Planning Your Chicago Bachelor or Bachelorette Party

Bachelor and bachelorette parties have long been a staple among pre-wedding events. Occuring shortly before the wedding day, the bachelor party and the bachelorette party are somewhat of a Rite of Passage, a ritualistic "send-off" into married life by the groom's and bride's closest friends and family. Each party is a separate event thrown by the groom's and bride's respective wedding party. The best man typically takes charge of planning the bachelor party while the maid or matron of honor organizes the bachelorette party.

 

Bachelor and bachelorette parties frequently involve a sexually-charged theme, but there is a growing trend toward parties involving less sexually-motivated events. Two key things to keep in mind throughout the planning are who's on the guest list and what would the bride and groom want. A wild night of strippers and tequila shots may sound like a good idea, but if you know your plans will embarrass the bride or groom or cause hurt feelings between them, then your chance to create a night filled with fond memories for years to come may quickly turn into an evening that ruined the big day.

 

Some great alternatives for your bachelor party can include the following:

• Gambling: Try Harrah's Joliet Casino, Resort's East Chicago, the Grand Victorian Casino in Elgin, or Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana to name just a few.
• Horseracing: Open June through October, check out Arlington Park or Sportsman's Park/Hawthorne Racecourse for thoroughbred racing or for harness racing year-around (see websites for live racing schedules), plan a trip to Maywood Park or Balmoral Park.
• Paintball: Chicago is host to several paintball fields. Check out Operation Paintball in Hampshire, Badlandz Paintball Field in Crete, or Blast Camp Paintball in Hobart, Indiana.
• Golf Outings: You pretty much can't hit a 9-iron anywhere in the Chicagoland area without landing on a fairway. Take your pick, but some of the better public courses include Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont, Pine Meadow Golf Course in Mundelein, and Bolingbrook Golf Club, in Bolingbrook.
• Sporting Events: There's no shortage of great Chicago sports teams or venues. From the Chicago Cubs at legendary Wrigley Field to the south side's Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, there's nothing like a day of baseball with the guys. But baseball's not everything (or maybe it is?); there's also basketball with the world-famous Chicago Bulls in "the house that Michael Jordan built"-the United Center, football with the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field (not Soldier's Field!), or hockey with our very own Chicago Blackhawks or Chicago Wolves
• Skiing: A weekend ski trip to Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, Illinois
may be just the ticket, but Wisconsin still offers the best of the local slopes. Check out Cascade Mountain in Portage, Wisconsin, Devils Head Resort in Merrimac, or Tyrol Basin in Mt. Horeb. about 25 minutes west of Madison, Wisconsin.
• Chicago Clubbing: Equally fun for the boys or the girls, visit all of Chicago's hot spots, but while you're doing the drinking, let someone else do the driving. Many Chicago limousine companies offer bachelor and bachelorette party services, but it just might be more fun to travel by trolley. Check out the Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Company or The Trolley Car & Bus Company to book your Chicago bachelorette or bachelor party pub crawl.

Other fun ideas perhaps more appropriate for the the bachelorette party might include a spa day, a trip to a fortune teller or tarot card reader, a night at a comedy club or karaoke bar, or a wine tasting tour. You might also want to consider wearing matching bachelorette party t-shirts or caps, available via Custom Ink, or dressing the bride up in a tiara and veil for her special night out with the girls.

 

Whatever your plans, make sure you include safe travel home or other overnight arrangements for all guests, especially if your plans will include alcohol. Have fun, but be safe!