Everybody’s been to one: the bachelor party that just turns into a weekend-long rager, the kind The Hangover is about, when everyone gets a bit sloppy and you do things you don’t want to let your significant other know about. And for many, one of those is just about enough before it gets old, but there are still plenty of weddings and plenty of bachelor parties for your friends to get through. You wouldn’t be blamed for wanting to skip the high octane hijinks usually associated with the bachelor party before you get married, but if you’re the best man charged with planning a more relaxed night, you might be left scratching your head. What are you supposed to do besides go to the strip club?
There are plenty of alternatives, especially if the groom is a sportsman, outdoors-type, or just into competition and games. One great option is making axe throwing part of the night – or weekend – before hitting the steakhouse or the pub. Axe throwing is a great sport for a bunch of guys out on the town together, and a high-energy alternative to the strip club scene.
Planning an axe throwing bachelor party is a breeze at venues open for private bookings that provide one-on-one instruction and your own space. Make sure you book well enough in advance so that you get the spot you want; a typical axe throwing event will last 2.5 to 3 hours, giving you plenty of time to plan more to do before or after. Once you’re booked, you’re stress-free for at least one part of your epic night plans. Venues like the Backyard Axe Throwing League (BATL) take care of everything for you, from instructions to the axes themselves. Coaches do one-on-one instructions, so it doesn’t matter if no one has ever gone before. Axe throwing isn’t a particularly physically demanding sport, relying on precision and follow through instead of effort, so everyone will have a fair shake – unless the groom is a true axe throwing devotee. With axe throwing leagues like BATL growing in popularity across Canada, there’s a high chance that if you’re planning an axe throwing bachelor party, the groom is an experienced hand. Even so, it’s always a blast, even for novices and initiates, so don’t worry too much about it and just try to give the groom a run for his money.
Remember, a laid-back bachelor party doesn’t have to be booze-free, just class it up a bit. If your friends have the means, once you’ve wrapped up your axe throwing game, hit a whiskey bar (or tequila, or rum – your choices for a fancy tipple have become a lot more diverse in recent years), go for a nice steak, visit a craft beer pub, or just the groom’s favourite local. It doesn’t have to be complicated; the important thing is that you get together to celebrate a friend’s new future. Toss an axe, give a toast, and enjoy some great food to send him off on his way.
