Don’t blame it on the boys. Remember that your bachelor party is about you, not your guests. So if you and your wife agree to tone down the festivities, bring your best man into the loop before he plans the world’s biggest stripperganza. Even if your guests gripe and moan and call you “whipped,” who cares? You’re the one who gets the girl!
Set the budget. Though your buddies will cover most of the expenses, you’ll still end up tipping drivers, waitresses, and strippers. Get a good idea from your best man of how much cash you’ll need to bring to your bachelor party. Withdraw that much, plus twenty-five percent extra as a contingency, and bring it as cash. Put your credit card in the freezer, and leave home without it. That way, your bride doesn’t see unexpected charges for bottles or Cristal or casino markers.
Write it all down. Too many couples drive straight from the reception to a marriage counselor’s office, with the groom screaming, “You said it would be okay!” Once you and your bride agree to the ground rules for your bachelor party, put it in writing and give each other a copy. If you do something that she later regrets agreeing to, you might still end up in therapy. At least you’ll have the proof that she gave you the green light. Be a good boy and honor what you wrote down, unless you want to see her hightail it out of town with half of your stuff.
