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.

Bachelorette Party Planning Basics

If you are a bridesmaid or maid of honor for the first time, you may be confused about how best to plan a bachelorette party. How do you tailor the party to suit the bride-to-be? Do you have to go out? Do you need to stay in? Should the party be naughty or nice?

There are a few key points to remember to plan a successful bachelorette party. First, determine, based on your knowledge of the bride or an actual conversation with her, what level of wild and crazy adventure she wants from her bachelorette party. Some girls love a last night out on the town with harmless attention from guys, lots of drinks, and dancing. Other girls prefer a night in with their closest friends, talking about guys, watching movies, and having a few margaritas. Either way, once you have determined whether you are planning an out on the town or an in the home party, you can begin to choose a theme for your event. If the bachelorette wants a low key home party, you might think about themes like “little girl slumber party,” or “80s fest!” If you have a set of girls who want to go out to a club, you may want a theme of a color – so you can all wear the color and get party favors in that hue. Everything you bring with you to the club can match, like all the girls in pink except the bride who wears white with pink accents.

Next, think about party favors and decorations. You want to match the theme of your bachelorette party, and also the tone. For a tamer party, focus on girly touches and party favors like nail polish and hair accessories. For a wilder party, decorate with penis balloons and make a cake shaped like a penis. This is not for the faint of heart, but for a wild bunch of ladies, it can be a real riot.

Another consideration is the date of your party. It is recommended to keep the bachelorette party well in advance of the wedding. Gone are the days of a bachelor and bachelorette party the night before the wedding, because you don’t want a jittery bride or a hungover bride the next day! Think of planning the bachelorette party for about a month before the wedding date, but remember that you must carefully schedule with the other bridesmaids and the bride herself, and getting schedules to match can be tricky. Try to start your preparation as early as possible.

Finally, make sure you have a good guest list. You should of course invite all the other bridesmaids, honor attendants, and sisters of the bride. You may also want to consider some of the bride’s other friends who aren’t in the wedding party. Often great girls are close enough to the bride to want to celebrate with her but aren’t necessarily in the wedding. Don’t forget to include these special people! You are best served if you consult with the bride about the guest list for her bachelorette party.