Every bride has heard wild stories of the bachelor parties in Las Vegas (perhaps feting college friends). And while prior to getting engaged, you may have wanted to hear these stories out of shear curiosity, once your fiancé has proposed to you, the bachelor party is likely something you'd rather not think about.
This article offers some tips on how to deal with a bachelor party, and how to help you express to your fiancé (and more importantly, the best man) your feelings (and possibly some concerns) about how the bachelor party is celebrated.
First, the good news is that there is an evolving trend in bachelor parties - many are moving away from the visiting you-know-where, in favor of more interesting and unique bachelor parties. Think a round of golf, an afternoon of go-carting or a steak dinner. Many guys are uncomfortable with visiting you-know-where, given that they don't visit these clubs on a regular basis. Furthermore, as your fiancé has traveled through life, he'll have gained a variety of different friends, and in a multicultural melting pot, you fiancé is more likely than not going to opt for an inclusive choice for all of his guests. (Your fiancé knows this. If he doesn't, tell him!)
Second, the guys at GroomGroove.com have always advised prospective grooms to set the tone of the bachelor party with the organizer (who is typically the best man) long before the event occurs. We see no issues with you expressing boundaries of good behavior in an email or conversation with the best man and your fiancé. As peer pressure can be very strong at these events, a best man who sets the tone for the bachelor party for all participants can be your best friend. If he can’t be trusted, then there will be other guys with enough backbone to keep the tone under control.
One final note - we advise guys that under no circumstances will the bachelor party take place the night before your wedding. If you're having a Saturday wedding, the closest time the bachelor party should take place is the preceding Thursday.
With a bit of Machiavellian action on your part, good communication between you, your fiancé and the organizer, your fiancé will have a great and enjoyable send-off to married life.
Now, about these new trends in bachelorette parties...
—Michael Arnot, Founder, Groom Groove
Click here to find out what other resposibilies fall to the best man.
