As the Best Man it is traditionally your responsibility to plan the groom’s Bachelor Party. If the thought of planning the Bachelor Party has you stressed out, relax we got you covered! Here is our Step by Step Guide to planning a fun and memorable Bachelor Party on any budget.
Step 1: Get the Groom's Input
The first thing you need to do before any party planning happens - is talk to the groom. Get a feel for what expectations he has for his bachelor party and plan accordingly.
Does he want a weekend getaway or a one night bash?
What types of activities does he want?
Will women be invited to the party?
Guest list: who does he want to be there?
While you can keep the specifics a surprise for the groom, asking these questions can help you plan a bachelor party that is everything your buddy hoped for and ensure it's a celebration to remember.
Step 2: Create the Guest List
After talking with the groom, your next step is going to be the guest list. Try not to go overboard as a large guest count can make planning more complicated - especially if there is travel involved. Be sure to invite the groom’s closest friends and check if he would like to include family members like the groom’s father or his future father in law. PRO TIP: If you want to include the groom’s father or future father in law, a great option is to invite them to dinner or drinks before the night-time activities begin. This way they can still be included but you can avoid any awkward moments that might arise later in the night.
Step 3: Set a Budget
Be sure to set a budget for the bachelor party and stick to it. Take into consideration the finances of all the guests you are inviting, as you don’t want to make the party too expensive and cause some guests to decline the invite because of the cost. When it comes to collecting money from the guests, we recommend calculating all anticipated costs for the night/weekend and have everyone pay ahead of time for the big group expenses. This allows you to have money to buy anything you need ahead of time like tickets, hotel rooms etc. PRO TIP: If you still have smaller expenses, i.e., Ubers, meals, drinks etc - we recommend the app Splitwise. It easily allows you to keep track of who pays for what throughout the weekend and who owes who - without you needing to do any of the math! At the end of the weekend it reconciles it all for you.
Step 4: Plan it Out
Now that you have your budget you can decide when and where you want to host the party. When choosing a location, remember to keep in mind your budget and choose a location that fits. Once you have your location be sure to book accommodations (flights, hotel rooms, transportation etc.) ahead of time. Once you have the date and location, the next thing you want to do is plan out the activities for the night/weekend. It’s always better to book as much as you can ahead of time - especially activities for large groups. Scout out bars and restaurants you may want to go to and find some fun activities you can do together. The more you plan ahead, the less you will have to worry about when the party comes! PRO TIP: Despite what the movies may show, it is NEVER a good idea to throw the Bachelor Party the night before the wedding. There is too much that could go wrong, and you don’t want the groom and his groomsmen to be tired and groggy on the big day. ANOTHER PRO TIP: When planning Bachelor Party activities respect the wishes of the groom. If he says he doesn’t want women at the party, then listen to him. After all it is his weekend and you do not want to make him or his future spouse uncomfortable. EVEN ANOTHER PRO TIP: Need an extra hand? Contact us and we'd love to help you put together an epic celebration.
Step 5: Send a Save the Date
Once you have picked a date and location be sure to send a Save the Date out to the guests to make sure there won’t be any scheduling conflicts. The Save the Date should be sent out at least 2-3 months ahead of the date especially when there is travel involved. As the date gets closer its always a good idea to send out an email with an itinerary for the night/weekend so the guests know what to pack and how much money they can expect to spend based on the activities.
Step 6: Have Fun!
You have finished all your planning and the bachelor party is here so don’t forget to have fun! This party should celebrate the groom and this important moment in his life, but as the best man (or whoever has taken the responsibility of planning) make sure it doesn’t get out of control. Bachelor parties have a bad rep, but there are plenty of ways to have a great time without the groom doing something he may regret.
