The Ultimate Bachelor Party Planning Checklist
You've been given the honour (and the stress) of being best man. That means one thing: the stag do is your responsibility. Get it right and you're a legend. Get it wrong and you'll hear about it for decades.
Here's the complete checklist, broken down by timeline, so nothing falls through the cracks.
3-6 Months Before
Set the date — check with the groom AND key attendees
Pick the destination — get a group vote (don't just decide alone)
Set the budget — be upfront about costs per person
Book flights — early = cheap, especially for Ryanair/EasyJet destinations
Book accommodation — apartments/villas are better than hotels for groups
Create a headcount spreadsheet — who's in, who's out, who's "maybe"
1-2 Months Before
Book activities — the big ones (go-karting, boat trip, paintball) sell out
Plan the itinerary — don't overschedule, leave room for spontaneity
Collect money — use Splitwise or a shared pot, chase stragglers early
Sort travel insurance — especially for extreme activities
Check passports — at least one person won't have done this, guarantee it
Book restaurant for the first night — arriving hungry with 15 lads is chaos
1-2 Weeks Before
Send the final itinerary to the group — keep it simple, one page max
Set up I Wasn't There — create the trip and share the disguised link
Buy any props or fancy dress — last minute Amazon is your friend
Download offline maps — foreign data roaming is expensive if you get lost
Confirm all bookings — double-check every single reservation
Create a WhatsApp group for logistics only — NOT for photos (that's what IWT is for)
Day Of
Remind everyone to open the I Wasn't There link on their phone
Designate a "treasurer" for cash expenses
Have the accommodation address saved offline
Bring a portable charger — you'll need your phone for the app
Take a deep breath — you've done the hard work, now enjoy it
The photo problem (and how to solve it)
Here's the thing nobody thinks about until it's too late: photos. Everyone takes them. And they always end up somewhere they shouldn't.
You have two options:
- Ban phones entirely — good luck with that. Nobody will comply.
- Use an app that deletes everything — I Wasn't There lets everyone share freely during the trip, then permanently destroys all photos and messages when the countdown ends.
Set it up a week before, share the link in the group chat, and forget about it. When the trip ends, every photo vanishes. Read our comparison of stag do apps if you want to see how it stacks up.
Top destinations for 2026
Not sure where to go? These are the most popular stag do destinations right now:
Final word
The key to a great stag do is simple: book early, collect money early, don't overschedule, and solve the photo problem before it becomes one. Do those four things and you'll be the best best man in history.