask the groom to draft a list for you.

Date of Party

The proper timing for all of this, is to nail down a date at least three months in advance so that guests can plan accordingly. This also leaves time to change the date if too many people are unable to attend. The date of the actual bachelor party should be about two to five weeks prior to the date of the actual wedding. Remember, you don’t want the two events conflicting so space between them is definitely needed.

Select the Location and Draft an Itinerary

Honor the Groom, Host a Historic Bachelor Party 3 — Jamie Gulick’s Bachelor Party with Paintball & stuff in Arlington, Virginia, USA – Photo Courtesy: Philip Larson

As mentioned earlier, decide on what the groom wants whether it be a small gathering or an event filled weekend getaway. If the choice is an entire weekend, will it be close to his home or will it be a destination weekend in a place such as Las Vegas, NYC, Boston or Atlantic City NJ? If it occurs over the course of a weekend, draft up a tentative schedule of activities and venues you will visiting so that your guests know what to expect in terms of money they will need, dress code for the events, etc. For example, will you be golfing by day and gambling by night or will you be attending sporting events or going to a show?

3. Send Invites

With all of the communicative resources available today with social media sites, there are no excuses for not sending invites. If you are into this type of thing, feel free to send formal invites but if you prefer, send electronic invites through email or social media sites. Regardless of what method you decide on for inviting guests, be sure to request an RSVP by a specific date so that you can plan accordingly.

4. Budget

Be sure to budget accordingly and be open with your guests if they are responsible for any of the costs. For example, if you are planning a bachelors weekend and your guests are responsible for paying their hotel costs, be sure to include the room rate within the invite so they are aware that they will cover their own expenses.

Event planning advice was written by professional author Sarah Smith on behalf of Atlantic City Golf Vacations LLC.