Dos and Don’ts for the Ultimate Bachelor Party

Most people associate bachelor and bachelorette parties with heavy drinking, perhaps with some games and costumes thrown in. However, now that holidays abroad have become the new norm, the stakes are infinitely higher, leaving the best man in charge of a seemingly mountainous task.

Planning a bachelor party can be stressful and time-consuming, but with some careful planning and prior knowledge, it can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. Here are some dos and don’ts to help you plan the ultimate celebration for your soon-to-be-married friend.

Do Plan Carefully

Planning a bachelor party is hard work, but if you’ve been honored with the best man title, then it’s up to you to make it memorable. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or how many people you invite; the key ingredient is a positive attitude. If you leave the planning until the last minute and book the first holiday you see, the groom is unlikely to have a great time, and this will only exacerbate the feelings of pressure you find yourself under. If you take your role seriously, however, and put time and effort into planning the event, it will be fun for you and all your friends. Remember: the groom only plans to get married once, so this is a big deal!

Do Respect the Groom’s Boundaries

Every groom has boundaries, whether they’re ones he’s set himself or with his partner. Your job as the best man is to respect those boundaries, not turn a blind eye to them, regardless of the kind of weekend you and the other guests are hoping for. Remember, this is his big weekend, not yours, so you don’t want him to do anything he’s not comfortable with. Perhaps he’ll want a personal stripper, an evening at a topless waitress bar or some entirely innocent entertainment. Whatever he says, listen to him and respect his wishes.

Do Splash Out on Accommodation

You might not think where you stay is that important if you’re going to be spending most of your time outdoors or drinking in bars, but a large group needs space to relax, unwind and recover from the weekend’s activities. The quality of this space will affect the quality of the weekend as a whole, so do your research. Typical accommodation types for bachelor parties include hotels, hostels, and self-catered apartments, but be aware that some refuse to lodge bachelors and bachelorettes, so it’s best to be upfront when you book.

Do Check the Weather

A weekend of outdoor activities is an excellent idea for a bachelor party, but not if it gets rained off. If you’re traveling outside of high season, make sure you have a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t hold out, and always check the forecast before you go. You should also be aware of any other wedding related events happening on the dates you’ve chosen, just in case they clash with other arrangements.

Do Surprise the Groom

With the stress of planning the big day and those pre-wedding jitters, the groom has enough on his plate; so don’t expect him to help you plan his bachelor party. Of course, you’ll want to run the dates and certain arrangements by him, but it’s best to keep the rest a surprise. This is his chance to feel like a king for a day, so think about what he would ideally like to do and arrange it all behind the scenes. Club together with the rest of the party to ensure the groom doesn’t have to pay anything for the stag do, as this is another great gesture, and then it can be considered a real treat.  

Don’t Risk Your Money

Always make sure you book flights, accommodation, and other holiday essentials through secure and reputable websites. To make sure you’re not risking your money, look for the padlock symbol on websites that ask you to enter your credit card details, and only use browsers with "https" in the web address. If you’re nervous about sharing your details online, only use websites with strong credentials (such as Airbnb) and fly with major airlines.

Don’t Blow the Budget

Before your friends can commit to a day or weekend away, they will probably need you to set a budget for flights, accommodation, and other travel costs. Bear in mind that people will have different limitations on what they can pay, so try to find this out beforehand, and this will mean you don’t set your sights too high. Once an amount is set, don’t go over it. Even if you can afford an extra $100 on accommodation, not everyone can so avoid arguments by setting budgets early and sticking to them. Advise members of the stag party how much money they will need to bring with them for food, drinks, and activities.

Don’t Forget the Details

Often, the difference between a successful event and a failed one is in the details, so think ahead and try to cover as many bases as possible during the planning stages. You’ll want to consider transport arrangements, places to eat, accessibility requirements (if someone is in a wheelchair) paperwork (passports, visas, insurance, etc.), bachelor games and activities and dress code. Once you’ve got all these details ironed out, let everyone know in a dedicated chat group on Facebook or WhatsApp: this is a great way to keep in touch about the event.

Don’t Leave It Until the Last Minute

While it is possible to plan a bachelor party at the last minute, it’s not ideal for anyone involved. Don’t forget, the groom has a wedding to plan, so the last thing he’ll want is uncertainty around the arrangements. What’s more, your friends may need to take time off work or sort childcare arrangements, so it’s best to give them a few months notice so no one has to drop out. Planning the event months in advance has many benefits, one of which being that flights and hotels are often cheaper, but at the very least you should give yourself a few weeks to get everything sorted.