Bachelor and bachelorette parties are notorious for bad behavior, and the girls can be just as wild as the boys. If you’re planning one, it’s easy to get carried away with exciting ideas or cliché activities that will embarrass the bride or groom-to-be. But by putting a little thought into the planning, you can avoid some of the pitfalls. Otherwise if you’re the one being planned for, the following guidelines can be easily shared with the party organizers so that you can relax and enjoy your pre-wedding party!
Do Make Sure the Cost of Attending is Affordable
The cost of attending should be an amount that most people can reasonably afford. Remember that no-one expects you to throw a party like the Kardashians. When you start talking about flights and hefty hotel bills people may reconsider whether they can go. A nice gesture can be to cover the bachelor or bachelorette’s expenses, incorporating their costs into those of everyone else’s. Spread among a group this shouldn’t amount to a lot extra.
Do Make Sure the Guest List is Approved by the Bride or Groom
Think about the guest list. Devise it closely with the bachelor or bachelorette, so that you can manage numbers versus what you are planning. You also need to ensure there are no clashes with people who don’t get along, and that everyone who should be invited is invited.
Don’t Throw the Party The Day Before The Wedding
Uh….Don’t arrange the party for the day before the wedding. The bride or groom-to-be will not appreciate being overtired or hung over on their big day. This is not the move The Hangover nor is it Bridesmaids! If family and friends are flying in from far afield, you could arrange to hold the party in the days leading up to the wedding, to ensure everyone is in town at the same time. Or, throwing it long in advance gives the advantage of making it a mini-break in its own right.
Do Choose an Activity That the Bride and Groom Will Enjoy
The party should be about the bride or groom, not all the friends getting together. Make sure you organise at least one, if not more, activities that they will enjoy and everyone can join in on.
Adventurous types might want to do something more athletic like rock-climbing or horse-riding.
Otherwise party games are a great way to get everyone involved. Have a quiz organised to see who knows the bride or groom best. Organise a massage, manicure or pedicure for everyone. Set a list of ‘tasks’ for the bride or groom that they have to complete by the end of the night.
Don’t Fill Up Every Single Second of the Party with Pre-Planned Activities
Guests will need some down time during the party on the evening’s schedule, perhaps between activities or prior to eating. People may be arriving at different times as well, so ensure the itinerary is flexible to accommodate people who might join and leave at different points during the festivities.
Do Be Organized
If you’re the organiser, be the organiser and don’t shirk your responsibilities or forget to do things. Often it’s best to have a team of 2 or 3 people who are the central organisers. You can plan, research and assign the tasks that need doing. This will help to split the responsibility, however make sure everyone does what they say they’re going to do – meeting regularly and corresponding via email will help to keep the momentum going.
Don’t Include Activities That Anyone Will Regret Later
Even though this may be your chance to be super creative, funny, or adventurous, it is best to stay away from any activities that are so wild that they are actually dangerous or activities that are downright stupid. Your bachelor or bachelorette will be prepared to have a laugh, but don’t arrange anything that will put them at risk. You may regret the consequences. Don’t forget, we want to keep the wedding planning peace!
Do Be Prepared, and Then Enjoy The Party!
There’s going to be a lot of planning, organising and administration – this is time consuming – be prepared for this! Keep the lines of communication open with all those involved in planning, as well as sending out the itinerary and costs to all invitees. Make it clear what is happening when, and how much the party is going to cost the guests. And after all that is done, make sure you enjoy the experience and create a bachelor or bachelorette party that the bride or groom will never forget! Also, there are some too-cool wearable items that are great gifts for the bachelorette and bachelor parties – be creative and have a blast!