How to plan a bachelorette party the right way
What is a bachelorette party?
A bachelorette party is a party for the bride-to-be. It usually runs parallel to the bachelor party, so whilst the boys are off doing their thing, the girls can take the day, or often a whole weekend to celebrate the end of their single chapter in life.
As the bride-to-be already has so much on her plate with the wedding planning, the maid of honor usually takes on the responsibility of planning the bachelorette party. You want a big bang before you start this next chapter of your life and settle down, so you want to make sure you choose someone who you know and trust to throw a great party.
Planning the bachelorette party involves everything from creating a guest list, to sending out invitations, arranging party decorations, coordinating the bridal party and finally putting together an amazing party with plenty of alcohol and fun.
How far out should you plan a bachelorette party?
The question about when to plan the bachelorette party is not easy to answer, as the timeline for every wedding is different. However, there are some general rules of thumb that you can follow to start planning your bachelorette party.
It can be tempting to start thinking about and planning your bachelorette party as soon as you get engaged, however, that’s not the smartest thing to do. You want your new status as a fiance to sink in and have ample time to let all your friends and family know about the wedding before you get ahead of the bachelorette planning.
Moreover, you will want to get at least some of your actual wedding planning done before getting started with the bachelorette party planning. Once you have a few of the main elements of your wedding planned and you have a better idea of your budget, you can then assess how much you can afford to spend on the bachelorette party.
Having said this, you also do not want to wait too long to start planning and have your bachelorette party too late. If you leave the planning to the last minute, you run the risk of not getting everything organized in time, guests being unable to attend due to short notice or being forced to hold the party too close to the wedding. It’s best to organize the bachelorette party a couple of months in advance of the wedding.
How do you plan a perfect bachelorette party?
Planning a bachelorette party has a lot of working parts, and there is a long to-do list of things you need to get sorted to make sure the ultimate party is thrown for the bride-to-be. In order to make the process less daunting and help you on your way, here are some of the most important things to keep in mind when planning a bachelorette party:
1. Send out invitations
The first thing that you need to establish is who is going to be invited to the bachelorette party and send out invitations to that coveted list of people. You will want to talk to the bride and coordinate who they want to attend.
Once you have agreed on a list of guests, you need to send out invitations. The way in which you do this is up to you. If all those invited live near you, you could easily make some delicate handmade invitations and hand deliver them to all the potential guests. Alternatively, if the invitations are being sent all over the country, or even in different countries, you could create an e-invite with pretty aesthetics.
2. Book a venue
Once you have a headcount and know who is coming, you need to start thinking about the logistics. The most important thing you need to do is to start booking things. You need to book a venue for everyone to stay, book dinners for when you're away, book bars, book transportation, book activities such as a cooking class, etc.
Again, it is important to keep the bride in the loop as the bachelorette weekend is for her after all. You need to make sure you organize activities that the bride will enjoy.
3. Little details
The best bachelorette parties are those that pay attention to details. You can create a theme for the party, hire a personal chef, organize bachelorette party games, coordinate bachelorette party gifts, etc. The options are endless!
Although bachelorette party planning can be overwhelming and stressful, it does not need to be. If you have a clear plan and trajectory, bachelorette party planning can actually be quite fun as you put in the effort to create the best party for the bride-to-be.
How much should you budget for a bachelorette party?
The budget for a bachelorette party will be different for everyone. Just as everyone has a different wedding budget, everyone will have a different budget for the bachelorette party. You need to remember that everyone in attendance will have a different financial situation and you want to make the party as accessible to everyone.
Regardless of the budget, you can always make the bachelorette party an event to remember. If you want a rough ballpark figure on what to expect the guests to pay, in 2019, the average cost to attend a bachelorette party was $537 per person (source). However, there are ways to keep the cost down if you don’t want to expect the guests to pay that much.
Who pays for the bachelorette party?
The question of who pays for the bachelorette party is a key one to ask before you start planning. Knowing and setting out a clear budget will ensure you know the parameters of your party planning.
The most important thing to remember is that traditionally, most bachelorette party throwers expect those attending the party to foot their own bill. This means that each individual person will be responsible for their own accommodation cost, travel cost and food and drink cost. The only person who does not pay for anything at the bachelorette party is the bride-to-be. Bachelorette party etiquette dictates that the guests should pool some money together to cover the bride’s costs.
Bachelorette party planning tips
Knowing how to throw a bachelorette party is not easy, especially if you’ve never done it before. After all, how many times are you going to be a maid of honor in your lifetime? To help you out, here are some of the best bachelorette party ideas and some tips to ensure you throw the most memorable party possible.
Destination party
If you’re looking to make the bachelorette party something that no one is going to forget any time soon, a destination party is a sure way to do that. Whether you opt for a city break or a beach party, getting a few of the bride's closest friends and family away on a short break will be a great way for everyone to spend time together before the wedding.
However, if you are thinking about a destination wedding, make sure you are considerate of everyone’s budget. Not everyone invited will necessarily be able to afford a big holiday so keep that in mind when you are planning. If you are thinking of holding a destination party, consult those who will be invited first, as there might be some non-negotiable guests that cannot afford to attend the party if it is abroad.
Hiring a personal chef is a great way to add a touch of finesse to your party. Whether it is a one-night party or a whole weekend, hiring a chef will elevate the experience to a whole other level. If you are planning a whole weekend, consider hiring the chef for the entire weekend so you don’t have to worry about food.
A personal chef will also create a more personalized experience and you can make sure the tastes of everyone in the group are accounted for. The experience of a personal chef is intimate and unforgettable as you can establish a relationship and rapport with the chef whilst they serve up a feast.
Have a theme
Having a theme is a great way to ensure continuity and inclusion. The theme can be as specific or as casual as you wish but it can work wonders to bond the group together. A theme is a silly and innovative way to elevate the party that you’ve got planned.
When choosing a theme, the best way to go about it is to consider what the bride likes and enjoys. From there you can incorporate the theme into the weekend in as big or a little ways as you wish. For example, you could plan the entire weekend around the theme, arranging activities that align with it, or alternatively, you could create outfits that showcase your chosen theme.
Plan activities
Activities are a huge part of the bachelorette party experience, especially if you are planning a bachelorette weekend. The activities that you choose to book are completely up to you, just ensure that they are inclusive and fun.
If you’re struggling to think of activities that all of the guests will enjoy, consider booking a cooking class. Cooking classes are a great way to get everyone involved in a fun and practical way.
Social media
Social media can be leveraged to elevate the bachelorette party. Creating a hashtag or commissioning a personalized filter can bring your bachelorette party pictures to the next level. After all, if you’ve done a good job planning the party, you will want to remember it for years to come.
Of course, you should consult the bride to see if she is comfortable with people sharing pictures on social media. The main reason why some brides do not want the bachelorette party plastered all over social media is because they do not want to hurt the feelings of those who haven’t been invited, so just be sure to keep that in mind.