The bachelorette party!! One of my favorite wedding parties; I’m not sure if it has something to do with thelaugh-out-loud fun to be had or the “no pressure” feeling that comes along with planning the event, but you really can’t go wrong! Get a bunch of girls together, throw in some cocktails and games, and voila! You’ve got an entertaining night that will hopefully be remembered for years to come.
The bachelorette party should take place three to five weeks before the wedding day to ensure that there aren’t any accidents that might put a damper on the ceremony or reception, such as a scabbed knee or a broken ankle (I have seen this happen after many drinks and walking in 4 inch heels).
You can make this special event to be as low-key as a celebration at a home or an extravagant girl’s weekend in Las Vegas. Pick a location that works for all of the girls’ budgets, and suits the bride’s personality.
Here is a list, in order, of the things that you should consider doing in your preparations:
1. Have the Bride-To-Be give you a list of the girls she wants to attend the party, including their phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses.
2. Find out who wants to be a part of the planning, whether it’s the bachelorette herself or some of the girls who will be attending, after all, most of the attendees will want to have a hand in the preparations.
3. Do some brainstorming with the bachelorette and other party goers as to what type of get-together you all want to have; laid back or perhaps a little more adventurous, as well as the bachelorette party theme, keeping in mind the other girls’ budgets. Is airfare or another form of transportation required? Are you going to pay for the hotel and transportation and then get reimbursed, or are you going to ask for money up front?
This can be a touchy subject, as chances are, not all of the girls are on the same budget. After you’ve figured out the money logistics, then decide on the location and date. It might prove difficult to find the perfect date for everyone, so pick what works best for the majority.
4. About three months before the party, send out “Save the Date” invitations, either through mail, e-mail or an e-vite. Let the girls know the details of the plan you’ve put together so far, so that they have time to prepare for the cost, what they will need, travel arrangements, and any other important information. Make sure you are persistent on the RSVP’s! Get your head count down as soon as possible. It’s hard to make hotel and travel arrangements without knowing how many people to account for.
5. Keep everyone informed through email of any changes or updates, including the places you will be eating, party supplies that are needed, reservations, and how the money will be handled. Also, decide on whether there should be a dress code, perhaps a certain color and theme you want.
6. Approximately two months before the bachelorette party, make sure you have your entertainment, hotel
accommodations, and restaurant reservations booked. This may seem early, but you’ll get better deals and assure that you get the bookings that you really want.
7. One month before the fun begins, send out an email or formal invitation for the bachelorette party with the final details, and confirm who all is responsible for bringing what, as well as confirming your reservations.
8. Also, get all of the your orders in now! For instance, if you are purchasing fun bachelorette party favors, games, party supplies or gifts online, give yourself plenty of time to make sure they arrive before the event. My personal favorite is bachelorette.com, with fun party supplies and affordable prices. I’ve always ordered my supplies from them and gotten them within one week, but you never know! So, plan early.
9. Two weeks before the party, check with the girls again and make sure nothing has changed, maybe by sending out another email reminder, giving them the opportunity to reply. By now you should have just about everything that you will need for the party ready to go. If the girls are reimbursing you for the costs you’ve endured, be sure to get that in now so that you don’t have to stress about it when you’re trying to have a good time at the party.
10. One week before, send out another email just to get the girls excited about the event ahead of them. It’s not a bad idea to use this opportunity to also include any reminders that need to be made.
Now…have fun!! Remind yourself of what a great job you did. Remember, it’s all about the Bride-To-Be, so make sure she is pampered and relaxed come the day of the party.
About Lilly Childers
