#Stagpartyof1: I threw myself my own bachelor party alone

Whiskey tasting for one.

Whiskey tasting for one.

My fiancĂ© had his bachelor party this weekend. It’s him and a dozen of his best friends going to Portland for the weekend. I knew I’d have major FOMO since that would be an absolute dream trip for me. But I also knew that my anxiety around forcing friends to spend money, and the fear that people will bail at the last-minute, means that I would never ask for my own big to-do. So my solution (which I thought was brilliant) was to ask my best friend to just babysit me this weekend — just hold my hand and help me work through the vicious FOMO, even if it means just the two of us drinking whiskey and watching Lord of the Rings. But he apparently forgot, and made lots of other plans this weekend. Which left me with an entire weekend wide open, with nothing to do and no one to do it with.

I’ll admit it, old “nerdy kid in high school with no social life” wounds have opened up, and I’m feeling shitty about myself. While Mike has tons of friends who have apparently orchestrated an epic weekend that involves vans being rented, outdoor adventures, surprises, hilarious hijinks, and some mysterious Game of Thrones-themed puzzles… I struggled to get anyone to hang out with me for the next couple of days.

At one point, while I was feeling sorry for myself, I thought FUCK IT, I’ll throw myself my own bachelor party alone. A stag party of one!

Yes, a bachelor party even though I’m a girl. That just feels more in line with my gender identity. Plus I’ve helped plan and execute two bachelor parties, so I knew a bit about what kind of things there were to do of that nature in LA, and I know exactly what I’d want to do for my own. So I kept a constant supply of anti-anxiety meds at my disposal, and planned my #stagpartyof1…

Gaming

For some it would be gambling in Vegas. For others it could be video games, or LARPs, or table top gaming. My game of choice is pinball. I took myself to my favorite arcade/bar in downtown LA to have a drink and play a few games of pinball. I actually had some fun. I found a Game of Thrones pinball machine and just poured quarters in. But it was a little sad to not have anyone to goof off with. A year before I had taken my cousin there for his bachelor party and the ghosts of “fun group hangs” past was haunting me.

Whiskey tasting

My favorites where in order: Midleton,  Hibiki, Glenlivet, and Crown Royal

My favorites where in order: Midleton, Hibiki, Glenlivet, and Crown Royal

I have always wanted to go whiskey tasting for my bachelor party. I had grand schemes to do a private tasting with a bunch of friends at the “secret” whiskey room at Seven Grand. But balked at the price, so I gave up that dream. But, with the help of one of Mike’s friends, I found out that Seven Grand just started doing whiskey flight nights on Fridays. This weekends was $35 for four tastings, and it came with a free Old Fashioned, which is my favorite drink. Perfect!

But that’s when things went from sad to sadder. I felt so out-of-place and awkward sitting by myself. There were groups of friends hanging out and enjoying the experience, and I longed for that. As I sidled up to the bar to start the tasting, I immediately felt like I had made a mistake and wanted to leave. But then… I explained what I was doing to a girl next to me, and to the bartenders, and they all rallied around it, and kept me company.

Then a friend of mine, who also found herself sad with no plans on a Friday night, texted me that she’d come and join me if I wanted. OH I WANTED! Once Jenny showed up, it really started to feel like a real bachelor party, even if it was just us two. We geeked out about whiskey, and then someone suggested that, if this was a bachelor party we should go to a strip club. DUH.

Boobs

Maybe it’s a little sexist and objectifying, but I also believe every bachelor party needs boobs. Unfortunately my favorite nerdy burlesque troop (that I hired to perform at Erik’s bachelor party) was performing in Long Beach this weekend. Fortunately, Jenny and I love the same strip club in town — Jumbo’s Clown Room. So we drunkenly headed there — like any good bachelor party would. We spent the rest of the night throwing dollar bills on the stage, and bonding with the other bachelor party that was there, as these girls pulled off moves that made my knees and back ache just thinking about doing.

The rest of the night is kind of a blur. But… I’ll be honest, a bachelor party is more fun with friends.

Go on an adventure of some sort

Going outdoors to get some vitamin D and burn calories after drinking and eating heavily is a good idea for a bachelor party. For example, Mike’s going river rafting with his friends. I, however, went on a hike with my dog. #wolfpack

Hangover brunch

I made reservations at Jon & Vinny’s and was lucky to snag someone to eat with. But he started feeling ill right before we were supposed to go, and took a rain check. This is where things got dark.

R&R

I wanted to factor in some R&R — a nice nap, or some time in the jacuzzi. But instead it ended up being sleeping for three hours and then waking up and crying for two more hours.

A bomb-ass meal

Then it was time for dinner! I actually did get one friend to make plans with me (and keep them) this week. My longtime friend Drew met me for chicken and waffles at a new and awesome restaurant. And that was it.


And that’s how you throw yourself your own stag party — lots of anxiety meds, whiskey, waffles, and random bursts of crying. But if you want your stag party to be a good one, you should definitely invite your friends. Turns out they’re a LOT more fun with friends.

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4 Comments

  1. soundtek

    this sounds like something I would do… tears and all

    • meganfinley

      Good to know I’m in good company. 🙂

  2. Oh my goodness, what a shocker of a weekend!

    My wife and I were going to have a joint hen/bachelorette thingy (a tour of real ale pubs by train) but for various reasons NONE of our friends were available on the only date we were available so we didn’t actually replace it with anything in the end. I was disappointed and sad when we first heard back from everyone but at least I knew in advance that it wasn’t happening and got to share that, I’m so impressed with how you coped with the disappointment of it not happening at the time it was supposed to be happening AND more than once AND on your own! I have just realised though until I read your piece and wrote out this reply that I had actually completely forgotten that our event never happened….without minimising what you went through I hope it works out that way for you too!

    • meganfinley

      Thanks! Me too. I mean, I want to remember that I was brave enough to face my fear of being alone in public and trying new things without a buddy. But at the same time… I want to forget that I ever felt that sad. So yeah, I’m hoping with time it becomes a faded memory of a weird experience.

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