How to Plan a Bachelor Party:

What Is a Bachelor Party?

Also known as a buck’s night in Australia or a stag do in Canada, the UK, and Ireland, a bachelor party is a send-off for the groom. It’s a way of marking the milestone of getting married while also celebrating the last days of bachelorhood.

In most English-speaking countries today, bachelor parties are typically a night or weekend where groomsmen, friends, and male family members meet to partake in a chosen fun activity or short trip.

Although you may see many night-before-the-wedding bachelor party scenarios in fiction, in real life, try to hold your event at least a week before the wedding. That allows everyone to enjoy the festivities without feeling rushed or pressured by an early wakeup the next day.

Bachelor Party Activities for a Lifetime of Memories

The idea is to plan a party that’s focused on the groom and his likes and favorite pastimes. That could be anything from a night on the town to a weekend hiking in the wilderness

Bachelor Party Themes: Run It by the Groom and Make It Feasible for Everyone

Of course, it needs to be reasonable for all. Three days of rock climbing in the backcountry may not be the most successful celebration if all the groom’s mates aren’t physically up to that level of sport. However, if the groom is obsessed with it, hitting an indoor climbing wall before a barbecue or dinner out might be a perfect compromise.

When thinking about things to do for a bachelor party, your possibilities are only limited by three factors: time, location, and budget. But even with those restrictions, you can still come up with some wonderful ideas that the groom will love.

It’s best to run your thoughts by the groom first before making any solid plans. That way, you can make sure everyone is on the same page for your bachelor party. You can still maintain some elements of surprise, but any destinations or major themes should be agreed upon in advance.

Speaking of themes, you may want to choose one for your bachelor party. Some suggestions include:

Outdoors or a favorite sport Casino or poker
College memories
Food or beverage tasting City or neighborhood

If your bachelor party is a one-night celebration with a food and beverage theme, for example, you could do a scavenger hunt combined with a brewery tour or wine tasting followed by dinner out.

Heading to New York City for a Big Apple-themed do? You could visit some of the main attractions like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty before attending a Broadway show or enjoying a gourmet meal. Or take in one of the city’s many major sporting events.

Bachelor Party Ideas to Spark Your Imagination

Looking for more ideas for your bachelor party? Maybe one of these will appeal to your group:

Meaningful Souvenirs for Your Bachelor Party

Don’t forget to create lasting memories of your bachelor party for the future. One way to do this is with a KRUU Photo Booth where attendees can snap fun pics all night or all weekend long. You could also opt for small but meaningful gifts with the date and a special message engraved or attached.

Common Bachelor Party Etiquette Questions

Who Pays for the Bachelor Party?

Keep in mind that the bachelor party should be affordable for everyone. If you’re going for a night out or a not-too-expensive weekend, usually the groom doesn’t pay and everyone else covers his expenses. But if you’re jetting to Italy for a week of cycling and vineyard hopping, it shouldn’t be prohibitive for everyone involved, and the groom may pay his own way. Sometimes the groom’s family chips in, especially if dad is joining the party.

Who Gets Invited to a Bachelor Party?

That brings up a common bachelor party question: who should be invited? Usually, the male members of the wedding party attend, along with any other special friends and close male relatives of the groom. Be sure to run the guest list by the groom first before sending out invitations. Anyone invited to the bachelor party should also be invited to the wedding.

Do Invitations Need to Be Formal?

Do you need to send paper invites? No, these days you can use email, private social media messaging, or texting to notify everyone. You could still mail formal invitations, however, if you’d like depending on the nature of the get-together.

Should You and the Invitees Drive Yourselves to the Bachelor Party?

Always avoid drinking and driving. It’s better (and more enjoyable) to invest in a party bus or limo for a night out. If you’re spending the weekend away, use taxis or rideshares to get from spot to spot. As a bonus, you won't have to worry about parking spaces, fees, or tickets. If you're celebrating out of town, you also won't have to mess with directions or maps.

Your Bachelor Party Checklist to Stay Completely

Organized

If you’re wondering how to plan a bachelor party and lay out a calendar beforehand, here’s a checklist you can use to be on top of everything:

• Several months before the date (or longer if you’re traveling), go over the plans with the groom. Discuss times, location, theme, budget, and the guest list. Consider holding the party on a long weekend if people are traveling any distance.
• Once this is done, send out the invitations and confirm attendance.
• As soon as you complete the above, book any travel arrangements and make any necessary reservations or ticket purchases. Book your photo booth if you are including one in your celebration.
• One month to two weeks prior to the event, confirm the above. Put together a more detailed itinerary, and share it with the attendees.
• One week before the party, pick up any gifts or special items needed.
• A day or two before, do any last-minute shopping. Send out reminders to the attendees and get everyone geared up for the fun.

Hosting a bachelor party is your chance to give the groom the experience of a lifetime. Follow the tips above, and you’re sure to have an event that everyone will remember forever.