TIPS
Remember to factor holidays and popular vacation weekends into your planning for both convenience and cost-cutting.Ideally, bachelor parties in big cities shouldn’t exceed 10 or so people. More than that might mean having to awkwardly split up tables at bars and other destinations. If there’s concern that going big might mean some invited can’t attend due to the time or cost commitment, set up a supplementary one-night event in your city to make sure everyone feels included.
When Bett Adams was planning his bachelor party, he had no doubt in his mind that he did not want to go to Vegas.
Though strip clubs and gambling have become synonymous with the quintessential so-called boys' weekend, it just didn't seem to be in tune with his personality.
"I guess I'm just not a rowdy, Vegas kind of guy, unfortunately," he says with a laugh. " But I think my friends know me well enough to expect that."
Instead, Adams and his band of bachelors spent a long weekend in a cabin along the Gauley River in West Virginia, where people were able to come and go - and kayak or not - as they pleased.
"I paddle whitewater a lot. I love kayaking and that's my thing, but a lot of my friends who attended the bachelor party are not necessarily into that," Adams says. " But of the handful of guys who didn't kayak, I think they still had a good time."
The key to blending the seasoned kayakers with the novices and the uninterested, he says, was the commercial nature of the Gauley. The area offers guides for beginners as well as other activities for those who don't want to, literally, get their feet wet.
"Do it, absolutely. Why not?" he says to other grooms-to-be who may want something a little different for their "last hurrah." " You don't have to do the thing that everyone else does."
Do away with 'traditional' and consider one of these bachelor party options:
Get out:
Whether you and your group want to plan your own outing like Adams and his crew or are looking for something with more structure, a cabin-based activity to explore the outdoors can be a great option to appease the masses. And, groups like Wilderness Collective offer pre-planned, all-inclusive activities for the adventurous at heart.
Follow the music:
Festivals like Bonnaroo in summer's heat may not be ideal for every groomsman or bachelor, but other well-loved music extravaganzas like Austin City Limits or South By Southwest can be a great way to experience the Live Music Capital. Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama, combines the best of both worlds: a week at the beach and amazing live music.
Learn something:
Bear with us; we promise we don't mean learning in a traditional sense. Have you ever wanted to learn how to be a sharpshooter? Because GPS Defense in Scottsdale, Arizona, will teach you the basics during a weekend-long course. Or, what if every bachelor had the opportunity to get his motorcycle license? Nearly every state has a Motorcycle Rider Education Program (Tennessee's is in Nashville) that could be a perfect focal activity for a memorable weekend experience.
Get your game on:
Maybe the groom's a huge basketball fan who's always dreamed of being there for a game in the NBA finals. Or maybe Superbowl Sunday or the Daytona 500 are more up his ally. An easy way to plan a destination weekend could be to center it around one unforgettable sports event.
Get out of the country:
While a European adventure might not be within the reach of every groomsman or groom, a trip down to Mexico or up to Canada can be just as cost-effective (sometimes more) than hitting a big city stateside. Utilizing websites like skyscanner.com or airefarewatchdog.com, you can monitor cheap flight options for several cities where you can celebrate bachelordom in style.