How to Plan an Amazing Joint Bachelor/ette Weekend

The joint bachelor(ette) weekend is a tricky thing to manage, but can be an absolute delight when pulled off properly. In planning dozens of bachelorette and bachelor party weekends, here’s what we’ve learned about ensuring your best friend’s co-ed celebration stays firmly in the “do” category:

Clarify expectations with everyone involved. If both bride and groom (or bride/bride, groom/groom) are being celebrated, the main planners need to be very clear about what activities are on the table over the course of the weekend, and which groups will be interested in doing what. Avoid awkward conversations and situations during the weekend by making sure all attendees understand what will — and won’t — be happening well ahead of time.

Create some healthy competition … and mix up the friend groups! Everyone can bond over a (friendly) competition, whether it’s a bridesmaids versus groomsmen scavenger hunt, Olympic-style events (with plastic medals, naturally) or something naturally a little more combative (paintball, anyone?) In creating teams, think about how to shake up friend groups if everyone doesn’t know each other yet. (Side benefit: it’ll make the wedding weekend more fun for everyone too!)

Plan activities that everyone can enjoy … but don’t be afraid to split up. Togetherness is wonderful, and we love those couples who can somehow spend all their time together and be best friends with their partner’s best friends. Still, even with all that domestic bliss, find some time where each group can focus on their main friend — a time for inside jokes and stories that don’t need to be explained to the entire group.

The most important thing to remember about a co-ed bachelor/ette? Like any single gender party, the operational word here is celebration. Focus on the fun and everything else will fall into place.

That’s one thing we can promise.