Increasing in popularity are the Jack and Jill parties.  Unlike the formal engagement party with solely the bride and groom’s families meeting and celebrating in the couple’s love; the soon-to-be-spouses team-up and join forces with their bachelor and bachelorette parties for a night of fun, entertainment and of course, embarrassing stories!  For those involved with planning the Jack and Jill or as some would call it, the ‘Stag and Doe,’ be prepared to throw a big party as an event like this would involve many people – the bride’s and groom’s friends and families.  The event should most likely be held at a small banquet hall due to the large amount of attendees and consider a disk jockey be present to keep the party pumping all night long.  Games should be taken into consideration, particularly raffle or door prizes, in which funds go to assist the bride and groom with their wedding and new life together.

When considering a theme for the Jack and Jill party, please be sure the theme is compatible for both men and women.  Having a jack and Jill centered around, say, a ‘football-and-wings’ theme may not go over well with some of the ladies at the party.  Take each guest into consideration but keep it fun – have games, raffles (as mentioned earlier) and no Jack and Jill is complete without some embarrassing stories about the Bride and Groom, so delegate a few friends to say some speeches! 

Some themes you may want to consider are a Hawaiian Luau, Casino Night Party, Western Theme, and many others – try to stick to each theme as much as possible from the food choices to the centre pieces and even the festivities!  You want to keep guests entertained all night long and enjoying every bit of it!  Stick to the theme with colours, décor and style …even with your wardrobe as the host(s)!  If you have a “Hollywood Oscars Night” theme let’s say, invite your guests to come dressed as their favorite celebrities or have them arrive wearing evening gowns and suits.  The party invitation should reflect the theme very well – if you’re going to go with the Hollywood theme, get snazzy VIP-style invitations made to really set the mood of the event.  You can draw inspiration from movies based on whichever theme you decide.

The Jack and Jill party is a bit cleaner as it is not a typical bachelor/bachelorette party with the usual adult content.  Bachelor and Bachelorette parties are centered around having the future Bride or Groom enjoy their final days as a single person by dancing with the opposite sex, or going to a strip club and so on. One thing that you should think about is the possibility of inviting children to this event since it is more friends-and-family oriented and may not run very late into the night.  Having said that, you might want to have a children’s table set up complete with loot bags, colouring books and the like so that the little ones at the party don’t get bored or feel left out.

The bachelor party no doubt should be a night out with your best group of friends for an amazing evening.  But who says the bachelor party you plan for your soon-to-be married friend has to be in town… or for one night only?  Plan a bachelor party getaway with your group of friends that can last a weekend, week or several nights in a destination he’ll remember forever with the guys he likes to hang out with most.  Most guys’ thoughts immediately turn to Las Vegas as a single man’s destination to party it up at casinos and nightclubs every night.  However, below is a list of alternative party locations you and your buddies should consider (But, there’s nothing wrong in planning a Vegas trip in addition to those listed below either, right?):

Montreal, Quebec:

Deck yourselves in your Ferrari shirts and get tickets to the F1 Grand Prix or hit up your favorite nightclubs, as Montreal is known for its nightlife, strip clubs and youthful flare.  Each day, enjoy various tours to Old Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica – Montreal’s oldest Catholic Church, or visit Montreal’s many art galleries and historical landmarks.  Finish off each day with an evening at one of Montreal’s trendiest Lounges and bars – there are many!

South Beach, Miami:

If there is one place that would be considered a true single man’s paradise, it’s South Beach, Miami.  During the day, South Beach is a popular place to soak up the sun and enjoy tropical drinks among a backdrop of sand, clear water, cruises and ongoing outdoor parties and concerts.  However, the beach is lined with high-end restaurants and cafes as well as a variety of discos and bars to attend every night – all just within walking distance from one another on the South Beach strip.

Caribbean Cruise:

The name says it all; think VIP treatment with your buddies in an all-inclusive 7-day party boat!  There are a variety of cruise lines such as Carnival Cruises that are predominantly considered “fun ships” for the amount of entertainment and festivities onboard.  All amenities are taken care of for you on a cruise (except alcohol) and you never have to worry about directions or traveling far – the ship is like a small moving town with everything you need; plus you get to visit exotic islands almost daily.

Nassau, Bahamas:

This is heaven on earth.  Perfect weather and the islands surroundings are absolutely breathtaking.  If you have a chance to book a room at the world-renowned hotel, Atlantis, you will not be disappointed! As a guest you can visit Atlantis’ multiple entertainment places such as the casinos, the race and sports book, comedy club, Water Park, tennis and sport centers and lest we forget, the amazing nightlife at Aura nightclub – all at this one hotel, no far travels or taxis necessary!

Cancun, Mexico:

Always a popular choice for round the clock partying and late-night-to-early morning bars with fantastic club and Latin hits to keep you guys grooving. Like the cruise, there are plenty of all-inclusive hotels where you and your buddies will always be pampered and, of course, served unlimited alcohol in an all-inclusive resort.  See you at Happy Hour!

Road Trip:

A great way to bond with your friends is by planning a road trip to a destination of your choice.  What’s good about this is you all can experience an adventure taking turns dictating where to go, what to see-and-do and above all, enjoying an authentic trip as it unfolds!