Bachelor Party / Pre-Wedding Party
The bachelor party is a tradition with international roots that can be described as a casual and joyful evening held in the run-up to the wedding. A widely recognized feature of the bachelor party is the smashing of ceramics—the shards are said to bring good luck to the future couple. Historically, the act of gathering the shards together—which symbolized the couple’s joint effort to overcome challenges in married life—was also significant. Today, the bachelor party is often simply a casual gathering with friends and family members.
Your bachelor days are coming to an end, so it’s only right to give this chapter of your life a proper send-off. You need to plan an unforgettable bachelor party. How do you make it perfect? We know how! And we’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts for you. This will make your bachelor party simply le-gen-dary!
Do you still have questions about your friend’s bachelor or bachelorette party? We know the most common questions—and the answers to them. Read through all the information on how to throw the perfect bachelor or bachelorette party so you’ll be well-prepared to organize this special evening—after all, your buddy’s bachelor party or your best friend’s bachelorette party should be one-of-a-kind and truly special!
The difference between a Polterabend and a bachelor party lies mainly in their original purpose. The Polterabend is (or, in the past, often was) a communal celebration centered on the bride and groom, during which porcelain is smashed. This was supposed to bring good luck to the future couple. A bachelor or bachelorette party, on the other hand, is a celebration for the bride or groom with their friends, characterized by more personalized and often more boisterous activities. While the Polterabend is intended more as a communal pre-wedding celebration for the bride and groom and their guests, a bachelor or bachelorette party focuses solely on the bride or groom.
At a bachelor or bachelorette party, close friends—and sometimes family members—of the groom or bride are usually invited. It’s customary for the best man or maid of honor to take charge of the planning and invite those who are particularly close to the groom or bride. In our experience, a bachelor or bachelorette party with 10–12 people is ideal; if you invite more guests, you’ll need to coordinate well and plan the activities carefully—then the evening will go smoothly even with a larger group.
A theme is optional, but it can be a lot of fun. Often, the groom’s or bride’s hobbies or funny traits serve as inspiration for a theme. A theme isn’t a must, but it can really liven up the party!
For a bachelor party, a venue that offers enough space for a large number of guests and is tolerant of noise is ideal. Popular choices include restaurants or a favorite local bar. Some prefer to host the party at public bars because it allows for mingling with other guests. Others, however, prefer to keep it among themselves and celebrate in a private venue, such as a barn, a garage, or a clubhouse. Those who prefer something a bit more exclusive might choose to celebrate at a hotel or a casino.
The budget for a typical bachelor party can vary widely, depending on the planned activities and the venue. Simpler celebrations at a bar or restaurant can cost about 50 to 100 euros per person. For more elaborate events, such as weekend trips, special experiences, or themed parties, however, the budget can quickly rise to 100 to 300 euros or more per person. It’s important to discuss the budget with everyone involved in advance to ensure that it’s reasonable and feasible for all participants.
Typically, the bachelor party takes place a few weeks to a few months before the wedding. It is common not to celebrate the end of bachelorhood right before the wedding date, to ensure there is enough time to relax before the big day. However, the exact timing depends on the couple’s individual plans and preferences, as well as the guests’ availability.
Yes, it’s a good idea to send out invitations for the bachelor/bachelorette party. This helps you get an idea of how many guests will be attending. The invitations can be formal or informal—many people choose to send informal invitations via chat messages. It’s important to include all the details, such as the date, time, location, and any special aspects of the evening, in the invitation text.
As a rule, bachelor parties or pre-wedding parties don’t have an official end time; many go on into the early hours of the morning. But no pressure: If a pre-wedding party only lasts until midnight because the program leading up to that point was already so good and varied, and everyone is starting to get tired, that’s no problem at all. Everyone is free to organize, celebrate, and wrap up the pre-wedding party however they like.
A specific dress code for a Polterabend isn’t customary, as this celebration is usually relaxed and informal. Comfort is clearly the top priority when choosing what to wear for the Polterabend. Sometimes, however, the best man, the groom, or the bride decides on a specific theme or motif, which may also be reflected in the choice of clothing. In such cases, this is usually noted in the invitation. Often, the best man or maid of honor arranges for appropriate clothing and accessories.
