You’ve made it! All those hours of wedding planning have earned the bride-to-be a last chance to celebrate as a single lady. The bachelorette party can be one wild and crazy night or a weekend getaway with the bridal party and the brides besties. Because bachelorette parties are more informal celebrations, there are fewer etiquette rules than a bridal shower. It can be as wild or as reserved as the bride herself. And hey – guess what? This is one wedding event that does not come out of the wedding budget! However, the maid of honor and bridesmaids usually foot the bill so budget still plays a factor.
Also check out these 7 Must-Haves for an Amazing Bachelorette Party!
The maid of honor and bridesmaids should never feel pressure to go above what their their personal budgets allow. Fun and fabulous bachelorette parties can be thrown at every price point. There are ways around spending tons of money, for example using these FREE Bachelorette Party Printables. Whether the bridal party is able to pool their funds for a weekend away or they host a DIY bachelorette bash to reflect the bride’s true personality, it’s always special event that the bride will remember forever. Or not, depending on how much wine and champagne was involved. What happens at the bachelorette party, stays at the bachelorette party!
Who to Invite?
- The maid of honor and bridesmaids usually plan it, although anyone can help. If you are planning a weekend getaway, be sure that additional guests understand the costs involved.
- Bachelorette parties usually involved a more intimate guest list than bridal showers. Think wedding party, closest friends and immediate family; people who she can really be herself around.
- Moms are not usually invited. Unless the bride and her mom are BFFs and she has requested her mother be invited, don’t toil over not including her. It will seem weird, but mom’s feeling should not be hurt.
What to Do?
- Night out (dinner, dancing, comedy club, Broadway show)
- Day trip: (winery, beach, spa treatments, massages, etc.) Or, if you want to have a daytime party but want to save on expenses, this DIY Wine Tasting Bachelorette Party may be for you!
- Overnight: Check out this Boho Glamping Bachelorette Party. (camping, cabin glamping, hotel sleepover)
- Weekend getaway: If you do plan on having a destination party, check out these tips we have gathered! (Las Vegas, Miami, Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Nashville)
When to Throw It?
- In a perfect world, it’s a local wedding with a local bridal party. This could be planned a few days before the wedding.
- If the bridal party is coming in for the wedding from different cities, you will either need to plan the bachelorette party according to their travel plans, or perhaps, go to a city that is easy for everyone to meet in. (budget, permitting.) This may also require you have the bachelorette party a bit closer to the wedding than normally suggested. Fortunately, the rehearsal dinner is the evening before so that eliminates the temptation to take her last night as a single lady too literally. A hungover bride is never a happy bride.
- In cases of a destination wedding, the wedding party may decide to throw the bachelorette party before the bride leaves town or once she arrives onsite. Be cognizant that not everyone will be able to attend the destination ceremony and someone she may really want to celebrate her “singleness” with may be left out if you plan the party onsite.
Tips:
- Create a hashtag for the #bestbachelorettebashever so you can see all of your friends' photos in one place and make prints if you wish.
- Don't forget to send thank you cards to the hosts and to anyone who brought a gift.
Next stops: photo booth ideas, setting up the gift table and card box, planning the toss and send off. Can you believe it? Your wedding is only two months away!
See more tips for every phase of your planning process in our Month-by-Month Wedding Planning Guide.
Article written by: Melissa Collier
