Bachelorette Party
Ah, the bachelorette party. For some reason this seems like it’s supposed to be just a fun night out with the girls; the “Final Fling Before the Ring!!!”…or whatever else helps party stores sell satin sashes and plastic tiaras for five times the markup... Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed some brides and bridesmaids stress more about the Bachelorette Party than any other part of the wedding. Here are a few party planning tips to genuinely have a good time, - not a countdown until the limo comes and takes everyone home. These are meant to be helpful to whoever is planning the party:
Limitations – This applies to many different aspects of planning a bachelorette party. Sometimes it’s money, and sometimes it’s time. Some might not be able financially afford a weekend trip to Atlantic City or an expensive dinner, night on the town, limo, and a strip club even if split evenly. Some might not be able to take off work to attend, no matter how long in advance you plan it. If it’s between being able to take off for the bachelorette party or the bridal shower, the bridal shower is definitely more important for not only the bridal party, but other friends and family. If you plan the bachelorette party for a holiday weekend, be understanding to the fact that some people might be hosting company or have traditional trips away from home that they will have to attend to.
Age – If you’re planning to have anyone under the age limit of the venues or events (some clubs do not allow anyone under the age of 23 or 25 now) that you want to attend, make sure to look at this as a factor while planning. If there are people in the bridal party that are underage for anything you want to plan, take into consideration that they might feel left out in not being able to celebrate with everyone else.
Enjoyment – It is supposed to be something fun for the bride to bond with her friends and bridal party. If the bride-to-be was never a party girl, try to make it something she would enjoy. This also applies to other people attending. If someone does not feel comfortable with certain activities, even if they are present for them, try not to embarrass them by intimidating them into participating. Bachelorette parties don’t always have to involve bar crawls, strip clubs, or a crazy all night party. They don’t always have to be at night either. There are plenty of daytime activities available. Consider things like wine tasting at a vineyard, or look at spa packages, theatre group pricing, manicure/pedicure specials (this could be a time saver if the bachelorette party is planned within a few days of the wedding).
Budgeting – Besides looking into group rates for a more wallet friendly experience, if deciding on using a limousine, contact the livery service (if there is one being used for the wedding), and see if they can give you a discount for using them as well. If plans were made and everyone has agreed or responded, don’t start adding last minute extras that will raise the cost for what was originally agreed on.
Communication - One last tip on Bachelorette Parties. Communication is the key. Try to avoid sending a mass text or a mass email saying something like “____’s Bacheloterre Party on 1/2/14. 400$, dinner + club + hotel”. What does that even mean?! There are no details about the price breakdown, no information on the type of dinner included or the club, or where you will be spending the night. Besides, is the quoted price of “400$” per individual or per group? Last thing you would want is for people to assume that the price will be split between the entire bridal party, when the price was in fact, quoted for each individual guest. This all can get very confusing, very quickly and more likely bring additional stress to the entire bridal party and most of all, the bride.
Remember, when planning a Bachelorette party, do your homework and research all of the options. Don’t settle for the first Google search result, when searching for “Mexican restaurant near the 14th street”. Break down the prices, communicate well with the rest of the bridal party, cover your limitations and make sure THE BRIDE is going to have a great time. After all, it is her celebration :)
Cheers!
Ps. Here is a shot of my Bachelorette Party in Hoboken, NJ
