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Mrs. Spider, New York Age and Occupation: 27, Paralegal Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Advisor Research Engagement Date: December 30, 2005 Wedding Date: October 2006 Venue: Jericho Terrace - Long Island, NY About Me: My favorite parts of wedding planning are DIY projects and figuring out ways to incorporate old traditions into a modern affair.
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Jack and Jill

August 24th, 2006 @ 2:06 pm by Mrs. Spider

Mr. Spider and I liked the idea of having a Jack and Jill combined bachelor/bachelorette party since before we got engaged. We envisioned a crazy, drunken ride on a decked out party bus to Atlantic City, followed by debauchery throughout the night culminating in a hangover brunch special of sheepish grins and secret jokes. When I learned that it was not exactly appropriate for the bride or groom to plan their own bachelor/bachelorette parties, I reluctantly stepped aside and handed over my whistle and clipboard.

I can’t remember where I first heard of Jack and Jill parties (aka Stag and Doe parties) but I do remember watching Ryan and Trista’s joint party and thinking, that’s what I want. As far as I knew, Mr. Spider was in on the plans with me as we often joked about what crazy things our wedding party would together. All seemed sweet.

Enter idiotic machismo obsolete dogma that every man deserves a “real” bachelor party. Enter tacky catch-phrases like “last night of freedom” and “rite of passage” and moronic pleas of “can’t you respect what the groom wants” and “it’s not just about you“. All of which sounded to me like little boys looking for excuses to be bad and laugh and point at the evil controlling ball and chain.

The truth? Jill could care less that Jack wants to go see strippers. In fact, seeing strippers separately (say that 10 times fast) had been worked into the night’s festivities. What Jill can’t get with, is the idea that a joint party is being thrown out the window because of cheesy ass definitions of what a bachelor party should and should not be. Fun - YES; Joint Fun - apparently NO.

Thus far, we have not succumbed to any outside pressures on our wedding plans. When my dad expressed an interest in having a Chinese banquet, I chased that thought out of his head. When Mr. Spider’s mom suggested I rent a wedding gown instead of buying one, I gave her a bug eyed look and politely declined. To now have to accept that plans need to be trashed because of the manipulation of exterior opinions peeves me deeply. To have to accept the implications that I tried to control, deny and disrepect my future husband by wanting a joint party (that included separate party time) eats at the core of me.

Alas, my dreams of an awesome Jack and Jill have turned into a nightmare.

Tags: bachelor-party, bachelorette-party, new-york |
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15 Responses to “Jack and Jill”

1.
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kanipark

i have yet to go to a joint bachelor/ette party… do it so i hear all about it :)

 
2.
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Tea

if you managed to fend off the parents, you and mr. spider can fend off the stupid boys. or you can have separate parties that come together in the end. maybe mr. spider can step in and deflect the unrighteous heat you’re taking. i hope you do get your jack and jill party. it sounds like it would be fun

 
3.
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Deco

Ummm … parties people give FOR you, are kinda about what THOSE people want, not what YOU want. If HIS friends want to give him an “old fashioned bachelor party” — because that’s what THEY want to ATTEND and THROW … I’d advise you to quit your pouting & cajoling & concentrate on the WEDDING. That’s the part YOU have a say in. For the record though — I said etiquitte be damned — I’m throwing my own Bachelorette Party dinner the night before the wedding. Most of my friends & family are from OOT, I don’t have a MOH and I don’t wanna drag everyone to town TWICE. If you MUST HAVE a “Jack & Jill” party - throw it yourself!

 
4.
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Beth

I agree with Tea, if you can stand up to your FMIL, you can stand up to his friends! If you kindly mention this is what you’ve both wanted for a while, and Mr. Spider stands up for you, there shouldn’t be a problem. Of course, if his friends decide to ignore your request, there’s nothing left to do but strap on a tacky veil and enjoy your party with your girls!

 
5.
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amy

i think that mr spider needs to be the one to tell his friends to back down, not you. you shouldn’t even have to hear any of their stupid crap! the bachelor/bachelorette party should, in my mind, is for YOU, not for the attendees. i wouldn’t want to attend a bachelorette party (or want to have a bachelorette party) where there were male strippers, only because that just doesn’t interest me. if you and your fiance don’t want to have that kind of party either, who the hell are his friends to tell you what you have to do? or to make stupid assumptions that you’re forcing him to have a combined event? don’t they know him well enough to know that he wouldn’t just be “yes dear”-ing you if he didn’t want that too? ugh i HATE assumptions!

 
6.
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Holly

Hold up. I understand not throwing your own shower - very gift-grabby, but why not throw your own bachelor/bachelorette party? You’re trying to tell me there is proper ettiquite for a drunken night on the town? I say throw the party yourselves, the way you want it. Then, if Mr. Spider and/or his friends want to do something else, let them.

 
7.
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Tristan

Tell Mr. Spider to tell his buddies to BACK OFF! If both of you enjoy the idea of a joint bachelor party, then there’s no reason to change your plans. Those other silly boys are simply scared of “not being able to cut loose”. Which is still a sarcastic ‘puh-leaze’ in my book. It’s a celebration that is about you and Mr. Spider. How would you like to hear those boys tell you, “No, I’m sorry, even though I’m a guest at the wedding, your dress just doesn’t match my attire. You’re gonna have to change.” Yeah… that’s what I thought!

 
8.
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Vi

^i disagree with Deco completely. since when is it ok for groomsmen to plan a bachelor party for THEMSELVES??? if they want it their own way, well, that’s what friday nights are for. how dare they impose their own preferences on yall’s bachelor/bachelorette party.

i’m a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding and if she wants a bachelorette party in a burning barn in the middle of nowhere, heck that’s where the party’s gonna be.

 
9.
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Miss Butterfly

i am SO sick of boys saying that they must throw a “proper” bachelor party. and how its all about “saving face” in front of their friends.

also, even tho women think of bach. parties as parties thrown by others FOR us (therefore should respect OUR wishes), men think differently. this is a party in HONOR of the groom, but FOR the retarded boys who are using HIS wedding as an excuse for THIER debauchery.

ugh - tell mr. spider to tell them to back off. if not, he’s not being very supportive. this is something you both want, so tell the boys to shut up and suck it up like a man. they can have their retarded parties when they get married, and you wont say anything then. right? =)

 
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Gin

I’m sorry to say this but when I first heard of the idea of a co-ed b.party from a friend, I thought it was lame. =( There are just some things that you can’t say or do with the wife/husband to-be present. Have a night of fun with the girls and let him have a night out with his boys. You two can party together on your wedding day and you’ll have the rest of your life to be with him. In end, I do hope you’ll get what you really want though.

 
11.
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ANn

Either way I am fine with the co-ed or segregated BPs, I just hate the obnoxious comments my fiance gets when he tells his boys that we are engaged and they say things like “on a leash eh?”, “fun times are over eh?”, etc. right in front of me…oh well, anyways, I hope things work out for you and Mr. Spider the way you BOTH want it, not what the boys want…

 
12.
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Lana

If the two of you want a co-ed party, then the two of you should have it and the wedding party should respect that. If it’s suppose to be them who plans it, then shouldn’t they plan it to your liking? For example, if you want to see male strippers for YOUR last night of freedom but your MOH says, “No because I’m planning it.” It’s like, WHOA NOW who’s getting married? Whose last night of freedom is it? Whose last night of freedom should it be celebrated to the liking of? YOU AND YOUR FUTURE HUBBY, that’s who. :-)

 
13.
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Jenny

I didn’t buy my wedding dress! I rented out two absolutely gorgeous ones that I could have never afforded besides. And the best part was I could enjoy myself in them without worrying about getting them dirty. And afterwards, just shoved them in a bag and gave them back. Weird huh.

 
14.
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lindsay

ugh. forego the un-appropriateness of throwing your own party. if that’s what you want, then have it. it’s not that often you get to have a bachelor/bachelorette party in your honor, right!? :P

 
15.
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Mrs. Spider
Mrs. Spider

Mrs. Spider, New York Age and Occupation: 27, Paralegal Fiance's Age and Occupation: 28, Advisor Research Engagement Date: December 30, 2005 Wedding Date: October 2006 Venue: Jericho Terrace - Long Island, NY About Me: My favorite parts of wedding planning are DIY projects and figuring out ways to incorporate old traditions into a modern affair.

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