Bachelorette Parties

Any woman who has ever been married usually recalls her bachelorette party with a sheepish grin and red cheeks. A bachelorette party is the last hoorah for the bride-to-be (the bachelorette) before her big day. It is a celebration of the upcoming nuptials, and also a party that allows the future bride to celebrate the transition from single life to married life.

A bachelorette party is not the same thing as a bridal shower. Bachelorette parties are celebrations meant for the bride’s best female friends to give her a fun send-off into matrimony; a bridal shower is a celebration intended to prepare the bride for her marriage by “showering” her with presents that her and her husband-to-be will need to set up house after their wedding.

There are so many different kinds of bachelorette parties. There are the innocent, and the not so innocent; the night out on the town, and the night in with the girls; some couples even plan to have the bachelorette party and the bachelor party end together for one big celebration for both the bride and groom. Whatever the bachelorette party ends up being, it should be everything that the bride has imagined.

When it comes to planning a bachelorette party, that responsibility falls to the matron of honor. The matron of honor can rely on the bridal party for help with the budget and the planning, but she is the one who needs to take the initiative and make all of the arrangements. After all, the party is a celebration for someone close to her.

To start, the matron of honor should definitely consult with the bride. Some brides have certain standards they may follow in regards to a bachelorette party. They may also want to have family members included in planning the bachelorette party. However, some bride's may leave everything up to the judgment of the matron of honor. If the bride requests a more mild and innocent party, then her wishes should definitely be followed. The bride may also request a night that she will never forget, or, hopefully, will be able to remember the next morning!

One of the most important factors to consider when planning the bachelorette party is the date of the party. Traditionally, the bachelorette party is held the night before the wedding. However, that is not necessarily the best idea. Given that the bachelorette party could run late and there is a lot going on the day of the wedding, try planning the bachelorette party for a week in advance. This gives the bride plenty of time to refresh after the celebration.

A bachelorette party can be held almost anywhere. Have a favorite restaurant? Call ahead and reserve a party room. Have a favorite hotel? Get the bridal party to chip in on the cost of a suite. Have a favorite bar? Just show up! However the bride wishes to celebrate her last hoorah, there is usually a place to accommodate the bachelorette party.

If the bride wants to spend her bachelorette party painting the town red, then try a progressive dinner type of celebration. Start with appetizers at a lounge, then move to dinner at a stylish restaurant, dessert at a great café, and end with drinks and dancing at her favorite club until the sun is shining again. If the bride wants a more subtle celebration, then call in a caterer and rent a suite at a hotel, or even decorate the backyard or basement.

The more creative the bachelorette party is; the more fun the bride will have. Try to plan an evening to fit her personality. If she thinks restaurants and clubs are crowded, try an evening of facials, manicures, and massages. If she is more outgoing and adventurous, a night downtown might do the trick. A day outing might even be a great way to celebrate her bachelorette party.

Compared to the bridal shower, bachelorette parties are considerably smaller. The guest list is usually limited to the bridal party, and a few more close friends. The bride’s mother and female friends are usually not always invited, so make sure to consult with the bride beforehand. Between ten to fifteen women is common, however, some may be smaller, and some may be larger. When planning the guest list, be sure to consult with the bride about who she wants to attend the bachelorette party. After all, it is all about her.

After finalizing the guest list, invitations need to be sent. Compared to the other celebrations, such as the engagement party and the bridal shower, bachelorette party invitations can be informal. Unless the party is large or reservations are required, the invitations do not need to be sent until about two to three weeks before the party – just enough time for the guests to RSVP.

Choosing bachelorette party invitations allows for a lot of creativity. There are many different party and online stores that offer a variety of fun invitations. If the bachelorette party is going to be more of a rousing event rather than an innocent get together, choose an invitation that expresses the intention. However, if a quiet evening with the girls is what is being planned, choose a more muted and simple invitation. Whatever is planned, an invitation is a must.

Decorating for a bachelorette party is an extremely easy task. Considering most bachelorette parties are held at restaurants, or are spent clubbing, then there are no decorations needed. Just bring some accessories for the bride to announce to all of the outsiders what is being celebrated. However, if the event is going to be held at a hotel, a party center, or someone’s home, then it is time to get creative.

For the more innocent bachelorette parties, then a few balloons are all that are needed. If there is going to be any type of theme, then that will set a basis for how to decorate. Usually, though, bachelorette parties are small, and very little is needed to set the mood.

For a more rowdy crowd with a more adult oriented bachelorette party, then there are many different ways to decorate. Many party and online stores have a wide selection of decorations geared toward these types of bachelorette parties. The informal celebration that is a bachelorette party makes decorations easier to come by and even easier to make by hand.

Bachelorette parties are usually spent consuming small amounts of food and large amounts of alcohol. However, the better the food, the more that will be eaten. The food can actually make or break the evening.

If the bachelorette party is going to be spent out on the town, then pick and choose the main dining attraction very carefully. If trying a different restaurant, then try something with a proven reputation. Trying a new restaurant may actually result in some unwanted stomach upset.

However, if the bachelorette party is going to be spent indoors, then put some effort into planning the menu. There are many different caterers who are available for small parties. Pizza or subs are the easy way out, and make for a boring bachelorette party. If the budget calls for the food to be made at home, then try to pick some favorites of the bride, and make sure the recipes are good.

Of course, no bachelorette party menu is complete without a cake. For a more innocent bachelorette party, choose a bakery that is known around town. For a more adult themed bachelorette party, then a novelty cake is the perfect choice. It is to be expected, as they are quite common, but it always adds some humor to the night. If a bakery is out of the budget, then there is nothing wrong with a homemade cake and a selection of goodies.

A bachelorette party means fun, fun, and more fun! Depending on the bride’s personality, the evening should include activities that she should enjoy, but not too much that the party starts to get boring. A few games or activities are all that are needed to make the evening enjoyable.

There are many different games that are perfect for bachelorette parties. If the night is going to be spent out and about, then a scavenger hunt makes for a great bachelorette party game. Divide the guests into small teams of two or three. Give each team a list of objects to find throughout the course of the evening.

If the party is going to remain at one location, then try a few more traditional party games. Have the guests try to answer questions about the groom, and have the bride judge the winner. For an adult themed party, there are many different types of games that can be purchased to make the evening fun and memorable.

Some brides want an evening filled with games for their bachelorette party, and some prefer to just spend the evening doing a few activities with their guests. If the bride wants a bachelorette party minus the games, then plan an evening with some enjoyable functions. Dinner and dancing can be enough to please some. For a more traditional bachelorette party, hire an exotic dancer. If the bride is okay with being surprised, then the sky is the limit.

Every guest who attends a bachelorette party expects to leave with a fun memento of the exciting event. Compared to bridal showers, though, the bachelorette party allows for more fun and creativity in choosing party favors. There are also usually less guests, which allows for more money to be spent on each party favor.

Depending on how the bachelorette party was celebrated and how many attended, the types of favors that are given vary. Gift bags for the guests are becoming increasingly common. Lotions, candles, make-up, and other little trinkets make perfect favors. If the bachelorette party was spent at a spa, then a bathrobe or a bath set is a great favor. If the night was spent out on the town, then a gift card to a restaurant that was visited is another great favor.

If the budget does not allow for a gift bag or more expensive items, there are still many great ideas for party favors. Send each guest home with a small box of chocolates. A small scented candle makes a great party favor. Even a tube of the bride’s favorite lipstick and a bottle of nail-polish make great favors, and will be greatly appreciated. If those party favors do not work for the budget or the guests, then try browsing the Internet or picking a book up from the library for more ideas.

The bride and groom get gifts from the bridal shower and the wedding, and those gifts are usually monetary or household items, such as bedding and small appliances. Bachelorette party gifts are much different than bridal shower and wedding gifts.

A bachelorette party gift is usually something fun for the bride. Lingerie is a very common gift, and can be relatively inexpensive and very easy to find. There are many other gifts that are thoughtful and will be appreciated, as well.

Gift cards make great bachelorette party gifts. A gift card for the bride’s favorite lingerie store is even better than lingerie. It gives the bride the opportunity to pick out something personal to her. A gift card for a spa is also another great gift idea. Pamper the bride before her wedding with a massage or facial.

Another great gift idea for a bachelorette party is something for the bride to take with her on her honeymoon, such as a new purse, new jewelry, or even a new outfit for her to wear. Just keep in mind, though, that bachelorette party gifts are usually all about the lingerie!