A Guide to Hosting a Joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
The arrival of the bachelorette party gave the traditional bachelor or stag party a run for its money. However, today’s couples are starting a new trend to celebrate their last days of being single: the joint bachelor/bachelorette.
Also known as a coed bach or stag and doe, in this blog, we will offer a guide to hosting a joint party from the pros at our Vaughan banquet hall.
What is a joint bachelor/bachelorette party?
A joint bachelor/bachelorette party is a single celebration for the couple and their entire wedding party in hand with a selection of various guests. Couples are leaning into this new trend for several reasons:
It saves time and money by holding one party.
It provides time for the wedding party members to get to know each other before the big day.
It’s perfect if your wedding party is a group of mutual friends who tend to do everything together.
Some couples view it as a bit more respectful and “civilized” compared to holding individual parties.
It’s a fun bonding experience for couples to go a little wild while feeling safe watching out for each other.
Who is included in a coed bach party?
In a coed bach party, you’re combining whoever would be included on your bachelor and bachelorette guest list. Traditionally, that’s your wedding party plus close friends/family members. Keep in mind that the more people you include, the more expensive it becomes, and the more difficult it is to find inclusive activities everyone will enjoy.
When is the right time to hold the party?
Timing used to be as close as the night before the wedding, but this can only lead to headaches and sick tummies on your wedding day. Today, the bach party has become something planned much further in advance. You should consider setting the date at least two months from the wedding and no more than four to six months out. It’s really up to you.
You also want to avoid busy holiday weekends, which a) means accommodations and activities will be booked quickly and often cost more, and b) more people on your guest list will have other plans.
Plan Your Activities Wisely
One of the biggest challenges is finding activities that both sides of the wedding party will enjoy. According to WeddingWire, the activities that tend to see opposing views include:
Spa experiences: Only 8% of grooms enjoy some sort of spa experience, while 25% of brides include this as an activity.
Sporting events: Only 3% of brides enjoy attending a sporting event, while 12% of grooms incorporate some sort of sports in their celebration. This includes golf, which was not overly popular with either group, but with 8% of grooms clearly preferring it compared to just 1% of brides.
Mani/pedis: Only 3% of grooms are into mani/pedi pampering, while 22% of brides include some sort of nail treatment as part of their activities.
The same survey showed several activities that both brides and grooms enjoy, including:
Dinner and drinks: 55% brides and 47% grooms
Dancing and clubbing: 43% brides and 35% grooms
Bar crawl: 30% brides and 32% grooms
Consider Some Separate Activities
A great way to indulge both the bride and groom’s guests is to consider planning some separate activities. For example, based on the WeddingWire’s survey, while the bridal party enjoys a spa day or mani/pedi, the gents might head out to a pro sports event or a local casino.
Planning Dinner and Drinks
With dinner and drinks topping the activities for both brides and grooms, you want to choose the right place to provide a memorable meal either before or following your activities.
For example, if you’re planning to go dancing, clubbing, or on a bar crawl, you’ll want to plan your dinner before your activities, whereas day activities call for drinks and a lovely dinner afterwards.
Some of your choices can include:
Favourite restaurant: Reservations at the couple’s favourite restaurant are always a safe bet, but they might not provide the privacy you’d like, depending on the establishment. If a private room is available, this is always preferred, or if the restaurant has the right number of guests, it might be willing to close down for a private party.
Whether you shut the place down or book a private room, remember this can be expensive if you don’t create a menu based on your budget. On the other hand, you can always go the separate check route with everyone and then pitch in for the bride and groom. However, this is usually not an option for larger parties.
Vaughan banquet hall: This is ideal for both small and large parties, as you can customize the dinner to suit your needs. You have more control over the budget, ambience, and quality of service as you’re not competing with other guests at the restaurant.
The entire meal, including the chef, servers, and bartender, is reserved for your event, so the level of service and quality of food is superior in every way. You can also choose a formal sit-down multi-course meal, a casual buffet, family-style shared plates for smaller parties, BBQ, or even something fun like various food stations.
Private home: For a more intimate gathering, consider hosting a private home meal. This option can be budget-friendly, especially if you choose to cook the meal yourself. However, preparing the food, setting up, and cleaning up afterwards can be time-consuming and may detract from the enjoyment of your guests. In a party setting where relaxation and enjoyment should be the primary focus, this additional workload may create an undesirable scenario.
Have a Schedule
If you’re planning several activities (especially if there will be separate activities for the bride and groom), you should have a schedule and assign someone to keep things moving. You’ll likely have reservations that dictate the timing for each activity, which must be spaced out appropriately.
You need to provide enough time to enjoy each activity without feeling rushed, and consider how much time it will take to travel from venue to venue. Furthermore, you want this to be an enjoyable experience where everyone can relax and spend quality time together. A well-planned schedule will reduce stress while ensuring everything goes off without a hitch.
Contact the Vaughan Banquet Hall Experts at Château Le Jardin
While the coed bach isn’t for everyone, it does offer the opportunity for your entire group of friends and close family to enjoy time together before the big day.
For more information about the bachelor/bachelorette party services at Château Le Jardin’s Vaughan banquet hall, reach out to our team. You can call us at 1-888-529-8573 or book a consultation online.