Where Did The Tradition Of Bachelor Parties Come From?

Bachelor Parties

How did the custom of the bachelor party spread around the world?

The "big B" elements of a typical bachelor party include boobs, bad decisions, bacchanalia, booze, and more booze and boobs. There is a rising trend for bachelor parties to also include activities like kayaking, rock climbing, and even skydiving, even though many grooms-to-be still host the more traditional events known as "stag parties."

If money is no object, there are plenty of domestic and international resorts that offer tailored vacation packages for bachelorette parties that include all of the above and more. In fact, even a group of bachelors on a tight budget can host a fun and memorable celebration if they know what they're doing and put in the necessary preparation.

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So, if you want to throw a bachelor party that all your friends will remember for a lifetime, this article on contemporary bachelor parties has you covered. These are skills that modern men need to acquire early in life, as bachelor parties have become a staple of the social calendar.

But stag parties exist whether you like them or not. You will either throw or attend a bachelor party at a certain point in life. And when executed properly, it's fantastic.

To throw a "awesome" party, however, you need to be familiar with the fundamentals of party planning, such as when is the best time to throw a bachelor party, and which kinds of activities and events can be planned, and how much they will cost, and how to create an invitation list and contact your guests.

A brief background on the origins of bachelor parties for men is also included for your information.

Table of Contents

In Brief, the Past

It's his last likelihood as a single man to celebrate with all the people he's known throughout his life: classmates, teachers, coaches, teammates, friends from church and other organisations, and, of course, family.

There may not be another chance to gather the Groom's old gang together before they all settle down with wives, kids, and mortgages. In other words, tonight is not your typical night out at the bar. It's steeped in legend and custom, and it typically involves tricks and heavy drinking at the expense of the groom.

Strippers, shaving off body hair, dressing in fancy outfit with the groom in female attire, tying up naked bodies to lamp posts at night, etc., are all common risqué elements.

There isn't much around to describe the origins of this well-known tradition, but what there is tends to suggest that it was initially known the bachelor supper or stag party. It appears to have ancient roots, like many other marriage customs.

It is believed to have originated in Sparta, Greece, around the fifth century, when military buddies would get together to celebrate the upcoming wedding of one of their own. There, he would pledge his undying loyalty to his fellow soldiers and bid farewell to his carefree bachelor days.

Although many modern-day grooms-to-be still opt for the classic "big Bs" bachelor party, there are plenty of exciting and even educational alternatives that are sure to liven up any male-only celebration.

Observing a Timeless Custom

Rather than focusing on masculinity, an appropriate bachelor party is an opportunity for the groom and his closest friends and family members to celebrate his impending marriage and celebrate the man he will soon become.

As a part of the wedding festivities, the groom will take part in a ceremony to mark the beginning of a new phase of his life. You'll still be close with your wedding guests long after the honeymoon is over, but weddings and other large social gatherings become less common as we age.

The original intention of the bachelor party was a celebratory dinner, despite the fact that many of us today associate bachelor party events with a decent bit of debauchery.

Bachelor parties were first held by the Spartans in the fifth century and consisted of a dinner and toasts in honour of the groom. The '60s and '70s saw the rise of what we now call traditional bachelor parties.

The bachelor party has traditionally been a wild send-off for male friends, but recent years have seen a marked decrease in the level of excess seen at these events, according to experts. This is because people are getting married later in life, after their wilder years of singledom have passed.

Specific Activities and Events 

The best man's basement, the local watering hole, or a fraternal hall might have been the traditional venue for a bachelor party, but those days are long gone. While commercial airlines aren't exactly conducive to bachelor partying, there is a plethora of options for bachelor party events and activities in the United States and neighbouring countries.

You should take your time deciding what will be the most enjoyable for you and your guests.

Activities for a bachelor party can range from something as mild as a steak and lobster dinner at a fancy restaurant or a gambling junket at a few local casinos or a trip to a cigar bar to something as extreme as white-water rafting, skydiving, or driving a real race car.

There are countless ways to incorporate these and other activities into a bachelor party, but many men today opt for less arousing alternatives out of deference to their soon to be bride, a change in what is considered an appropriate bachelor party, and the increased risk of contracting an STD.

However, many charter cruise lines provide lap dance  and pole cruises especially for bachelor parties, and luxurious island resorts offer the full range of soft and "hard" adventures for those looking to have "one last fling" before tying the knot.

There are a plethora of adventure tours with a bachelor party theme that combine "fun" with learning.

If you'd rather stay close to home, you can talk to travel agents in your area who specialise in planning bachelor parties. If you tell them what you want to do, they can tell you what they have planned.

In a similar way, there are a variety of large, well-established international travel companies that specialise for all bachelor parties. They can give you the most up-to-date information about special deals and discounted rates that will help you good the try to plan travel arrangements, which really is particularly important if some of your attendees live outside of area.

Why a stag?

Allusions to stags and bucks are typically associated with masculine characteristics. The alpha male, or symbol of male vitality and strength; the head of the herd; men in their prime.

Stags have another link to male initiation rituals, which may involve excessive drinking and the solicitation of sexual favours from women who are willing to disrobe for a price. Both Celtic and early English mythology feature a horned god who represents masculinity and is known as Cernunnos in Celtic mythology.

While tales of the pre-Christian British definitely involve a big hairy god with antlers who ran alongside the Einheriar, or wild hunt, the details of this legend are often murky.

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The Ultimate Bachelor Party Planning Guide

A perfect bachelor party can't be reduced to a single formula, but there are some factors to think about. The host or hosts of the party should consult with the groom in advance to find out what he will and will not tolerate. If he would rather have a low-key dinner or a round of golf for his party, don't make him do 20 shots at the club.

Because not all of your invited guests will be in the same financial position, you should set aside a sizable amount of money. Take into account this when creating party plans. You wouldn't want to put a close friend in an awkward position that he can't afford, would you?

The movies to the contrary, having the bachelor celebration a night or two before the wedding is a terrible idea.

Bachelor Party Planning

There are many variables to consider when scheduling a bachelor party, but as a general rule, the earlier invitees know about the event, the better. If you know a few people who will be invited, you could ask if they have any conflicts with the date and time by which you're planning the event.

Give everyone at least a month's notice, or more if they're coming from out of town, and try to plan the wedding for a three-day weekend if possible, with at least a week's notice, so that people can rest up before the big day.

A drunken or otherwise energy-draining bachelor party the night before the celebration is not a good idea, as everyone has seen videos of grooms passing out or throwing up on the bride's shoes at the altar on television.

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Bachelor Parties2

Advice for Throwing a Great Bachelor Party

Don't forget that the most important part of a bachelor party is getting everyone back home safely at the end of the night. Plan ahead for a sober driver or taxis if you and your friends intend to imbibe in alcoholic beverages or drugs at the bachelor party.

The expenses of the stag party should be split evenly among the guests, but the groom shouldn't be expected to chip in unless he specifically asks to do so.

In addition, remind your guests to document the occasion with cameras and other video recording devices by having them bring their cell phones.

With the free and convenient Android and iOS app Wedpics, your guests can upload photos from the bachelor party to a central location, where they can be viewed, edited, and collected into a compilation video of memorable scenes that can be documented on a Storage device and easily shared to guests.

Even though a bachelor party is something of a tradition, the raucous, alcohol-fueled "stag party" of yesteryear has long since fallen out of favour. The best man can now choose from any number of elaborate bachelor party themes and decorations available online.

Those with limited resources can still throw a memorable bachelor party by keeping the aforementioned considerations in mind and putting the party's focus squarely on the groom's enjoyment.

Conclusion

Although stag parties have become less common, many men who are about to become grooms still throw parties in honour of their bachelorhood. A group of single men can throw a great party on the cheap if they know what they're doing.

It was the fifth-century Spartans who held the first known bachelor party. The 1960s and 1970s saw the beginning of the era of "traditional" bachelor parties. Plenty of fun and informative alternates exist, which are sure to spice up any guy-only get-together.

Steak and lobster or white water rafting and pole dancing? Both are acceptable options for a bachelor party. In the United States and nearby countries, there are many venues suitable for bachelor parties.

Spend some time thinking about what would be most fun for you and your guests. References to stags and bucks are often seen as symbols of masculinity. In order to know what the groom will and will not enjoy at the party, the host or hosts should talk to the groom ahead of time.

There are a lot of moving parts to think about when planning a bachelor party, but one rule of thumb is to let guests know as far in advance as possible. If you and your friends are going to be imbibing at the bachelor party, arrange for a sober driver or taxis in advance.

Everyone attending the stag party should contribute equally to the bill, but the groom shouldn't be expected to pay anything unless he specifically requests to.

Content Summary

  • So, if you want to throw a bachelor party that all your friends will remember for a lifetime, this article on contemporary bachelor parties has you covered.
  • These are skills that modern men need to acquire early in life, as bachelor parties have become a staple of the social calendar.
  • To throw a "awesome" party, however, you need to be familiar with the fundamentals of party planning, such as when is the best time to throw a bachelor party, and which kinds of activities and events can be planned, and how much they will cost, and how to create an invitation list and contact your guests.
  • There isn't much around to describe the origins of this well-known tradition, but what there is tends to suggest that it was initially known the bachelor supper or stag party.
  • It appears to have ancient roots, like many other marriage customs.
  • It is believed to have originated in Sparta, Greece, around the fifth century, when military buddies would get together to celebrate the upcoming wedding of one of their own.
  • Rather than focusing on masculinity, an appropriate bachelor party is an opportunity for the groom and his closest friends and family members to celebrate his impending marriage and celebrate the man he will soon become.
  • Bachelor parties were first held by the Spartans in the fifth century and consisted of a dinner and toasts in honour of the groom.
  • The bachelor party has traditionally been a wild send-off for male friends, but recent years have seen a marked decrease in the level of excess seen at these events, according to experts.
  • While commercial airlines aren't exactly conducive to bachelor partying, there is a plethora of options for bachelor party events and activities in the United States and neighbouring countries.
  • You should take your time deciding what will be the most enjoyable for you and your guests.
  • There are a plethora of adventure tours with a bachelor party theme that combine "fun" with learning.
  • If you'd rather stay close to home, you can talk to travel agents in your area who specialise in planning bachelor parties.
  • In a similar way, there are a variety of large, well-established international travel companies that specialise for all bachelor parties.
  • Why a stag?
  • Allusions to stags and bucks are typically associated with masculine characteristics.
  • Bachelor Party PlanningThere are many variables to consider when scheduling a bachelor party, but as a general rule, the earlier invitees know about the event, the better.
  • Don't forget that the most important part of a bachelor party is getting everyone back home safely at the end of the night.
  • Plan ahead for a sober driver or taxis if you and your friends intend to imbibe in alcoholic beverages or drugs at the bachelor party.
  • In addition, remind your guests to document the occasion with cameras and other video recording devices by having them bring their cell phones.
  • The best man can now choose from any number of elaborate bachelor party themes and decorations available online.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Is a Bachelor Party? In the most literal sense, the purpose of a bachelor party is to celebrate the groom's impending nuptials and to wave goodbye to his single life. It's a celebration traditionally attended by men only.
A stag party is what Brits call a bachelor party, which is a party thrown in celebration of the man about to get married. A stag night is usually planned by the groom's friend or brother. Similarly, a hen do is a bachelorette party.

The guest list for the bachelor party should be made up of groomsmen and good friends or family members who are invited to the wedding. Generally speaking, the best man will serve as the host, and should handle inviting the rest of the party's guests.

Generally a stag do is an expensive weekend in the UK or abroad. Usually, alcohol features heavily, but not drugs
The best part of a bachelor party is that you are not limited to inviting those who are a part of your wedding. If you agreed on having an intimate wedding and there were just too many friends that didn't make the cut to groomsmen, you can still invite them to the bachelor party.

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