The wedding date is set, invitations have been sent out and the honeymoon destination has been chosen. It's time to plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties.
Bachelor parties are not a recent idea. They originated in fifth century Sparta, according to www.s-t.com, where soldiers would gather to feast and toast the groom before his wedding and mourn the final days of his life as a single man.
This ancient tradition has seen drastic changes over the years and has become what some might consider a raunchy affair.
John Clifford, a security guard at Joker's Wild strip club in Indianapolis, said strip clubs are definitely a popular bachelor party site. He sees a number of them in Joker's Wild a week and has even attended friends' parties at other clubs.
"We're always ready for that (at Jokers Wild)," Clifford said. "At our particular club, which is unique to Indy, one guy can go in (a private room) for half an hour...."
He also said that guests can actually join the dancers on stage.
While many men choose to have strippers on location, Clifford said Joker's Wild doesn't offer such a service because "you can't trust these girls."
Women tend to opt for more elaborate parties with themes and party favors. Most party supply stores only carry bachelorette party supplies because men tend to plan a simple evening out at the bar or strip club, according to the management at Pricsilla's, which does not cater to bachelors.
John Jackson, Mr. SupeRent manager, has noticed the trend of women putting together decorative events as well.
"I've got napkins and plates and things (but) the bachelor's don't have anything," Jackson said.
Pricsilla's carries some items that are a little more risqu+â-¬ than what Mr. SupeRent and other bachelorette suppliers like the Factory Card Outlet will carry. Some popular items include wedding veils with miniature plastic penises in them and other various male genitalia depicting items, games and decorations that a bride's maid's 3-year-old should not see.
While men are notorious for associating with naked women and lots of alcohol at bachelor parties, companies that provide strippers are noticing that men aren't throwing raunchy parties as often as they once were, according to an article in the St. Petersburg Times.
The article, "Skipping the Raunch," points out that more men are choosing to spend a day doing bride-friendly activities such as golfing, paintballing or fishing with their buddies rather than watching strippers and pornography. Some couples even have a joint party.
No matter what the activity, it's important to remember the party is focused on the bride or groom, and what they want (or don't want) should come first.
Clifford said he feels the party is a no-holds barred event.
"Anything goes," he said.
List:
1. Set a date.
Before planning what to do, it is imperative to decide when to do it. The date should be set early and must agree with bride, groom and bridal parties' schedule. The stereotype is to throw the party the night before the wedding but this probably isn't a good idea, especially if alcohol will be involved. The best man and maid of honor are supposed to make sure the bride and groom get married, not send them down the aisle with a hang over. Once the date is chosen, be sure to remind people of the date every once in a while so someone doesn't inadvertently schedule something else at the same time.
2. Choose the activity.
This is where the fun begins. Don't wait until the week before the party to actually plan it. A well-organized night is the key to having a great time. This is supposed to be the bride or groom's last "hoorah" before marriage so make it memorable. However, run any ideas by the bride or groom to make sure the activity is OK by them. This party is about them and for them, so deciding to do something they don't want to do wouldn't be any fun. If the bride or groom wants to do something simple, such as go out to a bar or club, add an element to flare up the occasion such as wearing costumes. Cost should also be a determining factor. Talk with fellow party members and discuss monetary limits.
3. Invitations.
Because the bachelor or bachelorette party is focused around the bride and groom, ask the bride and groom who they want to invite. Generally the only rule is that all groom's men or bride's maids should be invited to the respective parties. Other close friends and even family members are also good candidates. Sometimes people want to invite members of the opposite sex to the bachelor or bachelorette party. Before deciding to do this, make sure the other half won't be offended if friends of the opposite sex are invited to the party. The final decisions belong to the bride and groom. Bachelor and bachelorette party invitations do not need to be as formal as wedding invitations. There are some fun invites made specifically for such gatherings, so go hunting for some fun ones. Mailing the invitations is a good idea, but it is all right to simply hand them out as well.
4. Money.
In order to throw a party, someone has to pay. While the best man and maid of honor are in charge of planning the event, all groom's men and bride's maids are required to share the cost. The best man and maid of honor are, however, in charge of collecting the money. The bride and groom are exempt from contributing monetarily unless they insist on doing so. How to go about gathering the cash depends on how expensive the affair is. One of the easiest methods is to choose a specific collection date when all money must be handed over.
5. Transportation.
A limousine is the classic ride for bachelor and bachelorette parties. Not only can everyone fit in one vehicle but there is a guaranteed sober driver if alcohol will be involved with the party. Another less pricey idea is to rent a van, but make sure the driver will not be drinking. If no one feels like sharing the cost for rented transportation, a caravan of personal cars works too. A plus to this is that the vehicles can be decorated, but the downside is that more sober drivers will be needed.
With some careful planning and attention to detail, the bachelor or bachelorette party will be a huge success instead of a night of regrets. Remember, the night is all about the bride and groom, so catering to their wants and needs is the key element. This is second of course to making sure the couple still gets married. . . .
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