Bachelor Party Checklist

Some grooms don't bother with the bachelor party and instead enjoy attending a co-ed wedding shower with their brides. The thing is, bachelor parties aren't really about the groom-to-be...rather, they are about his buddies. Who has more fun at the bachelor party? Usually it's the single guys and the guys who are already married! Ladies, you can stop reading now. Just pass this post onto your fiancé's friends and call it a day.

Now, even though the bachelor party is really for the groom's guy friends, you need to keep the groom's tastes and preferences in mind. The stereotypical bachelor party involves strippers and boozing it up until sunrise, but that isn't every guy's idea of a good time. Forget the old adage that the bachelor party is the groom's last chance to party with the dudes before marriage -- most men still make time for their friends after they get hitched.

First things first...before you can plan a party, you have to figure out what the party will be like.

• Brainstorm
• Pick a theme
• Choose a location (e.g., a house, the go-kart track, a party hall, the woods, etc.)
• Decide on the food
• Think about drinks
• Strippers?
• Limo?
  

Next, give everyone something to do so the poor best man isn't left planning a men-only weekend (if, indeed, you're not going co-ed) all by himself. Here are some common roles that groomsmen and ushers can take on:

• Food Logistician - will organize all the food and refreshments.
• Travel Logistician - will organize accommodations for guests and travel support when necessary.
• Invitations Organizer - will organize and send out invitations.
• Entertainment Organizer - will organize the night's entertainment.

Have an emergency plan in case something doesn't go as planned...because something inevitably will go wrong. It's also a good idea to have a back-up plan in case you reserved pool tables at the gentleman's club and the groom would rather go out for a quite dinner of Ethiopian food. Weather can also be a factor in the cancellation of planned events. Going camping? Bring rain gear? Walking around NYC? Bring a subway map and enough cash for taxis.

Always consider:

• Is the location you have chosen available on the day that you need it?
• Have you reserved and double checked your reservations?
• Who can and cannot make it to the bachelor party?
• Is the amount of food you ordered sufficient?
• Are there any problems or unexpected delays forecasted for the entertainment?

Never try to force a groom to enjoy something he's not usually into. If he's not a steak and cigar guy, don't take him to the local steakhouse for dinner, even if the rest of your group is into that sort of thing. Maybe the groom is into something you think is wacky -- like musicals, the ballet, wine tasting, or bass fishing. Don't knock it! You may find out that his interests aren't so wacky after all!

Finally, have fun, but be safe. Your good pal's bride won't appreciate it if he arrives at the ceremony bruises, bleeding, or hungover.

Click to learn more about groomsmen and grooms