The Unspoken Rules of Planning a Successful Bachelorette Party

Over the years, the bachelorette party has evolved from a casual, single-night outing where you grab drinks and play some games into a multi-day event with travel, food, lodging, and activities. And if you’re tasked with planning the party, it’s easy to feel intimidated.

7 Tips for Planning an Unforgettable Bachelorette Party

Bachelorette parties are a time-honored tradition. They’ve been around since at least the 1960s and, in some form or fashion, well before that. But over the last 10 or 15 years, they’ve taken on a totally different degree of intensity and significance.

If you’re the one in charge of planning a bachelorette party for a bride, then you’re experiencing some tension. Even if you’re excited about the proposition, it’s a bit nerve-wracking to have so much pressure on you. But don’t stress – we’ve got you covered.

In order to host a memorable party that everyone enjoys – bride and bachelorettes included – you’ll need a plan. And here are a few suggestions:

• Plan Ahead

Don’t wait until the last minute to throw together a bachelorette party. Not only do people fill up their schedules, but it’s also significantly more stressful when you have to plan dozens of details within a short time.

As soon as you know that you’ll be the one leading the party, start cranking out some ideas and getting a rough framework together.

• Select a Good Time

Good planning starts with timing. This is by far the most challenging logistical aspect of the process – so knock it out early.

Begin by asking the bride for three or four weekends when she knows she’ll be available in the months leading up to the wedding. Then send out a survey to the attendees and ask people to list when they are/aren’t available. You won’t be able to get perfect attendance, but aim for a weekend when the majority can show up.

• Determine an Ideal Location

Location is another major detail that has to be fleshed out early on. Will this be a destination bachelorette party, or will it be local to the bride? Is there a destination that’s central to everyone, or will you all be traveling together? Compromise will be key here.

• Invite the Right People

The guest list is usually pretty straightforward – though you should ask the bride for her input. In many cases, there will be people who aren’t part of the bridal party but still get an invite. More people mean more accommodations, but it also means more people to split the tab.

• Establish (and Stick to) a Budget

Money is a huge sticking point. Developing a budget ahead of time will ensure you don’t go overboard.

“The main costs to consider include lodging/travel, transportation, meals, drinks, activities,” Hollywood Casino of Perryville explains. “The total cost should be split evenly among the group. Once everything is booked, you should try and collect any money in advance. Avoid the hassle of having to do it during the party so everyone can relax and focus on celebrating!”

• Schedule in Some Downtime

A good bachelorette party will have an itinerary with a few planned activities. But be wary of getting too rigid.

“If you’re planning something longer than a night out, remember that the real joy of this party is getting friends from all walks of the bride’s life together and having a chance to hang out, away from the pressures of a wedding. (And for the older crowds, away from their families, kids, career, general life pressures.),” author Meg Keene mentions. “So while it’s tempting to plan an event to the hilt, remember to plan for downtime.”

• Ask for the Bride’s Input

You know your friend best. Is she the kind of bride who would love for everything to be planned for her and kept a surprise? Or is she the type of person who knows exactly what she wants and would prefer to give her input? Depending on which camp she falls into, you should plan accordingly.

Relax and Have Fun

There’s certainly a lot of pressure that comes with planning a bachelorette party – but much of it is self-inflicted. Do your best to give the bride a weekend she’ll enjoy and cherish, but don’t aim for perfection. Have fun and go with the flow!