Bachelor Parties: 10 Surefire Ideas

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There's nothing tough about planning a good bachelor party. It just takes a little organization (draw up a guest list, schedule a night), a bit of luck (hope everyone can make it, stay out of jail), and one really excellent idea. Here are 10 that can't miss.

Show Him the Money
Vegas:  If you can swing it, nothing beats a quick trip to Sin City: neon lights, slot machines, all the prime rib and shrimp cocktails you can inhale. The best bet for a successful Las Vegas soiree is to move in and out like the wind. Book a late-night flight (flights to Vegas from anywhere are usually cheap) and a large suite at a semi-decent hotel. Carouse through the night, crash in the morning, and then rise for a fancy dinner and quick round of 21 -- one late-night flight back home later, you've got memories guaranteed to last.
Atlantic City:  Same concept as the Las Vegas expedition, but more convenient for East Coast types.


Eat Meat
Take a trip to the most decadent steakhouse in town, and eat like kings. Order a bottle (or ten) of the best red wine in the house.

Buy the Boat
Or just rent it for a night. Look into chartering a yacht for an evening for the groom and his guys. Bring a few bottles of first-rate champagne and celebrate on style in the high seas.

Studs
If the groom and groomsmen can't swing the trip to Vegas, bring Sin City to them: Host a poker night extraordinaire. Stock the bar, order gourmet pizza, and pitch in the kitty for the groom.

Beach Bums
Water, sand, beach volleyball, and a little harmless bikini watching. Need we say more? Top it off with bonfire and brews, and you’re set for some California dreamin’.

Puff Daddy
Take Mr. Last-Night-of-Being-a-Bachelor out for some primo cigars. Head toward your favorite cigar bar and puff away, while quaffing single-malt Scotch.

Swingers
Sometimes, nothing beats a classic. We're talking golf here. Eighteen holes of sun, fun, and an extra cart for the keg of beer. If you can rally the troops, go for a three-round weekend retreat. We suggest Palm Springs, California, home of PGA West, Desert Dunes, and Bob Hope. Swing by morning, swim by afternoon, barbecue by night.

You're Tripping
Road tripping, we mean. Grabbing a few good buddies and setting off for destinations unknown is a huge part of the appeal of a road trip. Drive as far as one tank of gas will get you. In the immortal words of Jonathan Richman: “I got my jeans and things and I am ready to go.”

The Ponies
Ascot it isn't, but horse racing can be a load of fun. Just imagine: a pack of two-year-olds thundering down the track, the roar of the crowd, and the lure of the daily double. Buy a racing form, order a mint julep, and ask the advice of some of the old-timers hanging around the track.

Rave On
Ever dream of hosting a wild, all-night party at an exclusive dance club? Get in touch with the management of the hottest nightclub in town and ask about renting one of their VIP rooms for the evening. This could get expensive, especially if you have an open bar, so make sure all the party-goers are prepared to open their wallets (and maybe even their 401(k) accounts)!

Bachelor Parties: How to Deal With His Bachelor Party

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Don't worry -- you're hardly the first bride to feel uncomfortable about the bachelor party. Though out-of-control antics on movies and TV make it look like total debauchery is headed your future husband's way, the real-life version will likely be a bit more mundane. If it's making you uncomfortable, read on for some honest info and advice.

Let Him Have It
We don't mean unleash your inner bridezilla. If he wants to have a bachelor party, let him. It's an important guy ritual to blow off steam prewedding(debut dress 2012) and for him to reassure his pals that he's still "one of the guys" even though he's making a commitment to marriage. This is a good thing: After all, you're planning on keeping your circle of friends tight postwedding, so he should have his crew too.

The Unexpected Is a Possibility
Bachelor parties aren't exactly what they used to be. Rather than the stereotypical evening of strippers and stogies, many men today are opting for other types of parties. Taking a weekend trip with the guys -- think outdoorsy activities like white-water rafting and fly-fishing -- is a popular option. Even those who stay closer to home might go with an unconventional activity that's fun and out of the ordinary, like suiting up for some paintball or touring a local brewery.

Communicate Your Limits
Be open about your feelings. This doesn't mean nag him endlessly; it means tell him what makes you uncomfortable. Saying, "Thinking about you hiring a stripper makes me feel unhappy" is very different than saying, "You'll hire a stripper over my dead body." Remember, this is your fiance here -- he wants you to be happy. Letting him know your threshold for wild-and-craziness is totally acceptable, and he should appreciate that you were willing to tell him. It can also potentially open up an important dialogue about your relationship: You need to know that you can trust him, and he you.

Remember Your Own
Don't forget -- you get to do this too. If your bachelorette party is going to be a spa day, that's one thing, but if you're hitting the town looking fabulous with your girlfriends, that's totally another. When you're talking about the bachelor party, be sure to talk about the bachelorette party as well: It's only fair that the two of you play by the same rules. Setting a mutual limit also makes the whole process feel less like each partner constraining the other and more about setting boundaries within your relationship.

On the Big Night
Do not, we repeat, do not sit at home watching the clock and wondering what he's doing. Make plans of your own, get out of the house, and go have a good time! Even if you aren't up for going out to a club, surely you can muster the energy to go to the movies with a friend or two. The scenarios you come up with in your head are most likely a thousand times more lurid than anything that's actually going on -- and if you've followed our advice so far, you should be able to feel okay about things anyway. Remember, there might be a lot of girls out there, but you are the one he wants to marry.