If you’ve recently been asked to be a groomsman or the best man in a buddy’s wedding, congratulations. Being recognized by a friend in this way is a sign of how much your friendship means to him.
Being in someone’s wedding party is fun, but it also comes with a list of responsibilities. One of your most important jobs is to give your friend the best bachelor party.
That may not seem like a lot of work, but you can’t just throw something together and expect it to work. You want your friend to have a bachelor party that is memorable, which means planning.
The days of stumbling into a dank bar and calling it a night are over. Today’s bachelor parties are more elaborate than ever.
Below are bachelor party ideas and tips to make the weekend great. Read on to learn more.
1. Plan Ahead
In almost all cases, you’re going to be planning a bachelor weekend with guys who live all over the country. Trying to coordinate everyone’s schedule and pick a destination that works can take time, so don’t leave it to the last minute.
As soon as you can, check in with the groom about potential dates that would work for him. Get a list of three or four. Then start the group email or text chain with everyone who will be invited.
You may never be able to find a date that works for everyone, but the sooner you start planning, the better chance you’ll have. Plus, the more time you’ll have to look forward to the celebration.
2. Try a Beach Weekend
When the weather is warm, who doesn’t want a weekend away to enjoy it? The beach is a great bachelor party location because you and your buddies can enjoy the sun, the surf, and the sand while celebrating the man of the hour.
Keep in mind that this is a bachelor party and not a college beach week. Try to steer clear of places that are too touristy or will be over-crowded with vacationing families. The last thing you want is to be battling it out with teenagers for beach space.
If it’s in everyone’s budget, you may even want to consider a beach resort or all-inclusive spot. It’s a little on the pricier side, but the convenience could be well worth it.
3. Hit the Slopes
If the groom is more of a cold-weather guy–or if the best date for the bachelor weekend falls in the winter months–a ski town could make a great bachelor party location. It’s a little more creative than your average bachelor weekend, and the groom will definitely appreciate you keeping his interests in mind.
Between a house to share and equipment rentals, these type of bachelor parties can get expensive, which is why planning ahead is especially crucial. Once you have a weekend secured, start looking for group deals or discounts that could help keep costs down.
You should also be sure to plan some non-ski activities that you can do around town. You don’t want to exclude one of the groom’s friends just because he isn’t comfortable on the slopes.
4. Stay in a Group House
Once you’ve secured a date and a place for a bachelor weekend, the next step is to figure out where everyone is going to stay. If you can, skip the hotel and book a group house through a house-sharing website instead.
If the idea of a group of guys staying in a house together is giving you college flashbacks, don’t worry. This isn’t a recreation of your fraternity days. A group house for a bachelor weekend is about practicality more than debauchery.
To begin with, having everyone in one place makes it easier to coordinate group outings and make sure everyone is on the same page. It also gives you more space for downtime, or getting together to hang out and have a few drinks before hitting the town.
5. Book Recreational Activities
If you’re making the effort to travel to a different city as the bachelor party location, it would be a waste to spend all your time inside.
Bachelor parties are about more than celebrating the end of your friend’s single days. They are about doing the things that you don’t usually get to do together in your regular, scattered lives.
Do some research into local activities that you all could enjoy. Some great ideas for a bachelor party could be a group golf game, renting a boat to take out on a nearby lake, booking an afternoon for the bachelor to test drive a luxury car, or catching a game at the local sports stadium.
6. You Have to Eat
For most of the bachelor weekend, you can probably get by on quick bites here and there, or preparing food in the kitchen of the house you’ve booked. That’s fine, but you should plan for a least one nice, sit-down dinner that you can all enjoy over the course of the weekend.
Cater to the groom’s favorite foods, or do some research into the best local spots. As friends start their own lives in different places, it can be hard to find time to all sit down and enjoy catching up with each other.
A bachelor weekend is a great excuse to carve that time out, and a nice restaurant with great food is the perfect setting.
7. Don’t Forget the Entertainment
If you hear “bachelor parties” and think “strip clubs” you’re not alone. There’s nothing wrong with stopping by a strip club during a night out–provided it’s ok with your friend’s finance–but that’s not your only option for evening entertainment.
Take the time to look up local bars that have a cool vibe, or check to see if there are any concerts in town that the group might like. There’s nothing wrong with thinking outside the box a little.
Ready to Plan a Bachelor Party?
A modern bachelor party isn’t just about the bachelor. It’s about all of the guys in the wedding party coming together to enjoy a great weekend, make memories, and have an excuse to catch up. If you keep that in mind, you’ll pull off a great weekend for everyone.
