You're a good sport, a fun guy, a man's man, a crowd-pleaser. You wouldn't miss a party for the world, and this one sounds like it's going to be a blast. You can drink these young guys under the table, and you absolutely know how to have a good time. Great. You'll be a hit. Just remember, though, that although you're not acting in an official capacity as father of the bride, you can't pretend that you're someone else. (Not even if you wear the fake beard and sunglasses.)

Have Some Fun

It's a party. You're supposed to have a good time, you're supposed to be sociable, and you're supposed to go with the flow. Guess that means that anything goes, right? Um, no.

Is it all right to get a little loose, to shake your groove thing, to down an entire bottle of vodka? Yes, yes, and no. And that about sums up the line in the sand. Don't cross it. Of course you should make every effort to have fun at the bachelor party. It would be a complete bore for you to show up, sit on a stool, and watch the beer dry on the bar. But trying to show the younger guys that you've got what it takes to party with them isn't the same thing as being a fun partygoer.

If you still like to have a really good time all the time, and this works for you in your life, that's your business. This party, though, is a little different and carries special rules and limitations for you. Remember that you are the father of the bride, and as such, you're the family's representative. You're the CEO, the president, the goodwill ambassador bearing your family's flag.

Know Your Limits

Of course, every family is different. If you're the most subdued member of your clan, you've pretty much been given the go-ahead (by your kin) to do whatever you want, because nothing you do could embarrass them. On the other hand, if your wife, your kids, and your parents all wonder aloud time and again when you're going to stop acting so crazy, your future son-in-law's bachelor party is not the time to demonstrate that you can still do an upside-down funnel or that you're an exhibitionist at heart.

If you know you love to get nutty at a good party, don't even get started at this one. Think of this as a pre-wedding event — which it is, after all. Many of the same people will be at your daughter's wedding, and she does not want to spend her wedding day hearing about how out of control you were at her husband's stag. You also don't want to show the groom up at his own bachelor party. That's just bad manners.

Wet Blanket Syndrome

So what's a father of the bride to do when he's at his future son-in-law's bachelor party, trying to keep himself under control — and yet, also going with the flow — and the best man offers him narcotics? Or he's pelted with Jell-O shots? Or his eyes are assaulted by the sight of two female “dancers” making out with each other? You know, you're all for fun, but enough is enough, and quite frankly, what you're seeing has exceeded every one of your lowest expectations for this evening.

In the case of fun running amok, is it all right for the father of the bride to step in and call a halt to certain activities? Sorry. No. Not unless you see your daughter's future husband is engaging in certain illegal or immoral activities — he's about to be family, so he's fair game. Everyone else is over twenty-one (you hope) and you're not their dad. Yes, it's all right to be disgusted with the Sodom and Gomorrah atmosphere — but the churning in your stomach is your cue to get out.