Bachelor Party Statistics & Facts: Preferences and Trends

How many people come along on average, what does a day like that cost, and which activities do most people secretly hate? Three studies have the answers – and do away with a few assumptions you may have brought home from the last stag or hen do you went on.

We’ve gathered the most robust figures from three surveys: a US report by WeddingWire (2019) and two representative surveys from Germany by Statista (2018) and Splendid Research (2017). There are hardly any newer representative studies specifically on bachelor and bachelorette parties, so these three are still the most important data points. Keep the origin in mind as you read: the US figures (dollars, US destinations) don’t transfer one-to-one to Germany, and the two German surveys describe the German-speaking market, not the UK or the US.

WeddingWire survey 2019

Timing and length:

• Most bachelor and bachelorette parties take place in spring (43% for both) and summer (35% for bachelorettes, 42% for bachelors).
• More than half of women celebrate their bachelorette party for at least two days, and a third even for three days or more.
• More than 60% of bachelor parties last two days or more, with a third celebrating for three days or more.

Number of guests and activities:

• On average, 10 people attend a bachelorette party; for bachelor parties it’s eight.
• Popular activities are dinner and drinks (47% for bachelors, 55% for bachelorettes), dancing and going to clubs (35% and 43% respectively) and bar crawls (32% and 30% respectively).

Destinations:

• 92% of the parties take place within the continental US and 8% abroad, with Hawaii the most popular destination for bachelors (2%) and the Caribbean for bachelorettes (3%).

Transport and accommodation:

• Almost half of the guests travel by their own car (42% for bachelors, 48% for bachelorettes).
• Hotels and resorts are the most popular accommodation, with almost half of bachelors and 40% of bachelorettes staying in one.

Costs:

• Average costs vary depending on the means of transport, the length of the celebrations and the accommodation.
• Around 40% of bachelorettes and 19% of bachelors spend less than $200.
• The average cost of a one-day bachelor party is $813; for bachelorettes it’s $317.

Study design: The WeddingWire 2019 Bachelor & Bachelorette study is based on the answers of over 1,000 people who took part in bachelor and bachelorette parties and focuses mainly on parties within the United States, including some international destinations. The exact methods of data collection aren’t specified.

Statista statistics 2018

• Fancy dress: Around 35% of women and 27% of men don’t want to wear a conspicuous or embarrassing costume at a bachelor or bachelorette party.
• Doing dares: About 35% of women are against dares such as collecting kisses or selling condoms. Roughly 25% of men share this view.
• A lovely, unforgettable day for the bride or groom: About 64% of women and 52% of men consider it most important that the bride or groom has a lovely, unforgettable day.
• Letting loose before the wedding: Around 20% of men and 15% of women think it’s important that the bride or groom can really let loose one more time.

Survey design: The two Statista surveys (on the most important aspects and the least popular activities) were carried out as online surveys in Germany in January 2018, with 1,025 people aged 18 to 65 questioned.

Splendid Research study 2017

• 44% of respondents regret nothing about their stag or hen do.
• 45% of respondents say they drank too much
• 25% of respondents wouldn’t celebrate a stag or hen do
• 22% of respondents find stag and hen dos annoying
• Over 10% have been thrown out of a club on a stag or hen do

The 5 most popular activities:

• 66% drinking alcohol
• 62% going out to eat
• 53% going dancing
• 41% dressing up the bride or groom
• 25% dressing up the guests

Survey design: Online survey, Germany, 1,012 respondents aged between 18 and 69, carried out by SPLENDID RESEARCH from 19 to 22 June 2017.