Forget strippers and bar crawls — one San Diego man got an unforgettable bachelor party before entering into married life thanks to some unexpected party guests: a raccoon, two opossums, an owl, and a lizard the size of a small dog.
Stephanie Chan, 27, wanted to do something that actually reflected her fiancé’s personality for his bachelor party — and it turns out, he’s a big fan of opossums. So she teamed up with Critter Encounters, a local wildlife sanctuary that specializes in rescued, non-releasable animals, and brought the wild directly to the backyard.
The event took place on April 12 and featured an interactive animal encounter for the groom and his seven groomsmen — all of whom had no idea what was coming. One of them reportedly dropped his plate of sliders when a tegu lizard lumbered into the yard. Fair.
Petting Opossums or Games in a Bachelor Party?
Critter Encounters brought five animals in total: two chill opossums, a raccoon that acted like it owned the place, a tegu lizard with a whip-like tail, and a rescued owl (for view-only, due to permitting laws).
The crew got to feed and gently pet most of the animals, except the owl, who remained perched like a judgmental guest of honor. The raccoon reportedly tried to climb into a cooler, and one opossum curled up in the groom’s lap, instantly making it the most photogenic moment of the night.
According to Stephanie, the idea came from an offhand comment. “He once said, half-joking, that his dream was to hold an opossum. I just ran with it.” She wasn’t expecting it to go viral, but TikTok had other plans.
Viral Joy and Real Education
Clips from the party racked up over 2 million views, with comments ranging from “This is the best bachelor party ever” to “I want this instead of a wedding.” Many viewers appreciated the break from typical pre-wedding debauchery and praised the couple’s quirky, wholesome style.
But it wasn’t just fluff and furry faces — Critter Encounters used the opportunity to educate guests on wildlife conservation and responsible animal care. Each animal had its own rescue story, from injuries to illegal pet situations that made it impossible for them to return to the wild.
The hands-on experience allowed the groom and his friends to interact with animals they’d never seen this close—at least not without someone calling Animal Control.
A New Trend in Wild Weddings?
With backyard wildlife encounters trending on social media, don’t be surprised if “opossum party” becomes the new “margarita bar.” For Stephanie and her fiancé, it was the perfect way to celebrate: unforgettable, meaningful, and just a little weird — like any good marriage.
And the groom’s review?
“Best party ever. And yes — I finally held an opossum.”
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