OK fellas, the big day is upon us.  Pack your bags and grab those blow-up dolls ‘cause we’re hitting the road Bachelor Party Style.  This time-honored tradition of male-bonding goes back to the early days of the prehistoric caveman.  Archeologists have revealed cave drawings of men enjoying lap dances and inventing fire for stogies dating back 10,000 years.  And how best to get back in touch with our Cro-Magnon roots than to list the Top 5 Tips for Organizing a Kick-Ass Bachelor Party.  Let the fun begin.   

Tip Number 1:

First off, no matter how much you think you know, you DON’T know.  It doesn’t matter what YOUR ideal bachelor party would involve.  We have to look outside the box on this one.  Help me help you.  The first step in organizing a successful bachelor party is simple; just LISTEN.  Listen to the wishes of the groom.  This is the most important tip to remember.  If he wants a low-key no frills clean fun good time, then don’t go out there and organize a trip to Sin City with Ivanna B. Naked for entertainment.  Not a good call.  LISTEN to the groom and script the outing based on his wishes. 

Tip Number 2:

Take control.  Once you have established the general outline from the groom (guest list, location ideas, and level of debauchery) then make sure and push forward with the planning; leaving him out of it.  The last thing you want is the groom planning his own bachelor party.  Show some initiative and take charge.  Start an ongoing email chain with the attendees discussing suggestions and ideas.  Why not select the itinerary democratically?  Have a vote.  More ideas equals greater chance of awesomeness.         

Tip Number 3:

Start planning earlier rather than later.  No one likes to have to tell the groom that the location he wanted for his bachelor party is all booked up.  Don’t be THAT guy.  No matter how much you procrastinate in your life (and I’m sure it’s a lot), be sure and get on top of this one thing.  I cannot stress this enough. 

Tip Number 4:

NEVER accept personal I.O.U.’s from any of the attendees.  Any time alcohol and a bunch of dudes get together there tends to be a lack of common sense.  Estimate the costs (hotel and flight/gas costs are known and alcohol expenditures can be guestimated) beforehand and collect prior to departure date.  If the group agrees they can handle covering all of the costs including the groom’s portion, then that is the best case scenario.  Stay classy and don’t make the groom pay for anything (at least nothing monetarily-speaking).   

Tip Number 5: 

Don’t forget the reason you are having this shindig.  It is the groom’s final hurrah.  Make sure HE is having fun.  No matter what the details of the night entail, the biggest goal for the evening is to make it memorable for him.  To quote the world-renowned artist Bon Jovi, “Let’s Make a Memory.”  This is the last night of your buddy’s bachelor life and you want to give him the biggest sendoff possible.  Translation: don’t simply take him to a movie and call it a night.  Very UNcool dude. 

So there you have it, the top five tips for organizing a bachelor party.  Have a good time and remember take lots of photos.  Those could be worth something down the road.