Back in the day, it was unheard of to have a joint bachelor and bachelorette party. Today, this is no longer the case. In fact, most modern couples have a rather wide shared group of friends, and even if not, those friends are mixed in gender. So, what happens to the traditional bachelor and bachelorette party scenario in that case? Many modern couples choose to combine them! Yes, joint bachelor and bachelorette parties are now a thing and they’re quickly rising in popularity. If you’ve contemplated having one in lieu of the traditional separate events, you should absolutely do so.

What Is a Joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party?

A bachelorette and bachelor party is meant to be a celebration for the bride and groom in which they can enjoy their last days of being unmarried with their closest girl and guy friends. However, since many couples cohabitate long before their marriage, most bachelor/bachelorette parties in the 21st century have turned into nothing more than a pre-marriage get-together.

It’s also not so abnormal these days to have friends of the opposite sex, so if you have shared friends between you and your partner, it’s not fair to make them choose between which party to attend.

So, here comes the birth of the mixed bachelor/bachelorette parties, which are sometimes called “bachelorx” parties or “bach” parties. Essentially, it’s a pre-ceremony celebration in which neither partner has their own event.

Why Consider a Mixed Bachelor and Bachelorette Party?

There are a few reasons to combine a bachelor(ette) party with your fiancé. For starters, it can save you a lot of money. Hosting two individual events (no matter what they’re about) will likely cost you a good ammount of cash.

Second, it’ll offer you an opportunity to spend more time together, especially with one another’s friends. If you haven’t met many of your significant other’s close buddies, this will be an excellent opportunity to do so. Likewise, it’s a great way for both groups of friends to intermingle and become friendly, making newlywed life easier when you plan social events.

Third, it can save you from any embarrassing situations that may come with the territory. If you’re not the type to want to get kidnapped and taken to a strip club or be greeted by genitalia-shaped balloons, you might consider a joint party as a safe haven.

What Are Some Ideas for a Joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party?

Should you and your fiancé choose to join forces, there are tons of ways you can celebrate your relationship as an engaged couple. Here are a few ideas.

Amusement Park

There’s nothing quite like a few rollercoasters, carnival games, and funnel cakes to make you feel like a kid again. And isn’t that the whole point of the bachelor(ette) party—to celebrate what you might be missing by getting hitched?! An amusement park date is the perfect option by these standards, as it allows people to spend as much time together or apart as they want. You can follow this up with a trip to the bar, and you’ll likely be labeled as the most fun couple in town!

Camping Trip

Even if you’re not the outdoorsy type, a camping trip should still be on your consideration list (you can always make it simply an overnight trip). Spending time in nature helps people bond, especially once you remove all the modern distractions. If you’re bold enough to camp in more remote areas, the challenges of setting up a tent or starting a fire will make for fun stories later on. Regardless of whether you go for a long weekend or overnight, the fact that you’ll be required to socialize instead of looking at your phone will improve the groups’ relationships. Don’t forget to bring a few board games and marshmallows to boost the entertainment aspect!

Interactive Activities

Following up on the idea of a camping trip, you can also opt for something more suitable for an urban audience, such as an escape room, murder mystery dinner, or even a game night at home. You can also call dibs at a spot at the local park and compete in a simple sports tournament (while having a picnic, of course). As a suggestion, make the teams random so it’s fair.

Wine or Beer Tasting

While it doesn’t have to be wine, a tasting of any type of drink is always fun to attend. Not to mention, it’s the perfect mix of casual (as in, people won’t be too stressed to show up) and fancy (as in, they’ll want to look their best). It’s also a great option for couples on a budget since many distilleries offer special deals for group tastings that include not only drinks but food—and some even expand those deals for overnight stays. If this sounds like your type of occasion, it’s highly recommended you book the vineyard or distillery far in advance.

Strip Club

Although it might sound cliché, this option can actually be a lot of fun, depending on who attends. Strip clubs tend to have good deals for groups, with great music and tons of entertainment whether it’s people-watching or monitoring the stage. Overall, for most customers it’s just an adult-only getaway they can count on. And best of all, the clubs are so used to bachelor(ette) events, that they’ll happily cater to your wishes.

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