Planning a Bachelor Party

Think you're up to the task of planning a bachelor party? Whether you're a seasoned bachelor party pro or new to bachelor party planning, you can definitely use a few extra tips. After all, between the invitations, location, activities and logistics, there is quite a lot to plan. Luckily, there are plenty of unique, fun, and memorable bachelor party planning ideas to help make planning the bachelor party that much easier.

Here are a few tips for how to throw a successful bachelor party:

• Finalize the guest list. The guest list can make or break a bachelor party. The groom-to-be will expect all of his groomsmen to be there as well as other buddies and close relatives, like cousins. Before you invite everyone and anyone, check with the groom to see if everyone on the list is invited to the wedding. Some guys don't care, but it's generally tabu to invite someone to the bachelor party that is not invited to the wedding. 

• Location, location, location. Pick a fantastic location for the bachelor party. Your location selection will be dependent on several factors including where you're located and willingness of the bachelor party guests to travel. Time of year is also an important factor to consider as it may affect weather, activities available for the party, and off-season travel options. A few popular locations for bachelor parties include Las Vegas, Miami, Atlantic City, and New York City. Activity-based bachelor party options include camping, sports events like spring training, or skiing. It's also important to decide if you want the party to be a destination weekend celebration or a one-night affair.

• Pick a date. Once you have decided on a location, figure out which date works best for everyone’s schedule. Weekends will most likely be your choice – especially if it's a long holiday weekend!

• Send invitations. Once you have picked a date, send your guests free digital invitations 4-6 weeks before the bachelor party. If the party is a destination celebration that takes place over a weekend, send out your invite 6-8 weeks in advance. This will give everyone a chance to block off time in their calendar and take any necessary time off work.

• Make reservations. After you know how many guests will be attending the party, make reservations at all the places you plan to visit and with all of the vendors you anticipate needing for the event. This includes hotel reservations, transportation needs, restaurant reservations, and event tickets. You can even call ahead to bars to let them know you're coming. A few days before the bachelor celebration, call to re-confirm all your reservations to avoid any mishaps.

• Budget expenses. When all of the plans are in place, try to estimate the cost of everything including food, drinks, transportations, accommodations, etc. Collect money from everyone in advance, if possible. This helps avoid any hassle during the party so everyone can relax and focus on celebrating the groom’s last single days.

On the day of the bachelor party, don’t lose sight of the reason everyone is together. Focus on making sure the groom is happy and having fun at all times. This will ensure that the party is memorable for him and everyone else.