Contents
Who Is the Maid of Honor?
How to Plan a Bridal Shower
How to Give a Toast
How to Plan a Bachelorette Party
How to Help Choose Wedding Attire
Maid of Honor’s Ceremony Responsibilities
Maid of Honor’s Reception Responsibilities
How to Decorate the Bridal Suite
How to Overcome Obstacles
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How to Plan a Bachelorette Party
One of the most memorable prewedding parties is the bachelorette party, which usually takes place a few weeks before the wedding. The bachelorette party is a chance for the bridesmaids and the bride to get together and party before the wedding. Though the bride almost never has a hand in the planning of her own bachelorette party, the party should
reflect her personality nonetheless. It could be anything from a day of massages and manicures to a night of dancing.
Bachelorette Party vs. Bridal Shower
The bachelorette party is a very informal party and is usually smaller than the bridal shower. Though the bridal shower
may include the bride’s mother and coworkers, the bachelorette party is usually just for close friends—often the bride and her maid of honor and bridesmaids only. Whereas the shower is more ceremonious, the bachelorette party is just about letting loose and giving the bride a chance to decompress before her wedding day.
Types of Bachelorette Parties
Depending on the bride’s personality, the bachelorette party can be done in a few different styles, from G-rated to R-rated. It’s a good idea to talk with the other bridesmaids about what the bride would want.
G-Rated Bachelorette Party Ideas
A few wholesome yet fun ideas for a bachelorette party are:
- A day at the spa: This option ranges from something as casual as getting manicures and pedicures at the bride’s favorite nail salon to heading to a local spa for massages or special treatments, such as body wraps or reflexology sessions.
- A cooking class: Many restaurants offer a demon-stration night in which parties can get a cooking lesson from the chef while they watch their meal get prepared.
- A wine-tasting treat: This can be done at a wine bar, a restaurant with a wine cellar, or at home. See if your town offers a wine-testing class and call that instructor to come play sommelier at your house.
PG-Rated Bachelorette Party Ideas
If a G-rated party is too tame for your group, you can up the ante with plans such as:
- A night of karaoke: Some bars and clubs have special karaoke rooms you can rent out—or you can make your own party at home with a karaoke machine.
- An evening at the movies: Ask your local movie theater whether it’s possible to rent out a theater for a couple of hours for a private double feature. That way, you can chat during the show and not have to worry about making too much noise.
R- and X-Rated Bachelorette Party Ideas
If the bride and her friends are up for something a little more adventurous, you can try:
- A strip club: This can be a wild experience—even if it’s just for laughs. If the bride or some of her guests feel inhibited, consider hiring a stripper who makes house calls.
- An X-rated theme: Sign up to learn a risqué activity, such as pole dancing, that you might not have the guts to try on your own. Or stage a sex-toy party in which guests come to your house to browse, buy, and even learn how to use the latest X-rated paraphernalia.
Destination Bachelorette Parties
Sometimes, the bride may decide that she’d like to have her bachelorette party at a vacation destination. As the maid of honor, the first thing you should do is to find out whether the bridesmaids can afford the trip. If everyone—or at least the majority—is game, your next step is to help choose a location that everyone will enjoy. Then start making arrangements for travel and accommodations. You’ll most likely be in charge of booking everyone’s trip and collecting their money.
Make the Guest List
If you’re not sure whom to invite to the bachelorette party, it’s fine to stick to just the bridesmaids and the bride. But you might want to ask the bride whether she’d like to
include her mother, future mother-in-law, or anyone else you may have left out. Sometimes the bride may want to invite friends or coworkers who are not part of the bridal party.
Pick a Date and Time
Nail down the specifics in advance by choosing a date and time for the bachelorette party.
- The date: Typically, a bachelorette party takes place a few weeks before the wedding. It’s a good idea to throw it at least a few days before the wedding, especially if you expect it to be a wild party. Often, the maid of honor will coordinate with the best man and have the bachelorette party on the same night as the bachelor party. You may even want to plan to have the two parties meet up at the end—or even throw what’s known as a Jack and Jill party, which is a joint bachelor/bachelorette party.
- The time: The appropriate hour for the party will depend mainly on what kind of party you have. For evening activities, such as going to a club or dinner, set the time around 7:00 or 8:00 p.m. Daytime activ-ities, such as brunch or a day at the spa, should be scheduled closer to 11:00 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. This gives everyone enough time to get to the location but still have the whole day ahead of them afterward.
Set the Budget
The cost of the party should be split among everyone
attending, so be sure to give some forethought to how much money guests can or would want to spend. Sometimes it’s best to start with an amount for everyone to contribute—say $50 per person. Then, if there’s something extra you want to do, pay for it yourself. For example, you might pay for a brunch at your place and then have everyone split the costs of a spa afternoon.
Find Invitations
Like everything else about the bachelorette party, the invitations don’t have to be as formal as they would be for a shower. For instance, it’s fine to just send an Evite or a personalized invitation custom made on your computer.
Skip the Gifts
Traditionally, gifts are not given at the bachelorette party. Mementos and props, on the other hand, are a staple of bachelorette parties. Kitschy, raunchy, and otherwise lighthearted items are popular. These include:
- Feather boas
- Penis-shaped straws or candy
- A tiara and veil for the bride to wear for the night
- Disposable cameras
- Photo albums with fun pictures of the bride and guests
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