How to Plan the Perfect Bachelorette Party

We’ve all been to a bachelorette party, you play fun games, dress up and drink way too much Rosé. However, how many of us have planned the bachelorette party? I would not volunteer for this job unless it was my absolute best friend. Some people reading this will think “but bachelorette parties are supposed to be fun?” and other people are thinking “You could not pay me enough to plan a bachelorette party”. The reason for this is because while the party is a lot of fun, planning it is another ball of wax. If you’re in the unique position where you have to plan a bachelorette party I’m going to give you some handy tips that will keep your head above water, so take a deep breath and relax.

Step 1. Talk to the bride and find out exactly what she wants. I know this may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many brides say “oh, you know me. I trust you.” Then when the day comes they had expectations all along and what you planned just doesn’t live up to them. Text the bride and offer to treat them to brunch, no one can resist brunch, and once she’s had a couple of mimosas start asking questions. I recommend starting with the base of the party and then branching out. Who do you want to invite? This will give you a starting point for location. If a small group then maybe a spa day or a girl’s trip somewhere. If it’s a group of 20 people or more then I would start looking at venues as soon as possible.

Step 2. What do you want your Bachelorette party to focus on? Brides always go into their Bachelorette party with a picture in their mind of what they want, they might act like they don’t, but they do. It’s your job to find out what that picture is. Do they want to have a family-friendly party, relax on the beach, go on adventures like kite surfing or ziplining, maybe party all day, or all of the above? If it’s a larger party then easy-peasy, you can rent a beach or vacation house, hire a bus to take you vineyard hopping, or even rent a large boat for the day. It’s only a few calls and I guarantee the guests will have a great time. If you want to party maybe do a weekend trip to Las Vegas to hit the clubs and a live show. I’d recommend getting a hotel on the main strip, or else you’re going to pay a ton of money on cabs. If the bride wants her bachelorette party to be a beach, adventure, or all of the above, I say take the time and plan a bachelorette trip. If you don’t know where to start take a look at these 32 destinations and see what stands out.

Step 3. Find Out Who Is Going and What They Are Comfortable With The bachelorette party is about the bride, yes, but if the people going on the trip are going to take away from the fun for the bride or anyone else, then you just spent a lot of time and money to be miserable in paradise. Knowing who is going on the trip and what is and isn’t a deal-breaker for them is really important. I’m not saying that you need to curate this trip to make everyone happy, but it’s a good idea to understand that you shouldn’t put someone who is a partier in the same room with someone who is using this vacation away from their kids to actually get a good nights sleep.

4. Be Transparent with Cost I’ve heard a lot about bachelorette parties going wrong and the number one reason is money. I know we all wish that our friends had bottomless wallets, but most don’t. The smartest move you can make is planning a party that is middle of the road for people’s budget, giving everyone time to save up, and an estimate of the hotel and flight. This way if anyone can’t afford it then no-hard feelings and you’ll see them at the wedding. It’s better than having everyone say they can come and then backing out at the last minute. 5. Understand That you are Not Responsible for Others Happiness It may be your job to plan the bachelorette trip, but that doesn’t mean you’re responsible for everyone’s happiness. All of you are responsible for the bride’s happiness though. This is her last hurrah for being single and she doesn’t need any drama. So, the best thing you can do is let everyone know that, apart from a special dinner or two, they are not obligated to join in on anything they don’t want to. This way there are no hard feelings. When all is said and done, the last thing for you to do is make sure you have a great time too! You’ve taken on a huge task and made it an unforgettable experience for everyone. Now all you need to do is get that bride down the aisle and you’re home free.