The demand for agencies specialized in bachelor parties is growing and the sector already moves millions a year

To the bachelor parties (a) have been part of the prior planning of a wedding for decades. It is not known for sure in which part of the world this tradition emerged, but without a doubt it has become one of the most anticipated moments by the groomsmen and friends of the bride and groom. Whether at a party or on a super special trip, the occasion is used to bring loved ones together and bring relaxation before one of the most important and serious steps in the couple’s life.

However, what many people do not imagine is the work that goes into organizing this moment. “I swore I would never be at the forefront of any farewells again. In addition to the great responsibility for everything to work out, you end up getting involved in small arguments and not taking advantage of the occasion”, emphasizes Maria Eduarda Santos Junqueira, who organized her best friend’s farewell trip to Rio de Janeiro with 20 other girls and still remember the suffocation that was.

Because it involves different groups, with different tastes – and who often don’t know each other –, the simple decision on the destination already becomes a problem. House rent, market purchases, personalized objects, house cleaning, programming and other details that often no one imagines exist, keep those who are in charge of the organization up at night and want everything to be perfect.

The specialized agencies

It was precisely because of this “perrengue” in organizing the trip of the first friend who got married that Eduardo Vespa had the idea of ​​founding the hangover , in July 2017, in São Paulo. The startup specializing in organizing bachelor parties started with an investment of just R$ 2,000 – enough to create the CNPJ and website. The businessman, who worked at a large bank, decided that he would dedicate himself fully to the project. Five days after opening the company, the sign that it was on the right track arrived: its first client.

“In an internet search, Patrícia, my first client, arrived at Hangover. She wanted to get her friends together for a Limosine ride through the main points of São Paulo. I organized everything, with drinks, snacks, photographer. Afterwards, a table in a bar in the city was waiting for them, which they enjoyed all night”, says Eduardo.

The company gradually grew. Today it has 6 permanent employees (in addition to temporary ones in different cities) and a turnover of around BRL 4.3 million per year with about 400 organized farewells . There, there is no ready-made package – the company receives commission. Each groom can customize the event according to her tastes – 95% of farewells today are in the form of a trip .

You most popular destinations by the agency’s public are: Florianópolis, Rio de Janeiro and Goiania, being 50% men and 50% women.

There are boat parties, house parties, popular shows and even VIP boxes at rodeos. In the first contact with the bridegroom, an interview is carried out to outline their profile and offer what fits perfectly in each one’s style.

“We take care of everything, from logistics, accommodation and food to personalized experiences and entertainment for each group. In addition to a cook and cleaning team to keep the house organized, participants can count on the support of a local host to check if everything is going as desired, and if it is necessary to stock the house and keep the drinks cold”, emphasizes the businessperson.

The booming market

Another company that gained prominence in the market is Game over , from Belo Horizonte. Hermano Filho also decided to create it after a bad experience in organizing a trip for one of his best friends to Balneário Camboriú (SC) – he points out that there were problems from planning to the financial collection of all members.

It decided to bet on the idea in 2018, understanding the high demand and low supply in the segment. It started with a low investment and gradually expanded. It participated in fairs in the segment, had its work spread through traditional “word of mouth” and expanded its office to São Paulo. Today it has 14 permanent employees, all of whom are women – in addition to partners and suppliers throughout Brazil.

In 2019, the company had a boom and the dream of succeeding in his idea was already a reality. Everything was going very well, numerous quotations and organized trips, until in 2020, in the pandemic, Hermano took a bucket of cold water, as well as many entrepreneurs. However, his business vision and DNA of having everything personalized and exclusive to his clients made him take an attitude that would guarantee the future of the company.

“I had 28 farewells to organize when the decree was decreed. lockdown – that week alone there were 10. On the day this was announced, I stayed in bed from 7 am to 10 am receiving many messages and thinking about what I was going to do. I took a reckless attitude, without consulting any of my partners at the time: I called each client personally and asked them not to cancel, but to reschedule. Of the 28, I was successful in 26. The other two I returned the money promptly. I spent 4 months without closing any contract, but I persisted and things got better”, he points out.

Details and customization

Thinking about the details so that the customer has safety and comfort is one of the premises of Game Over, which has a fixed rate of 15% on top of everything that is closed at farewell. Therefore, the budget is made openly and can be customized according to the budget that the group has for the trip. The idea is that no one has to worry about absolutely nothing. Last year alone, 115 farewells were organized, with a turnover of more than R$ 4 million.

“Since the first service, we do a survey to see the group’s profile, what each one likes, who has dietary restrictions so we can make a special menu, how many know each other and can share a room, for example, among other details. We want people to only worry about their bags and enjoying the moment”, emphasizes Hermano.

At Game Over, 56% of the farewells are women and 44% are men – while they end up choosing agencies mainly for convenience, they pay attention to exclusive experiences and details in what is offered.

There are also those couples who prefer to do it together. This is the case of Thais and Diego, who took 22 friends to a super house in Maresias, on the north coast of São Paulo. “We were looking for a reliable company that would offer us practicality and quality in service. It was really nice to share this experience with the groomsmen, in addition to being a time for them to get to know each other before the wedding. We stayed on the beach for three days and had a private party at the house,” says Thais.

Manager Bárbara Murta enjoyed her bachelorette party so much, organized by the company in January 2020, that she decided to do it again by hiring Game Over for her “wedding party”, about two years later.

Although it sounds like a joke, the truth is that she and her fiance decided to take a second bachelor party trip, which would take place closer to the new wedding date, postponed due to the pandemic, and did not think twice about looking for the agency again . However, the relationship ended up not working out. In order not to cancel their respective trips, the friends agreed to enjoy this new phase in the life of the “ex-couple”.

“I had already had an incredible experience the first time I did it, in Rio de Janeiro. We don’t worry about anything and just enjoy. But the second one, in Búzios, managed to surprise me even more. I left all the organization in their hands. They are careful to go after every detail, every priority and every taste of the bride. They entered my social networks and picked up references that I didn’t even imagine: from hiring the bands, in the musical styles I like, to the decoration of the party. It was a very special moment,” she says.

Group of friends and their thematic farewells

If Hangover and Game Over were born from the frustrated experience of organizing friends’ farewells, B4 Marry was founded by lawyer Tatiana Faro.

She, who dreamed of the universe of weddings since she was a little girl, always thought that just one day would not be enough to celebrate the date when it was her turn. Engagement, bridal shower, bar tea, bachelor party, groomsmen’s dinner, wedding at the registry office, pre-wedding: she celebrated everything she was entitled to when she got married and founded B4 to provide these different experiences for couples.

Bachelorette parties, however, are the company’s flagship. It serves 80% women by choice and does not take many events to give deserved attention to each closed contract. Despite having her own team today, she likes to get her hands dirty and be ahead of everything.

“I like to say that we don’t rent a house or sell alcohol, but rather offer a complete experience, thought out in the smallest details for that group. We have a quality standard for the houses where we host our clients, we make all purchases thinking about the profile of each one that goes and we have a concierge available throughout the trip so that nothing is missing”, points out Tatiana, who has already organized farewells in countries like Spain, Portugal and Colombia.

And so it was, seeking to spend unforgettable moments with friends, that a group of 11 female doctors got to know the work of B4 and do not give up the service.

They, who lived together in a republic at the time of college, use goodbyes as a symbol of friendship, since today each one lives in a corner of the country. Always themed and with no margin for “missing”, the commitment is that everyone is present and enjoy until the last minute, without excuses.

Of the five farewells that have already been held, the last three were organized by B4, with many surprises. One of them was in Florianópolis, in 2021. The theme was “Flash Dance”, as the bride’s dream was to wear the iconic film outfit. There was no other way: the friends, together with the agency, organized everything and even paraded through the streets of the city dressed in character, drawing good laughs from those who participated and those who saw the scene.

Already in March 2022, the lively group decided to surprise the bride at the time. She, who was a fan of the series “La Casa de Papel”, was “kidnapped” by her friends and taken on a trip that she never imagined would happen. The friends packed their suitcase and headed towards the Guarulhos airport – without the bride imagining it. When she opened her eyes, she found all her friends dressed in red jumpsuits and masks – just like the series – and got a big surprise with fate.

“We went to Buenos Aires! We organized everything directly with Tati: we bought the ticket, booked the place and the van, which would take us to Guarulhos and she left everything right. The bride thought we were going to Ubatuba, but we ended up in Argentina. We got there and everything was perfect”, says Stephanie Phillips, one of the friends of the group.

The last trip the group took was to Cartagena, Colombia, in September 2022. The bride was a fan of a famous reality show. All parties and dinners were themed, making references to the television show. In addition to exclusive tours, B4 also organized a special dinner, with a famous local chef, especially for the friends.

“These are moments that will remain in our memory forever. We joke that Tati is going to celebrate our republic’s 16th birthday. We trust her a lot. We, who had experiences of doing farewells without an agency, now we don’t give up having someone organize it for us. It is very comfortable and many details were carefully thought out for us, so the value definitely pays off”, concludes Stephanie.