Who Pays For The Bachelor Party? (And Other FAQs For The Occasion) (2024)

Who pays for the bachelor party? A bachelor party is a celebration held for a soon-to-be groom before his wedding, centering around a night (or even a weekend) of revelry with close friends. Bachelor parties often involve activities like drinking, partying, and even traveling to exciting destinations—all to give the groom a memorable, fun, and sometimes mischievous send-off into married life.

Those of you who are reading this and currently in the planning stages of a bachelor party may be wondering who’s expected to foot the bill for this big event. We’ll answer the question “Who pays for the bachelor party?” as well as several more important FAQs to help you understand the etiquette surrounding bachelor parties and other related wedding traditions.

Who pays for the bachelor party?

Let’s begin by clarifying who doesn’t typically pay for the bachelor party: the groom, the bride, or the parents of the couple getting married (who may already be paying for the wedding).

Traditionally, the groom’s best man and groomsmen are responsible for covering all the expenses involved in the bachelor party. Often, they’ll split the costs evenly, dividing the groom’s share of expenses among themselves to ensure he doesn’t have to spend anything on his own celebration. Expenses often include accommodations/lodging, travel, food and drink, entertainment, and more. 

There are certain situations where the groom might pay some bachelor party expenses. For instance, if it’s a destination bachelor party with particularly high travel expenses, the groom might pay for the costs of travel and lodging.

Does the groom-to-be love wine? Then check out our guide on how to host a wine-tasting party to ensure his big night is everything he wants it to be!

Where should you throw a bachelor party?

Where is the ideal venue for a bachelor party? That’s a question with many answers, depending on your preferences! If you’re the designated party planner, ensure that wherever you pick aligns with your budget, caters to the future groom’s preferences, and has ample space for all the guests you’re inviting.

Let’s say you’re leaning toward a destination bachelor party weekend. In that case, you may want to consider renting a house or apartment for the weekend. Although hotels can also work, a house rental tends to be more cost-effective, in addition to being more conducive to socializing and bonding among those on the trip. On the other hand, if it’s just a single evening affair, renting out a party venue like those found on Peerspace—the largest online marketplace for event venue rentals—could be just the ticket!

Of course, you could always use a friend’s place, but there are plenty of situations in which renting a dedicated venue for the bachelor party is the better choice. In such cases, explore the bachelor party options near you on Peerspace. You’ll find thousands of bachelor party venues in cities across the United States, the UK, Australia, Europe, Canada, and beyond.

Peerspace venues perfect for hosting an epic bachelor party

Here are a few examples of amazing bachelor party venues you can rent by the hour via Peerspace: 

A unique uptown speakeasy party venue in Minneapolis, MN

This unique uptown speakeasy party venue in Minneapolis, Minnesota is a chic, private space with a plethora of amazing activities. Included free with this $150-per-hour venue: a high-end pro sports simulator, a 13-foot-wide theater screen, a 14-foot-high rock climbing wall, an arcade pro basketball machine, a four-player multi-cade arcade machine with more than 5000 classic video games, and an Xbox. It’s more than you could possibly need to stay entertained during a bachelor party!

Outdoors, there’s a bocce ball court, tons of different lawn games, a TV, and a fireplace table with a heating lamp. What an amazing place to celebrate with your closest friends!

A space with a skyline view and a full kitchen in LA

This space with a skyline view and a full kitchen is conveniently located in the Arts District of downtown LA. Since it’s right about Cha Cha Cha restaurant and Wurstkuche, it’s an easy jumping-off point for your night out.

Prepare dinner together in the full working kitchen and then head out to party in the downtown neighborhood of one of the world’s greatest cities. There’s no need to worry about parking here, either, as valet parking is available for night events.

A clubhouse with a skyline view in Denver, CO

This clubhouse with a skyline view in Denver, Colorado is another incredible space for hanging out and having an amazing time. It boasts a truly elegant vibe that will elevate the feel of your bachelor party.

It comes with a TV, games like ping pong and shuffleboard, a cozy fireplace, and tons of comfortable seating, plus kitchen necessities like a mini fridge, oven, and sink. Not to mention the view of the Denver skyline, which is another incredible bonus of renting out this space that’ll take the experience to the next level.

A private downstairs bar in San Francisco, CA

This private downstairs bar in San Francisco, California is newly remodeled and located right in the heart of North Beach. The hosts bill it as an ideal location for bachelor parties (among other events), and note that they’re extremely flexible and happy to accommodate whatever your event might need. They even provide renters with their bartender included in the rental of the space.

Additional amenities include a mixer (if you’d like to hire a DJ for the party), high-quality Bluetooth speakers to easily play your music, a decently sized dance floor, and customizable colored lighting. At only $50 an hour, this place is a total steal with a classic bachelor party vibe!

There are many more spaces to discover on Peerspace. Be sure to run a search for bachelor party venues near you to find the perfect location!

More FAQs about bachelor parties

Now that we’ve answered the question “Who pays for the bachelor party?” and made helpful suggestions regarding bachelor party venues, here are our answers to some common questions about these kinds of celebrations:

Who is responsible for planning and hosting the bachelor party?

Typically, it’s the best man who steps into the role of orchestrating and hosting the bachelor party. Since he’s the groom’s “right-hand man,” the best man often spearheads the planning process while involving groomsmen and other close friends (those who will be invited to the bachelor party) in these arrangements and delegating tasks as needed.

But there’s plenty of flexibility in this tradition. If for any reason the best man isn’t able to take on the responsibility, another trusted individual who is close to the groom can step in. Examples could include a close friend, a sibling, a cousin, or another relative, depending on the circumstances.

Should the soon-to-be groom participate in planning his own bachelor party?

It’s not customary for the future groom to handle the details of planning—as we’ve explained, that responsibility most often falls to the best man or another good friend. However, the individual organizing the bachelor party might seek the groom’s input on crucial aspects of the gathering, such as the venue, theme, attire, guest list, and other specifics. Armed with these insights, the planner can orchestrate an unforgettable bachelor party that’s tailored to the groom’s preferences and priorities!

When should the bachelor party take place?

For starters, definitely don’t throw the bachelor party the night before the wedding—the groom will end up exhausted on the day of his wedding, and that’s a recipe for disaster. Instead, have the party at least a few weeks in advance of the wedding, if not a couple of months.

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How soon do you need to send out invitations to a bachelor party?

The answer to this question will vary a lot depending on the type of bachelor party you’re planning—specifically, how costly it’ll be and how much time it will take up. 

If it’s a standard evening out on the town (or lasts less than a day), you should send out the invitations three to four weeks before the bachelor party to give your guests adequate notice. On the other hand, if you’re planning a destination party that spans more than one day, you should give your guests at least two months’ advance notice with invitations. 

The more notice you give your guests, the more likely it is that all of them will be able to make it to the bachelor party, so make sure to prioritize getting those invitations out as soon as you can!

What’s the typical size of a guest list for a bachelor party?

Bachelor parties don’t usually include more than a dozen people or so, but they can get bigger if needed. Nevertheless, these should be pretty intimate events, so the groom can let loose and relax without having to worry about socializing with dozens of people. The groomsmen are pretty much always included in the bachelor party, but you can also invite additional close friends of the groom, as long as they’re also invited to the wedding itself.

Conclusion: Who pays for the bachelor party?

Having read our in-depth guide to this topic, hopefully, you now have a clear understanding of who pays for the bachelor party. We also hope we helped you figure out other important bachelor party traditions. 

Visit the Peerspace resources section for many more top-notch event planning guides, as well as tons of other helpful info.

Find unique bachelor party venues near you on Peerspace