A bucks party (AKA a bachelor party) is considered a rite of passage across the globe. No matter the variant, it comes down to celebrating your upcoming marriage with close friends. This can mean splurging on incredible dinners, having a typical pub crawl, camping in the woods, or choosing to go skydiving with your mates – it all depends on what you fancy. Bucks parties are either events or activities, with some being a combination of both. This pre-wedding event has transformed into a must-have party for grooms.

A bucks night in Australia consists of a few key factors: drinking, playing games, reliving days past, and gambling. It’s centred on having fun and letting loose with your closest friends – along with some good-natured ribbing, of course.

As per Australian tradition, a good bucks party wouldn’t be complete without a little rabble-rousing, all done in the spirit of wishing the groom well for everything to come. While other aspects of a bucks party in Australia may be optional, being a bit cheeky has always been part of Australian culture. Just how cheeky you get is up to you and your mates.

Movies will have you believe otherwise, but a bucks party does not happen the night before the big day. Showing up with a hangover does not make for a seamless wedding. Instead, the recommended time slot is one to two months before the wedding. Your bucks party should give you and your groomsmen plenty of time to have a bash and recover with room to spare. Planning-wise, it would be best if you thought about starting three to five months before the bucks night, depending on what you and the crew will get up to. If you’re going to go all out for the event, then budget enough time to put it together.

The number of people that attend is the same as choosing the guests: it’s up to the groom. Typically, bucks parties in Australia have around 15 to 20 guests. We recommend reaching out to close friends of the groom so you can gauge how many people will be attending (aside from the groomsmen). Price can also be a factor when planning a bucks night, so having per-head pricing is helpful when choosing your event venue.

Generally, guests pay their own way at a bucks party in Australia. This happens at hen nights, too. The groomsmen and best man might split the cost or find a different way to make sure the finances even out. In some cases, they might contribute extra, whether it’s buying additional rounds of drinks or pitching in for another game with the simulator at X-Golf (otherwise known as the height of generosity).

Once upon a time, a bucks party might have been exclusively male – but times have changed. The groom can have close friends or family they wish to invite who aren’t male, and bringing them along to celebrate is totally fine. Women can attend bucks nights like any other gender. After all, having a good time isn’t limited to anyone, especially at adventurous or activity-packed venues like X-Golf. Come one, come all.

There are a lot of ways to make your bucks party an exciting experience. If you’re going classic, you can’t go wrong with a Vegas-esque night of poker and drinks or even a poolside barbecue with your best pals. For something with more activity, X-Golf offers industry-leading simulators with a bar attached, so you can enjoy a couple of cold ones as you practice your swing. Bucks night games can also include shot roulette, cards against humanity, scavenger hunts, trivia or charades.

Just like Friends taught us, a bucks party is all about the favours rather than the more traditional gift giving at weddings and showers. Whether it’s a silly, personalised shirt for you all or a monogrammed flask for those cheeky drinks, party favours are common for bucks nights. Keeping on theme with the party favours can make your life easier. Try sunglasses or shot glasses for a beachy or poolside bucks night; dole out monogrammed poker chips for a Vegas-inspired event; and get a little more creative with personalised golf balls for your bucks party at X-Golf.

Gifts from the Groom

This is entirely up to the groom. Although gifts aren’t traditionally given to the groomsmen at bucks night, you can always do what fits best. However, gifts to the groomsmen typically happen at the rehearsal dinner or on the wedding day as thanks for all their contributions.

Gifts from the Groomsmen

It’s uncommon, but if you want to give the groom a gift, go ahead! If you want to chip in with the group or get something an individual, both are options. Maybe you’re the best man and want to make the day a little more special with a gift; maybe you’re one of the groomsmen looking to thank the groom for a fun bucks party. Go with your gut when deciding, and remember to loop in his other buddies.