Bachelor Party Do's and Don'ts

Whether you’re a best man grasping for ideas or the groom, here are some tips on what and what not to do:

Don’t plan the party for the night before the wedding, or even the same weekend for that matter. Yeah, it will make travel for friends from afar difficult, but tell us how getting a crew of riled-up guys together less than 24 hours before the wedding is a good thing? Never mind the hangovers, think about black eyes or jail time getting thrown in the mix! Trust us, we’ve seen and heard it all.

Don’t antagonize the bride, but don’t bow down to her either. This goes for both the best man and groom. Women tend to freak out more about the bachelor party than any other part of the planning process. But if they had their way, you’d be sitting around watching cartoons and eating milk and cookies. There’s no need to throw the idea of strippers in her face – in fact, the best man can truly be a pal by trying to appease the bride that her groom will be an angel and taken care of – but that does not mean you have to abide by her “rules.” This is the groom’s party and he should have final say over what the events entail. Just make sure that they’re his desires, not the best man’s.

If you’re the best man, have the other guys contribute with a buy-in to help plan and pull off the party. Having it rest on your shoulders exclusively can be stressful or too much to handle, which can result in the actual party suffering.

Send out the invites (email is fine – after all, we’re guys here) at least six to eight weeks out. That will take into account lackeys who don’t respond as well as give enough time for those who have to fly.

Don’t start planning a week before. The only thing this will result in is a slopped together party, which might even make the groom think no one cares enough to give him a proper send off.

Book the entertainment at least two weeks out to ensure that your party gets the most sought after entertainers. Waiting until the week of might mean that "you get what you get"