BACHELOR AND BACHELORETTE PARTIES
Originally the groom's domain, bachelor parties now also have a place in the pantheon of bridal parties. No matter what your gender, these parties are billed as the last night of premarital freedom, the last night you can go out and get nutty without much accountability. It's also a great way to get together with your close friends and family one last time before you marry.
Traditionally the night starts out with a relatively tame dinner. At a bachelor party, it's customary for the groom to toast the woman he is about to marry, in her absence. Each man then smashes his glass lest it be used for a lesser purpose (like drinking) than to honor the bride. Depending on the crowd, postdinner activities might involve more drinking and general, amusing embarrassment of the bride or groom to be.
While the traditional "wild night" bachelor or bachelorette party is still popular, there's also a trend toward more sedate celebrations that focus on bonding with friends rather than heavy drinking and gyrating... uh... gyrators. All-day golf outings for the guys and slumber parties for the women are great ways to bond before the big day.
One word of advice: If drinking is involved, try to schedule the party well in advance of the nuptials. The last thing you want as you walk down the aisle is a hangover.





