Tips for Simplifying Bachelorette Party Planning

Are you struggling to plan a bachelorette party for one of your friends? With the regular demands of life – work, school, kids, spouses, keeping up you home – planning a party is usually the last thing on your mind. If you have committed to planning a bachelorette party but haven’t been able to get things together, you can still throw a wonderful bachelorette party with a few quick tips found on the Ultimate Games Guide.  Once you’ve checked out that link, continue reading below.

First, if you are pressed for time, consider buying a pre-packaged bachelorette party kit. While they may compromise creativity, a bachelorette party kit saves you tons of time by doing all the shopping with one quick purchase. Bachelorette party kits, depending on the kit and the price, can include things like utensils, paper plates, napkins, banners and other decorations, party favors, and items for the bride to wear like a tiara.  Check out our Party Store for ideas.

Next, try enlisting a network of helpers. Bachelorette parties are more informal than bridal showers, so you are free to ask for the help of other bridesmaids and party guests. If you are having trouble doing all the bachelorette party planning on your own, try a potluck party idea where each guest brings some refreshments, or a twist on potluck where each guest brings an article of clothing for the bride to wear during the night or each guest brings one decoration (after you have given them a clear theme or color scheme).

You can also ask other bridesmaids to chip in to help cover the cost of the party, or you can plan an event at a restaurant where each girl pays for her own meal and chips in to cover the bride. A party out at a restaurant also has the bonus of requiring little prep beyond confirming that the restaurant can handle your group.

Other time saving tips include sending invitations for the bachelorette party via email, such as through the evite website. You can enlist the help of other guests through email too, which will save the hassle of endless phone calls between the girls. You can simply start a series of emails that everyone can read and comment on.

Another time saver is to go straight to the source of the party – the bride. While you never want the bride to actually plan her own party, if you are stumped for ideas, you may simply want to do a little gentle questioning to get a sense of exactly what she expects so that the planning efforts you make are worth it. With some basic guidance you can get a sense of whether or not the bride wants to hit the bars or stay at home with popcorn and chick flicks with her girlfriends.

Even though planning a bachelorette party can be difficult at times, when you bring joy to one of your closest girlfriends it will all be worth it. Spread the planning duties among several friends, and the task will seem more manageable, and you might even be able to have fun at the party!

For more information, check out some great Party Planning Tips here

Timeline for Bachelorette Party Planning

To make sure you are successful as a bachelorette party planner, there are some simple things to follow that will help you decide what to plan and when.  Before reading on, check out these Party Planning Tips.

At least one month before the bachelorette party, ask your friend, the bride, what she would like or not like in terms of a bachelorette party. Will it be just a  a simple night out on the town with drinks, music, and fun? Or will she prefer a weekend with her closest friends, or just a nice dinner out? Does she want a house party, or just pizza and pool at her favorite hangout?

It is important to gauge the comfort level of the bride with various bachelorette party ideas. Does she want to be naughty, or nice? It may be prudent to define what it is she has in mind to keep things in her comfort zone. After all, the bachelorette party is for her, so the last thing you want if for her to feel uncomfortable or left out. A few weeks in advance of the big day or weekend, set the date. Shoot for a weekend night where a bunch of you can get together and go over things. Check the date not only with the bride, but also with the other attendees to make sure it works for as many of the bride’s friends as possible.

Brainstorm possible game plans and party themes with the bridesmaids, leaving these details a surprise for the bride. Check out this great resource for Bachelorette Party Games by clicking on the link. If the party will be at a hot spot out of town,  make reservations, order tickets, basically deal with any pre-arrangements that are necessary. Start planning at this point for transportation, especially if you and the gang will be drinking. Either get a volunteer to be the DD, or find a limo or reliable taxi service.

If you’re going with the standard pub crawl, figure out the route ahead of time to avoid any ‘problems’ that may arise from intoxication! Start out with dinner at a rowdy restaurant where it is OK for the bride to wear her tiara and the shirt you make for her. Map out the places you’re going, and make sure everyone has the itinerary in case of late arrivals or getting lost. Make sure you ask about drink specials and bachelorette freebies at the bars you plan to visit. If you’re partying at home, help the hostess plan refreshments and activities. Make a shopping list and divide up bachelorette party prep among bridesmaids.

Finally, a few days before the party, buy last minute decorations, party favors, etc. Make a list of the games you want to play at the bachelorette party, with rules and how-tos.  Confirm all the RSVPs, transportation arrangements, and bachelorette party entertainment. The day before the party remind guests of the meeting place and time, as well as directions.  Now, just get plenty of sleep so you can enjoy the bachelorette party!

Planning a Bachelorette Party For The Bride To Be

Are you responsibe for planning a bachelorette party for your best friend, also known as the bride?  It’s important to ask her what kind of event she’s looking for because it’s ok to embarrass her, but you don’t want her to feel uncomfortable.   At the same time, you want to avoid a ‘tea party’ when what she really needs is a walk on the wild side. In either case, planning a bachelorette party can be a gigantic task.   To help you get started, check out this Party Planning Guide

The bachelorette party can act as a substitute or as an addition to the traditional wedding shower. The wedding shower usually features older relatives and friends, while the bachelorette party is for your close friends to give the bride a send off she deserves. When a planning bachelorette party, you should know that some of these events are fairly tame…depending on the tastes of the bride. Decorations will include typical party favors, the theme will be romantic and gifts may include household items that the bride will need if she is setting up a home for the first time. In many ways, this is the typical shower.

Other times, planning a bachelorette party will involve pampering the bride and her wedding party. Perhaps an in-home bridal make up demonstration will do the trick. Other times, a day trip to her favorite spa for all of the guests makes for the perfect party. In this case, gifts that reflect the luxurious nature of the day – soaps, perfumes, etc. – are most appropriate.

Some brides will be game for a sex-themed party. This may involve male strippers; either as an in-home event or as a party to Chippendale’s or comparable club depending on where you’re from. If you’re having an in-home party, let your imaginations run wild to come up with neat decorations, but just keep everyone’s tastes in mind. Gifts, as well, can reflect the sexual nature of marriage, and exotic lingerie is always welcome.

Other times, the party will be a night out to a bar for dinner, drinks and dancing. The bride will be given a checklist of events she must do that evening including kissing a man with the groom’s first name, getting a single guy’s phone number, and more.  Again, let your imagination run wild.

Destination bachelorette parties are becoming popular as well. When planning a bachelorette party away from home, consider what the bride wants. Is she looking for the ultimate spa experience in a place like Scottsdale, AZ, or is she wanting to let it all out and party in Vegas?

More and more, you may find that planning a bachelorette party involves the groom as well.  The increasingly popular “Stag and Doe” or “Jack and Jill” parties involve all of the bridal couple’s friends and family. They are mainly used as fundraisers for the wedding, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great event.  For great games ideas, check out Ultimate Party Games.

As far as finances go, you should never expect the bride to foot any of the bill. The guests should chip in for her portion. Considering that the guests must cover their own bill as well as a portion of the brides’ planning bridal party must keep a reasonable budget in mind.

Spa Bachelorette Party/Makeover Party

Are you looking for a new and fresh idea for a bachelorette party instead of the same old thing? A great new trend is the spa bachelorette party. Its not really a traditional choice, but what girl wouldn’t like a day of pampering.

For a spa bachelorette party, usually the party is during the day, or the spa part of the party is one event in a weekend. You should choose a local spa, and let the other girls attending the party have input about where to go so that the spa you choose is affordable and well liked. Next, contact the spa itself. Many locations have discounts for large groups or special treatments that can be done as a group. For example, you may get a room to yourselves while everyone gets pedicures or manicures.

Next, have each girl sign up for which treatments she wants, and make sure that the spa can schedule you in an organized manner. If the spa is used to large groups and parties, it can likely schedule a block of employees and a block of time for your group. Be sure that you discuss both the price of services and expected tips for servicing a large group, so that all the girls attending your spa day are well prepared.

Spa bachelorette parties are great on weekdays, when spas are often less expensive and have more time to accommodate a group.

If a spa bachelorette party becomes hard to plan or seems too expensive you might want to consider an in-home makeover party. This type of makeover party is great if the bride-to-be doesn’t want to go out to bars or clubs for her bachelorette party, but instead just wants to spend time with her girlfriends.

For a makeover party, you can do one of two things. You can purchase a large variety of at home spa treatments at a beauty supply store to service the entire group of girls. Otherwise, you can ask each girl attending the party to sign up in pot luck fashion to bring one spa treatment for each guest. For example, one girl can bring individually packaged face masks for everyone, while another girl brings mini nail polishes, and another girl brings lip glosses, etc. If everyone pitches in it becomes a very economical party and you get a large variety of treatments and beauty products to experiment with throughout your party.

If you are having an in-home makeover party, you need to consider your bathroom space versus the number of guests. If you are running low on space for all the ladies to try their treatments, you may want to consider buying plastic basins to fill with water for soaking hands before manicures and other treatments. You also should be sure to have lots of towels on hand and encourage your guests to dress in comfortable clothes or pajamas for the party itself.  If you are spending the party at home, you may want consider the Ultimate Games Guide to keep your guests entertained throughout the night.

Either at home or in a professional spa, a makeover party or spa bachelorette party can be a great bonding experience. It is sure to make all your guests feel beautiful!

Roman Theme Party

If you are looking for a unique bachelorette party theme, try a Roman theme party. This works great for brides who loved the movie Gladiator, those who have always loved Italy, or a girl who is marrying into an Italian family.  You may also want to check out Ultimate Theme Party ideas

Invitations for a Roman feast bachelorette party should be Italian in theme – something with golden vines and grapes. The details included in the invitation should mention to guests that they should arrive in Roman attire (think togas!) and also bring pajamas to change after the feast.

You can rent Roman theme party costumes for the bachelorette party, or just use a sheet to make a fun and inexpensive toga party. To decorate the room you are having the feast, move the furnture out of the way (at least along the walls). Then drape fabric in a favorite color over the walls, china cabinet, and other large items of furniture. Place lots and lots of throw pillows on the floor around the coffee tables that will serve as the low tables where food will be displayed. Those tables can also be draped in matching fabric.

You can also rent Roman theme party style columns to place strategically throughout the room at a party supply store. Ivy bought at a craft store can also help complete the Roman feel for the bachelorette party.

The menu for a Roman theme party can be any finger foods, and also things evocative of Rome, like a tray of stuffed grape leaves and of course a Caesar salad! Make sure you have lots of wine on hand, as the Romans were always drinking wine! Have both red and white wine, and plan more than you would for a regular party, because ladies often come to drink at a bachelorette event.

If you are hiring a male stripper, request that he arrive dressed as a gladiator. If you are lucky you can get someone who looks a bit like Russell Crowe to complete the fantasy!

To make sure the bride-to-be is properly attired for the bachelorette party, take her out while some of the girls are decorating the party spot to a costume shop where she can get a great outfit. Plan ahead to make sure the costume store has several options in her size. You may even want to consider taking her to a beauty salon to get her hair done up in Roman style. Then, when you arrive at the party, have everyone greet her in Roman style by scattering rose petals at her feet when she walks into the room! Give her a laurel wreath to wear on her head, and if she wants to feel like a total goddess, a scepter or other wand-type object usually does the trick.

After you eat your Roman finger foods while lounging on pillows in your Roman palace, you can have formal entertainment like a stripper. Or the Roman theme party can then turn into a slumber party where the girls all watch movies like Gladiator or Ben Hur. Even the HBO show Rome would be great entertainment for this type of party!

Be sure to check out Ultimate Theme Party for more ideas

Planning a Bachelorette Party

In the current era of women’s empowerment, bachelor parties are matched with fun and exciting bachelorette parties for the ladies. Some basic tips on planning a bachelorette party can be followed by anyone, from a seasoned pro at hosting parties to a novice.  For more information, check out this party planning guide.

First, virtually anyone can help planning a bachelorette party. Usually the maid of honor or bridesmaids take the lead in planning a bachelorette party, but any friend or relative can plan the party. An important tip in planning a bachelorette party is that if you need to make reservations for a show or other activity, you’ll want guests to formally RSVP. No matter who takes charge, all interested ladies should have some input in planning a bachelorette party, and the bride herself can be consulted to determine what she thinks would be a fun time.

Bachelorette parties usually include all the bridesmaids and closets female friends of the bride, which may include a few relatives, neighbors, or coworkers. A bachelorette party is usually a relatively small group, and definitely under 20 people. Around 10 or fewer girls is usually ideal, so that planning and going out aren’t difficult.

As for the date of a bachelorette party, don’t plan it for the night before the wedding, the last thing the bride needs to be thinking about is a possible hangover or going home early from her own party. When planning a bachelorette party, it is recommended that it be the same weekend as the bachelor party, so you may want to coordinate with the groom to get the date set.

Planning a bachelorette party is very individual to the group giving the party. One girl can take the lead, or a group can plan together, such as all the bridesmaids or a clique from college. Some bachelorette party hosts ask for donations from each guest, but the bride shouldn’t be expected to contribute to the fund. Bachelorette parties, especially those hosted in someone’s home, don’t have to be expensive, and can even be potluck events. Bachelorette parties are usually very informal and free form.

Bachelorette parties are more laid-back and less structured than traditional bridal showers, and there is no “typical” bash. What usually comes to mind, though, is a group of giggling girls and a bride dressed up in a funny shirt or veil. You can paint the town red if that suits the bride, but you can also have other celebrations. You can opt for a nice dinner out, a concert, or a party at someone’s house, including a possible slumber party, especially if some of the guests are from out of town. If you do go out, make sure that all the guests know how to dress – do you have a theme color or is everyone going to wear a feather boa? Are you all bringing items for the bride to wear, like a novelty tee-shirt and a veil?

The bachelorette party is not a gift party in the same way a shower is, but presents are usually given that are silly or a bit naughty. Encourage guests to buy inexpensive gag gifts, sexy gifts, or lingerie for the wedding night.  For more help on planning a bachelorette party, check out the party planning guide.

Bachelorette Slumber Party Ideas

Do you remember the best times you’ve spent with your long-time girlfriends? Were some of those times slumber parties in grade school and junior high? If you want to recapture the joy of spending time with the girls, these bachelorette slumber party ideas may be just the trick to bring together all the women in the bride-to-be’s life.

A successful “little girl slumber party” bachelorette party theme requires several bits of planning. First, all the girls attending the party should be on board with the slumber party ideas. They need to know what to bring with them – sleeping bags, cute pajamas, pillows, snack food like we all ate in junior high, girly movies to watch late at night, and slumber party games.

Next agenda item for bachelorette slumber party ideas is decorations, which need to match the theme. Try banners, streamers, and balloons in shades of pink. Create a cozy area near a TV for everyone to throw out sleeping bags and make sure you have lots of blankets and pillows on hand. Provide each girl attending the party with a goodie bag that can be used throughout the night. The bag should include some great slumber party basics, like nail polish for doing manicures and lip gloss. Give the girls a toothbrush that is purple or pink. Include little girl items like stickers, hair clips, and kid themed candy, like candy rings. You may also want to consider including things that are specific to your childhood era. For ladies in their mid to late 20s, many childhood icons are popular again, including Strawberry Shortcake, My Little Pony, and Care Bears. You can find great party favors and stickers that are these childhood favorites, which will set the tone of your bachelorette slumber party.

Next, make sure you have enough party food. Consider slumber party food like ordering lots of pizzas, having cookies, or even raw cookie dough, and chips and dips. Now is not a time to worry about your diet, as you are trying to capture the joy of being a little girl and staying with your friends.

As for slumber party games, you should encourage sitting around and talking, like we all used to do with our friends. Topics should be light – boys, hair styles, and movies are all good things to keep the party on track. You can play classic slumber party games, like truth or dare, and really keep the feeling of childhood going. The bachelorette can be given special rights, like veto power during the game of truth or dare, or some other privilege. Also, when it starts to get late, a great option is to watch classic girly movies. Each guest can bring her favorite chick flick so that there are lots of options for viewing late into the night.

Another thought in our series of great bachelorette slumber party ideas is to give the bride-to-be a series of gifts. Lingerie, massage oils, or other naughty gifts are great for this type of party and also often spawn fun conversations between the girls attending the bachelorette party.

Naughty Bachelorette Party Games

If you want your bachelorette party to sizzle, play a few naughty bachelorette party games with the girls. The party is sure to be rocking in no time once the ladies loosen up!

There are lots of fun and naughty bachelorette party games to get the girls in the mood to party with the bachelorette. First, try the cherry game. Ask for volunteers who want to be virgins again, and then place in front of each a cherry in a bowl. Add whipped cream to fill the bowl, and tell each girl that the game is a race to see who can get to and eat their cherry first. It is a funny game when the girls really get into it! No utensils to dig out the cherry or use of hands allowed!

One of the most popular bachelorette party games sold nationally is the That Guy game, which is a set of cards with depictions of different stereotypical guys – from the mullet guy, to the sports jersey guy, to the super hot guy. Cards are dealt to all the bachelorette party guests before you go out on the town. Then, during the night, you have to find live men who embody the cards you were dealt. The first girl to find matches to all of her cards, and point out these matches to the other girls at the party, wins!

The perfect bachelorette party game is called Drink or Dare, which, when purchased comes with a spinner board, score card, and shot glass. Each girl spins and reads the dare and then the bride-to-be gets to decide if she will take the dare or drink. The game is bound to get the night started off with some laughs and kick the party into full gear! Dares include things like flashing your bra, doing a table dance, and getting a guys boxers. It is possible, for the frugal bachelorette party host to make this game by hand, by writing out dares on a set of index cards and asking the bride to choose drink or dare before she is dealt a card.

If you are having a risqué bachelorette party that includes a male exotic dancer, a great bachelorette party game to play is to identify the hunk. After he has done his dance, and leaves, bring out a printed form for each party guest to fill out asking questions like: What was the dancer wearing before he started his routine? What was the dancer’s eye color and hair color?

How tall was the hunk? What color briefs was he wearing? What song did he dance to? How many songs were played during his stay at the party? How many girls did the exotic dancer dance with? What was his name? It is amazing to see how few questions the girls will get right!

To make sure this game runs successfully, make sure the exotic dancer himself fills out the form discreetly before he leaves the party. It is always a riot to see what the girls put down as answers at the bachelorette party.

Bachelorette Party Theme

How can you make your bachelorette party stand out? Choose a bachelorette party theme that will be fun for all the girls attending the party. There are many options, and a few are outlined below.

First, is there a festive holiday coming up? If so, it might make a great bachelorette party theme. For the Fourth of July, a bachelorette can dress up in 40s clothing, military wear, or everyone can dress as USO girls. Valentine’s Day is a great time for the girls to all dress as cupid or Victoria’s Secret angels. There are similar options of clothing to wear for Halloween, Christmas, or Mardi Gras, depending on when you are having the bachelorette party theme.

Another great bachelorette party theme, especially for girls who are marrying men in the military, is a GI Jane theme. A GI Jane bachelorette party theme shows support for the troops and is fun to boot! Everyone can dress up in military garb, including camouflage or other items you can find at a military surplus store. You can also make your bachelorette party theme a charitable endeavor by raising money for troop families and donating it to the American Red Cross or another charitable organization after the party. Just get all the girls dressed up, go out to your favorite bar, and collect money that will make your night out on the town a bit more meaningful. The donation can be made in the name of the bride-to-be, to make it clear that it is her special night out.

For a classic bachelorette party theme, especially with a bride you have known since childhood, dress the entire bachelorette party as naughty school girls. If you want attention when you are out, nothing gets more second looks than school girl outfits. Think Britney Spears when she first hit the music scene, plaid skirts, pigtails, and light classic makeup. You can also play songs that fit the theme of the night, like School’s Out for Summer, some Britney Spears music, and anything else that mentions school.

A fun bachelorette party theme, especially if the bride is not the first of your group of friends to get married, is a nightmare bridesmaid dress contest bachelorette party theme. Have all the bridesmaids dress up in the worst bridesmaid dresses they have either been forced to wear in a previous wedding or that they borrow from friends. Most girls have at least one bad bridesmaid dress lurking in their closet, and this is a great way to get a laugh out of those bad dresses! Make sure all the girls play up their makeup to go along with the bad dresses, go out for a few drinks and a lot of laughs, and give a great prize to the girl who has the most hideous dress, especially if she actually had to wear it to a wedding!

No matter what theme you choose for the bachelorette party theme you are planning, the important thing is to ask the bride-to-be what type of party she is willing to have, with close attention paid to whether she wants a lot of attention out on the town or a more quiet night in with her friends. Make sure you don’t make the bride uncomfortable at her own bachelorette party!

Choosing the Right Bachelorette Veil

With all the planning a bachelorette party requires, the last thing you want to spend a lot of time thinking about is what kind of bachelorette veil, tiara, or headpiece to have the bride wear, but it is an important part of a traditional bachelorette party. A few key bachelorette party tips will help you choose the right headpiece for your friend. Should you have her wear something simple and white, or red and gaudy?

First, you have to decide to be naughty or nice. Generally, it is best with a bachelorette veil to go nice, because convincing the bride to wear a penis veil may sound fun and funny, but you’ll have more fun playing games and sharing stories when the bride is comfortable, which is hard when she is wearing a penis on her head. Anything with condoms or flashing penises on someone’s head makes them look not only silly but also tacky. A clean, simple white veil is a much more classic choice. You can also opt to buy two veils – one for the sober bride and a bad girl veil for the bride after she has had a few drinks.

A top quality bachelorette veil is made of tulle, a net material that can be fine or coarse. Finer tulle looks much lighter and flows better than coarser tulle. Coarser tulle resembles white fishnet. Finer bridal veils are made from cotton or silk tulle, while the inexpensive veils most brides wear at a bachelorette party are always made from nylon. In addition to a bachelorette veil, brides may feel more comfortable or more special wearing tiaras, headbands, hats or even devil horns. A tiara is a great choice to make the bride feel really special. It is actually possible that she can wear both a bachelorette veil and a tiara. Many bachelorette veils attach using a barrette and clip to the back of her hair while the tiara can be worn around the front of her head.

Bachelorette party veils come in a wide variety of designs. Some of the best include the heart veil, made from gorgeous tulle and adorned with flowers, strands of pearls, and of course, hearts. The cowgirl veil is great for girls who are a little bit country. It has a fun cowboy hat with a bridal veil attached. Heading out to a hoe-down or just the local honky-tonk? This cowgirl hat and veil is just about perfect.

A devil bachelorette veil is also a great choice. It has a traditional veil, along with plush feathers and shiny horns. The devil veil combines the “nice” side of the veil with the “naughty” horns, without going overboard and making the bride feel uncomfortable at her bachelorette party.

Another choice for a great bachelorette party veil is a black veil, which may sound sinister, but instead looks cool and symbolizes the mourning of the passing of your friend from the single life into the married world. It is a hoot and will stand out as different from the traditional white veils on the market.