Inspiration | Planning an Unforgettable Bachelorette Party
Pop the bubbly! Throwing an unforgettable bachelorette party doesn’t have to be stressful, but it CAN require a massive amount of preparation, organization, and communication. If you’re in charge of the sacred duty of bachelorette party planning for a bride-to-be, we want to be sure you're set up for success - from drawing up the guest list and picking the perfect activity to navigating multiple attendees communication styles. Once you learn some key tactics to tackle those necessary elements of the traditional party, you’re bound to plan an extraordinarily memorable event for the bride.
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Who Should I Invite?
The guest list of a bachelorette party is a delicate balancing act. The bride-to-be might hope for a getaway with just her closest loved ones, but it’s your job to sort through the family politics on her behalf. The bridal party is an obvious yes, but after that, it’s up to you to think about the significant players in the bride’s past and future life.
Make sure to invite any close friends that the bride hasn’t included in the bridal party and consider sending an invite out to a new sister-in-law even if she might be a stranger to most of the group. Make sure to check in with the bride on the topic of her mom or mother-in-law.
Is her mom her best friend and down for a relaxed tour of a winery or a hot stone massage? Or are you planning something a little too wild for her taste? Don’t feel pressured to invite everyone on the guest list; instead, try to pick an activity that limits the invites to between ten and twenty people, and let anyone who asks know that you’re keeping it small and intimate.
What Should We Do?
There’s no one right thing to do for a bachelorette party, so it’s up to you as party planner to know the bride well enough to choose an activity that she’ll treasure forever. If your party’s large and your bride is frantic with wedding planning, consider a yoga retreat, spa weekend, or a group fitness class. If there are only ten of you and your bride is an adventure-seeker, try something cool and Instagrammable like axe-throwing, glamping, or zip-lining.
Even low-budget events like a big sleepover (complete with makeovers and Bridesmaids the movie) or a board game night can serve as the perfect reminder of all the love and support surrounding the bride. Inform guests in advance if they’re being billed for the activity to avoid day-of drama.
When Should It Be?
The pièce de résistance to the perfect bachelorette party puzzle is the right timing. Too close to the wedding is too hectic; the days leading up to the wedding are full of last-minute planning, family member arrivals, and the rehearsal dinner. However, if most of your bachelorette party guests are coming from far away, they might not be inclined to fly in twice.
To avoid conflicts like these, talk to the bride early on. If the most important guests are traveling in for the big day, consider planning the bachelorette party four to seven days before the wedding, which gives the bride enough time to tackle last minute wedding items afterward. On the other hand, if you have an intense destination party planned, a month or two out from the wedding would give the bride enough time not to cross wires on packing between the bachelorette party and the honeymoon.
No matter the event, be sure to inform guests of the date at least three months in advance with a save-the-date card (or text!) to ensure they can plan out their schedules. After guests have been notified, check in with them a month later to get their RSVPs and smooth out any conflicts.
Article by the lovely guest blogger Amanda Moore amandalmoore65@gmail.com
Sources:
https://www.theknot.com/content/bachelorette-party-invitations, https://www.brides.com/story/plan-the-perfect-bachelorette-party, https://www.brides.com/story/las-vegas-bachelorette-party-planning, https://www.brides.com/story/who-gets-invited-to-bachelorette-party, https://www.theknot.com/content/bachelorette-party-basics
