Organizing a Bachelor Party: All You Need to Know

What is a bachelor party?

A bachelor party is a celebration held in honor of a man’s upcoming marriage. This time-honored tradition is typically attended by the groom’s closest friends, colleagues, and family members—launching a new chapter in life.

Depending on the groom’s preferences, age, and budget, bachelor parties can range from a low-key weekend spent camping to a pedal-to-the-metal weekend spent partying in the VIP in Las Vegas.

No matter where it goes down or what form it takes, the bachelor party should provide lasting memories for all guests in attendance. To achieve this lofty goal, it needs to be planned carefully and thoroughly.

Who organizes a bachelor party?

Asking “Who plans the bachelor party?” is more common than you may think. That’s because there is no well-defined answer that applies to today’s parties.

Traditionally, the best man or close family members are responsible for planning a party for the bachelor. At the same time, it’s also very common for the groom to actively participate in crafting the master plan for the big weekend.

Because the bachelor party has become a rite of passage, where the groom bids his days as a single man farewell and welcomes a new, exciting life of marriage.

Bachelor party guide and checklist

Nail the basics and arrive with assurance that you’ve covered your bases with this comprehensive bachelor party planning checklist and guide for success.

1. Select a date that considers everyone’s availability

The first step in the planning process is to clear the date with not just the groom but also the bride well ahead of time. One failproof approach is to plan the bachelor party for the same weekend that the bride is having her bachelorette party. Secondly, make sure to touch base with the core group of groomsmen and close friends at least three months in advance to gain a consensus on the best weekend everyone is available.

2. Choose the right location/venue for the groom (and your budget)

Whether it’s a local night out, a camping trip, or a weekend in the VIP in Las Vegas, the venue options should be discussed with the best man and groomsmen. Input from the core group of closest friends will give you a clearer picture of budget parameters and help determine the maximum bang for your buck.

3. Determine a realistic budget

A smart approach involves working with the best man and the groomsmen to establish a smart budget that provides everyone with a realistic idea of what the total cost will be. When laying out the budget, you should consider if a higher-end destination or venue could possibly preclude any guests from attending. It’s easy to create a spreadsheet that helps visualize the end-to-end list of costs, including flights, hotel rooms, rental cars, dining, alcohol, etc.

We encourage bachelor party planners to gauge interest—in order to gain an estimate of numbers before finalizing the hotel rooms, transportation, and activities. One approach is to send out preliminary invitations (think “Save The Date”) emails or texts before sending out the official invitations, helping to confirm the date, location, and ultimately, budget.

4. Send out your invitations early

As soon as you’ve confirmed a date and discussed the guest list with the groom, it’s wise to send out the invitations soon after. The more lead time you can provide to potential attendees, the better.

5. Plan at least one physical activity

It’s easy to plan a weekend of leisure and relaxation. It’s what getting away with the guys means for many of us. In addition to pool time, we suggest planning at least one activity to help get the group engaged and the blood flowing again. Especially if you’re inevitably battling the effects of a hangover.

Organizing a bachelor party on a budget

Of all the party organizer’s wide range of duties, coming up with great ideas for an unforgettable bachelor party that won’t break the bank (and executing them on a budget) is one of the most challenging.

When constructing your budget, keep in mind that your wedding is going to be one of the most expensive parties of your life. It’s important to keep that in mind when determining the location and venue for the bachelor party. Because the direct relationship between the two events often means the larger the wedding, the more modest the bachelor party—and vice versa.

On the other hand, you want to ensure that this event is affordable for every guest you’ll be inviting. Because not everyone has the same level of discretionary income for a VIP weekend. You don’t want to see anyone unable to attend due to the financial commitment you are requiring.

In real life (not the one you see on television) bachelor parties are rarely the no-expense-spared blowouts. And that means finding the delicate balance between what is a reasonable budget for the weekend and what will be an unforgettable experience for the groom.

To help keep the budget under control and within reason for all attendees, you can incorporate some of the following activities for one of the nights:

• A fun make-your-own meal with an easy trip to the grocery store
  
  
• Skip the bar or club and make your own drinks
  
  
• Set up a card game and save yourself the inevitable gambling losses at the tables

Pro tips for planning an unforgettable bachelor party

• This is your once-in-a-lifetime single-life send-off weekend. The people you invite should be your closest friends and colleagues. We suggest resisting the temptation to invite your father or future father-in-law.
  
  
• Don’t assume the groom wants to partake in any risky behavior (see Strip Clubs) just because that’s what you believe everyone does. It’s not. We suggest having this discussion with the groom ahead of time to solicit his feelings on the matter.
  
  
• Go big on one dinner. The most important meal is a component of the agenda where the budget should be prioritized. The steak dinner and high-end cocktails at a fine dining establishment will be worth the hit on the budget.
  
  
• Create a bachelor party budget spreadsheet that captures each of the costs for the weekend festivities, regardless of how small the dollar amount. This will enable the organizer and other members of the planning committee be on the same page to stay on top of each line item in real-time.