Bachelor parties have quite an interesting history. The tradition supposedly started as far back as Ancient Greece, when Spartans were said to gather together the night before a man was to be wed. The men would toast and drink, telling stories of the man of honor and recounting all his past victories. The custom would persist through the centuries, being referred to by the beginning of the 1900s as a type of “backdoor party,” where illicit and immoral activities took place.
Though the way these parties are celebrated may have changed somewhat over the years, the general idea remains the same. If you’ve been tasked with putting together a bachelor party for a man in your life, be sure to follow these tips and find the easiest path to success.
The Host
The host of the bachelor party is typically the individual who has been appointed the best man. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule. It is also common for the task to fall on other close friends, family members, and coworkers. In recent times, it has become normal for the groom to ask for a bachelor party directly. This takes away any uncertainty surrounding who is in charge of putting the event together. The groom should also provide key details, like when the event should take place and where, but these details might also fall on your shoulders.
The Bachelor Party Plan
Creating a plan for a party of this nature can be tricky. Though movies and television have created the idea that the bachelor party is a raucous and out-of-control affair that takes place in locations like Vegas, this is far from the norm. The average bachelor party is usually held in a local bar or restaurant, with the participants sometimes heading back to someone’s house to continue the celebrations into the wee hours of the morning. While your party doesn’t need to follow this format, it is best to ditch any illusions you have about what a bachelor party should be.
The Man of Honor
While planning a fun event like this, you might find yourself getting caught up in the excitement. No matter how interesting an activity might appear, you still need to check with the groom before you make any big decisions. The groom is the man of honor for this party, and you want to make sure it is catered to his likes and dislikes. If you really want to hire a stripper and the groom has expressly stated he doesn’t want a stripper, you’re going to be making a big mistake if you decide to go ahead and hire one anyway.
This doesn’t mean that there can’t be surprises involved. As long as you are including twists and turns that appeal to the sensibilities of the groom, then you can go ahead and bring as many unexpected elements into the fold as you’d like.
The Bachelor Party Crew
One detail you need to go over with the groom in advance is the guest list. Typically, the members of the wedding party receive invitations to the bachelor party. However, the groom might also want a few additional people included in the festivities. Getting this information early is key, because you might need an exact count in order to secure reservations at a restaurant or book a specific service. Plus, knowing who is on the list can provide you with better insight on who to reach out to for help along the way.
Bachelor parties have always been about a group of men coming together to celebrate a friend’s coming nuptials. Though the traditions might change, putting together an event of this nature is easy when you keep the reason for the occasion at the center of things.
