Are you charged with planning bachelorette party for your friend, the bride? Ask her what kind of event she’s looking forward to because you don’t want to embarrass her. At the same time, you do not want a ‘princess event’ when she’s looking forward to a walk on the wild side. In either case, planning the bachelorette party can be a big affair.
The bachelorette party has become a substitute or an addition to the traditional shower. While the shower might feature older relatives and friends, the bachelorette party is for the ‘girls’ a bride hangs out with.
When planning bachelorette party, you should know that some of these events are of the ‘tea and crumpets’ variety. Decorations will include pastel streamers and hearts. The theme will be romantic and gifts may include household items that the bride will need if she is setting up a home for the first time. In many ways, this kind of party is just a shower for the younger set.
Other times, planning the brides party will involve pampering the bride and her wedding party. Perhaps an in home bridal make up demonstration will do the trick. Other times, a trip to the spa for all of the guests makes for the perfect party. In this case, gifts that reflect the luxurious nature of the day ñ soaps, perfumes, etc. ñ are most appropriate.
Some brides, picking up on the more decadent tastes of their male counterparts, will want a sex-themed party. This may involve male strippers either as an at-home event or as a party to Chippendale’s. If it is an at home party, decorations may well be on the risque side. Gifts, as well, can reflect the sexual nature of marriage and exotic lingerie is always welcome.
Other times, the ‘girls’ go out to a bar for a last night out. The bride will be given a checklist of events she must do that evening including kissing a man with the groom’s first name, getting a single guy’s phone number, and more.
Destination bridal showers are becoming popular as well. When planning bachelor party away from home, consider what the bride wants. Is she looking for the ultimate spa experience in Scottsdale, AZ, or is she wanting to party in Vegas?
But, as brides and grooms find that they don’t want ‘one last fling’ as much as they want to celebrate their commitment to each other with both their male and female friends, you may find that planning bachelorette party involves the groom as well.
The so called ‘Stag and Doe’ or ‘Jack and Jill’ parties involve all of the bridal couple’s friends. They are also used as fundraisers for the wedding sometimes.
As far as finances go, you should never expect the bride to foot any of the bill. The guests should chip in for her portion. Considering that the guests must cover their own bill as well as a portion of the brides’ planning bridal party must keep a reasonable budget in mind.
It can be a lot of fun planning a bachelorette party.
Sending Your Friend Off to Marriage
Are you a best man trying to plan a Bachelor’s Party? The tradition of a bachelor’s party goes back to the ancient Spartans when soldiers would get together and toast each other on the eve of a man’s wedding. In more recent times, the event has become wilder and the best man has a lot of planning duties to do.
There are many kinds of bachelor’s party. These events are also known as stag parties or stag nights in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Bull’s Party in South Africa, and Buck’s Night in Australia. So, the events are a world wide phenomena.
Sometimes the groom’s party is a low key affair involving a good Barbeque at someone’s home or a restaurant at a steak restaurant. These are events where men can bond ñ something they don’t do easily.
Usually these events include a lot of drinking and mild ribbing to the groom. The idea that the groom is taking on a “ball and chain”or giving up his freedom is often the subject of the jokes.
But, when you say “bachelor’s party” one word comes immediately to mind ñ strippers! Whether it is inviting a single stripper to a home party or going to a gentlemen’s club, semi-naked women are de rigor for bachelor parties.
Additionally, more bachelor’s parties are taking place as destination events. Las Vegas is the most popular spot for a weekend grooms party because of the casinos and “mainstream” topless revues. There are a number of Las Vegas companies that include drivers, hosts, and admissions to two or more of Las Vegas’s popular strip joints.
Miami, New Orleans, and Chicago are also popular destinations in the United States. Canadian cities are catching on because they have more liberal views of what can happen at a strip club. Montreal is a popular destination for Americans and Canadians alike.
But, a destination can also revolve around active pursuits. Taking your buddy to a golf course he’s always dreamed of playing on, going sports fishing in Cabo San Lucas, or even going to major spectator sports like the Super Bowl can make for a memorable bachelor’s party.
Sometimes a bachelor party is a ‘surprise’ event for the groom. He knows only the date and time. All of the details are left to the best man and the friends. Other times, a groom works with the planner’s to make sure that there are no unwelcome events.
It can also help to get the bride involved to a limited extent. This can help for two reasons. If there are logistical details (such as getting the groom packed for a surprise weekend away) the bride can often help. But, you don’t want your buddy to get in trouble with his wife to be right before the wedding, so her input can save a lot of trouble.
Whatever you do, if there is drinking involved, make sure you arrange transportation for the whole party. Limos are often cheaper than taxis when you have six or more people in the party. Keep in mind that the Spartan’s didn’t have drinking and driving laws when they toasted their friend, but we do. There’s no worse way to end a bachelor’s party than to have the best man ñ or the groom ñ in the drunk tank on the day of the wedding.