Planning a Bachelor Party in Tampa Bay: Planning Tips & Bachelor Party Ideas

Being picked as the best man for a wedding is a great honor, but it also comes with significant responsibility. As the best man, you’ll likely be expected to be the head of all of the bachelor party planning duties. The good thing is you don’t have to do it alone. You can always rely on other groomsmen for help with the planning and costs, while also doing some research on your own.

If the groom doesn’t want some out-of-control bachelor party like the ones in the movies, you’ve come to the right place. There are still plenty of things you can do at the party to give the groom a night he’ll never forget. In this guide, we’ll discuss some of the main features of a properly planned bachelor party, some of the best bachelor party ideas and some general rules you should follow.

Key Factors to Consider While Planning a Bachelor Party

While planning a bachelor party, there are a few areas you should pay special attention to, so everything goes smoothly. Along with choosing activities, it’s important to start planning a bachelor party checklist to ensure you’ve covered all your bases.

As you plan, you’ll want to think about some of the factors that go into planning a bachelor party, including:

• Choosing a day and time: The first step to any successful bachelor party is figuring out when the event is going to take place. During this stage, it’s often best to consult with the groom to make sure he has a free weekend. Additionally, it’s a good idea to talk with the bride to ensure the potential date doesn’t conflict with other wedding festivities. You should also speak with the other groomsmen about times that work for them.
• Picking a location: Along with locking down a date, another primary responsibility will be deciding where to go. Some grooms will simply want to keep it local for a night on the town, while others may prefer a weekend getaway. If it’s local, common locations include entertainment venues, restaurants and bars. If you go out of town, you’ll also need to find lodging and a method of travel.
• Creating a budget: Any responsible best man will have a budget for the party to stick to during the bachelor party. The groom shouldn’t be paying for anything, so any of his potential costs will also need to be included in the budget.
• Sending out the invitations: After you’ve determined the time, location and budget, you can send out the official invitations to the bachelor party. Depending on what the groom wants, other close friends and family members might be invited to the bachelor party, as well.

Ideas for Bachelor Parties

While bachelor parties have long been associated with wild nights, many soon-to-be grooms would prefer to have a more laid back night with their friends. If the groom would prefer a more reserved party, you’ll be happy to know that there are still plenty of fun, memorable activities you can engage in to send the groom off into matrimony right — these could include:

1. Plan a Weekend Getaway

Though bachelor parties that only take up a single night before the wedding are still popular, a new trend has been to turn a bachelor party into a weekend affair. To get the most out of the weekend, best men regularly choose to hold the bachelor party out of town. If you go this route, you’ll want to speak with the groom to get an idea of where they typically like to vacation.

Instead of getting separate hotel rooms on your weekend trip, renting a house can be even more fun. You’ll get the privacy of separate rooms while still getting the communal feel of a house. Popular locations include houses on a beach, beside a lake or up a mountain. Another upside to renting a house is that it provides a safe place to drink at night, while also giving people a central location for food, hanging out and other activities.

2. Go Golfing

Golfing is another popular option for bachelor parties. If the bachelor party is an all-day affair, it can be a great morning or afternoon activity for groups to take part in. You can play a full round or just go with a nine-hole game. The clubhouse can also be a great place to grab a drink or get some food.

3. Sing Karaoke

As one of the newest restaurants to open in downtown St. Petersburg, LALA has a lot to offer to create a memorable bachelor experience. You’re probably familiar with traditional karaoke and singing in front of strangers. Try out LALA’s uniquely themed, private karaoke rooms and jam on stage with your closest friends. LALA St. Pete’s karaoke rooms are equipped with everything you need to maintain your energy levels all night and sing your heart out.

What’s more enjoyable than rocking out to your favorite songs with your closest friends? Doing just that while enjoying tasty foods and craft drinks! This restaurant offers an American Craft menu with hints of French and Mediterranean inspiration. It is also home to two unique bar experiences, The Club and The Rooftop. There, you can order your favorite cocktail or mixed drink and hit the dance floor. If you’re looking for a more laid-back evening spent hanging out with friends and enjoying good drinks, head to LALA’s patio, the perfect setting for lawn games and craft beers.

Whether you want an electric night on stage or a relaxing day lounging with good company, LALA St. Pete offers one of the most exciting entertainment atmospheres to throw an unforgettable bachelor party in the Tampa Bay area.

4. Enjoy Cigars

Splurging on cigars is a classic bachelor party experience. To make it happen, all you have to is go to your local cigar shop and get a batch of cigars for the whole group. Cigars are the classic end to a night out. Sitting outdoors, smoking a cigar with the groom’s closest friends will put everyone in a relaxed state, and foster unforgettable conversations.

To go with a more classy cigar experience, you can look into cigar bars in your area. At these bars, you can smoke your cigars indoors while also drinking your favorite beers or cocktails. Cigar lounges will be staffed with cigar aficionados, who can steer you to the perfect cigar for your tastes.

5. Taste Beer at a Local Brewery

If the groom enjoys a good beer but doesn’t want to go wild at his bachelor party, a brewery is an excellent place to go. Local breweries often have tasing options, where you can try their most unique creations. Any beer lover will have a great time trying brews in the relaxed atmosphere of a brewery. Along with the beer, breweries regularly have mouth-watering food and other fun activities.

At times, a brewery may also offer a tour of their facilities, showing your whole group how the beer is made. Along with learning more about the brewing process, most tours will come with freshly brewed beers and a variety of brews to taste-test. If the groom is a beer nerd, a tour is a must-do option.

6. Try Go-Karting

For a groom who likes to compete, you can get the blood flowing and adrenaline pumping with high-speed go-karting. As you hit the track, the whole group can live out their racing fantasies, competing against each other for bragging rights. A dedicated go-karting facility, like Tampa Bay Grand Prix, located in Clearwater/St. Petersburg, features exciting tracks, high-powered go-karts and a complete racing experience.

Nothing beats passing your friend on the final stretch of a race as you fly to victory. For those who aren’t interested in bragging rights, they’ll be able to compete against their times from previous races. The best go-karting race facilities will also feature indoor tracks that let people race in any weather.

7. Go to a Sporting Event

Taking the groom to watch their favorite team play is one of the most tried and true bachelor party ideas out there. If you have the money, you can make the experience unforgettable by getting front-row seats or renting out a private-box. The front-row experience will get you closer to the game, but the box will provide a more comfortable and luxurious experience.

Even if you don’t have the money to get a box or front-row tickets, the groom is sure to love being taken to a game, no matter the seating. Just remember to get the tickets far in advance, so they don’t sell out.

8. Eat at an Amazing Restaurant

The key to any bachelor party is finding a place to eat. A classic bachelor party experience is taking the groom to a classy steakhouse. If steak isn’t their thing, you can look for another restaurant that provides ambiance and food perfect for the groom’s style.

A fancy dinner can be an excellent place to toast to the groom’s marriage, all while eating delectable food. No matter where you decide to eat, remember to pick up the groom’s tab.

How to Plan a Bachelor Party: Dos and Don’ts

When you’re in charge of throwing a bachelor party, there are a few general tips that are absolutely crucial to know. If you want to give the groom a night that he’ll always love to talk about, you need to make sure you aren’t making some common mistakes. To make sure you plan the perfect bachelor party, consider the following dos and don’ts of bachelor party planning:

Don’t: Have the Bachelor Party the Night Before the Wedding

Though a bachelor party the night before the wedding makes for a good set up for a movie, it’s a bad idea in the real world. For example, you don’t want to be the reason why the groom is late for his wedding or has a hangover during the ceremony. Additionally, if you have the bachelor party the night before the wedding, the groom may be preoccupied or feeling stressed throughout the night instead of fully enjoying the night out.

A solid alternative is to have the bachelor party up to a month before the actual wedding. This way, you won’t have to worry about disrupting the wedding’s festivities, and you can have a stress-free time at the bachelor party, without worrying about having to be somewhere on time the next day. To really make it stress-free, hold the bachelor party on a weekend, so no one has to worry about work the next day.

Do: Know the Groom’s Expectations

If you’re the best man in a wedding, you’ll need to know your responsibilities and the expectations the groom has of you. For example, knowing who to invite to a bachelor party is a central expectation for the best man. Typical responsibilities will also include planning the bachelor party, coordinating with all of the groomsmen and collecting money for the festivities.

While the groom doesn’t need to know everything that’s going to happen at the party, it’s a good idea for the best man to sit down with him and figure out what he wants from a bachelor party. Since you’ve been chosen as the best man, you probably already know what he likes doing, but it’s still smart to talk with the groom about what his dream bachelor party would look like.

Don’t: Over-Invite

Though bachelor parties are exciting events that you may want as many people as possible to attend, over-inviting can end up making the whole thing unmanageable. For example, if you go somewhere for the weekend, you’ll want to make sure the place you’re renting has plenty of space. Not having enough space can make a weekend feel cramped and not as enjoyable for all involved.

Additionally, inviting too many people can make it harder to schedule activities, as you’ll have to coordinate with more people to get tickets, fill out waivers or do a variety of tasks. To save yourself the headache of trying to coordinate with a whole set of people, it’s a good idea to keep the bachelor party contained to the groomsmen and close family members of the groom. Occasionally, an extra close friend or two can be included as well.

Do: Share the Expenses With Other Groomsmen

In most cases, the best man shouldn’t be paying for the entire bachelor party. Instead, the prices should be spread around all the groomsmen. The best man should clearly communicate how much the bachelor party is going to cost the groomsmen, so everyone is on the same page. People will be happier to split the costs when they know where the money is going.

In order to reduce any negative feelings from groomsmen over the costs, it’s a good idea to include the other groomsmen in the planning process. If they’re involved in planning, it’s more likely you’ll find options that everyone can afford.

Come to the Tampa Baby Grand Prix for an Exhilarating Go-Kart Racing Experience

For those planning a bachelor party in the Tampa Bay or Clearwater/St. Petersburg areas, you’ll want to come check out one of our Tampa Bay Grand Prix locations. At Tampa Bay Grand Prix, you and your whole group can take part in adrenaline-filled races around multiple tracks at speeds up to 50 mph. We regularly host bachelor parties, especially ones where the group is looking for something more exciting than the standard bachelor party experience.

If you’re ready to start planning the perfect bachelor party, check out our pricing and contact us soon to get your races scheduled.