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Gone are the days when brides and grooms would celebrate their final single days separately with competing bachelorette and bachelor parties. For brides and grooms — and same-sex couples! — that share a lot of the same friends, hosting two separate parties may seem like kind of a waste of time — and a missed opportunity to celebrate with all their loved ones before the big day. To combat this dilemma, a new trend in pre-wedding parties has popped up: The bachelor/bachelorette party hybrid, which brings all friends together for a crazy good time. Instead of focusing on a bash for just the bride or just the groom, this joint party can be inspired by who the bride and groom are as a couple, along with their shared interests and friends.
If you’re throwing one of these joint parties, you might not want to stick to the same old club-and-stripped script. For some out-of-the-box inspiration that will appease all attendees, check out our favorite ideas for your co-ed bachelor/bachelorette party.
Friendly Competition
Instead of the typical rowdy club scene, challenge your wedding party to a friendly bridesmaids vs. groomsmen sports showdown. Rent out some field or gym space, get some team T-shirts, and the possibilities are endless — dodge ball, flag football, even a series of Olympic-style relay games could be a total trip. Encouraging some competitive play can help bond your wedding party, and you all can keep the fun going at a sports bar, where the losing team can pick up the bar tab.
Road Trip
If you and your fiancé are looking to participate in the typical bachelor/bachelorette party activities (night clubs, a stripper or two, and partying into the wee hours of the morning), consider renting a van or bus and driving to Vegas, NOLA, or another nearby city as a group instead of just the bridesmaids or just the groomsmen. It’s like a field trip for adults, but instead of ending up on a boring walking tour, your final destination is an epic bash. Obviously major fun will be had at whichever city you end up, but turning the drive into it’s own co-ed road trip adventure will give your joint celebration a totally fun upgrade.
Adult Sleep Away Camp
Who said that sleep away camp is just for kids? All over the country there are adults-only summer camps that bring out the kid in you while still offering up adult perks like no curfew and plenty of booze. Couples looking for a more authentic camp experience should consider Camp No Counselors, where the day is filled with fun camp activities and the night is filled with open bars and all-night themed parties. Camp Grounded is more akin to the camp experience you remember as a kid, full of games, fireside s’mores, and crafting, but without any adult distractions, like alcohol or technology. There are even programs like Adult Space Academy, for everyone that might be too old for space camp but would still jump at the chance to learn about being a real-life astronaut.
Good Ol’ Fashioned Camping
A trip to the great outdoors may be just what you and your fiancé need to destress from planning the wedding. As opposed to the wild party that happens at some adult sleep away camps, a wedding party camping trip is all about enjoying the great outdoors. You can opt for the authentic camping trip experience and head to a nearby campground to set up tents, build a fire, and really rough it in the wilderness, or rent a cabin so that you can spend more time hiking, fishing, and enjoying more mellow outdoor activities. We suggest checking the Kampgrounds of America website to find a camping reservation near you.
Backyard Barbecue
The best thing about throwing an easy backyard party is that it’s, well, easy. There typically isn’t a whole lot of planning and coordinating involved, and it is way cheaper than planning a huge destination bachelor bash, so the wedding party doesn’t have to worry about emptying their wallets for yet another wedding expense. Creating a theme, finding fun decorations, setting up outdoor games, and customizing an out-of-the-ordinary barbecue menu can give your celebration the playful, youthful party vibe for which bachelor parties are typically known.
See More: Are Joint Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties Acceptable?