Who doesn’t love a bachelor party? It’s a rite of passage for any groom-to-be and marks a significant moment in life for any man as he prepares to get married. That being said, there’s a lot to consider when planning the ultimate bachelor party, so here are five bachelor party essentials ideas for you and your friends.
1. A solid guest list
A solid guest list is probably the most essential thing to consider when planning a bachelor party. It’s a good idea to ensure that you have a wide mix of friends, family, and close friends of the groom, and it might also be prudent to invite the father and/or brother of the bride. You don’t want too many people, or it will be overwhelming, but you also don’t want an overly sparse guest list. It’s a tricky balance.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the people you invite will depend on the kind of activities you have in mind and the other people you want to bring along. If you’re going hard for the whole weekend and plan on drinking a lot of booze, it’s not a good idea to invite somebody who either can’t handle their drink or has a problematic relationship with drinking.
2. A good location
The location of your bachelor party is important because it sets the tone for the entire event and/or weekend. If you’re looking for a big night out on the town, then you’ll want to pick a place that’s close to lots of pubs, bars, and clubs. Scottsdale, Arizona, is now one of the more popular bachelor party destinations. If you’re looking for something more low-key, then maybe opt for a cabin, or even just rent a beach house for the weekend.
It might be tempting to go out on the town all weekend and keep drinking non-stop until Monday morning, but make sure that this is something that the whole group will also find enjoyable. It’s great if you’re having fun, but it can be a mood killer if everybody else is fed up with partying hard and wants to do something else. Check to see where the others want to go as well.
3. Plenty of food and drink
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but remember to make sure that you’ve got enough food and drink for everyone at the bachelor party. It’s always a good idea to have more than you think you’ll need, just in case. You’ll want to overload on carbohydrates if you plan on drinking copious amounts of alcohol over the course of the festivities.
Regarding drinks, you should keep various drinks in stock, as you can never be sure what you’ll be in the mood for when the time arises. Additionally, asking guests to bring their own booze is risky because there’s always someone who doesn’t get the memo and comes with just a bottle or two of beer. You could even ask everyone to put $10 in and buy a variety of beverages with that.
4. Entertainment
Depending on the location and size of your bachelor party, you’ll want to make sure there’s some form of entertainment. This will largely depend on how big you want to go, as a large guest list will probably justify you hiring a space and paying for some in-house entertainment. On the flip side, visiting all the local bars will probably mean your general entertainment spending will be lower.
Another popular idea is to go on a survival course and try to complete it whilst being under the influence. Modeled after the training courses that US Special Forces and British SAS have to undergo, this is a great way to have some fun with your friends and really test yourself as a man. It’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely worth considering.
5. A photographer/videographer
How brave are you feeling? Hiring a videographer is a great way to capture the moment and ensure you remember such a significant night. The downside of this is that there may be some moments that you’d rather not be captured on video! A good alternative is asking a friend to be the designated cameraman and making sure to check any images/videos before publishing them.