Bachelorette Parties That Won’t Break the Bank August 9, 2010

While planning a wedding, much of the stress is had by the bride and the groom because of the many decisions they have to make. Therefore, when it comes time for one of the bridesmaids to plan the bachelorette party, she begins to share in that stress with the bride. Questions will run through her head, such as: Will the bride have fun? Is this what she had in mind? Who will be invited? Is this going to be too expensive? Well have no fear, I have a few ideas for a bachelorette party that will be both fun and affordable.

The main goal is that the bride has fun! Therefore, the first thing you should do is get a feel for what your bride wants. Not every bride is going to be the same, with respect to what they find fun, so it is most important that you plan the party around what SHE WILL FIND FUN!

• The Obligatory “Last Night Out” – There’s no denying that most brides will want to go out for a night on the town to celebrate their “last nights of being single”. However, don’t feel required to go completely overboard, as who is there and the fun that is had will be remembered over the lavishness, every time! It’s always important to eat before a night on the town, but dinner for a group can be really expensive. Instead, have a potluck at your house where everyone brings a portion of the meal – you could even theme it to the bride’s favorite food (Italian, Mexican, etc.) or bring dishes that remind people of the bride.  Pair it with glasses of wine or margaritas and you’re set to start the party off right! Once out on the town, a favorite game of mine is the bachelorette scavenger hunt. Here you will find 60 different things that can be done as a part of the scavenger hunt – go through and pick out the ones that you like and create a fun card for the bride to carry with her for the night. It will keep the night going with laughter and make great memories for you all to share in the future. If you are wanting to deck your bride out in the “traditional” bachelorette party gear, remember that all the little trinkets will add up quickly – to save on some of the cost, limit items to the bride only, and only get a few major things that will be able to differentiate the bride from every one else. Again, the night is about her - make her stand out.
• Wine Tasting the Night Away – Look to your local area to see if there are any local wineries within driving distance. Most people don’t realize that you don’t have to go to Napa in order to enjoy great wine. For example, Amador County in California is full of great wineries, and more often than not the tasting is free! (Just make sure you show your gratitude and purchase a bottle or two, or even a case or two, during your trip to the wineries. That is how they keep their business going and continue to offer free tastings. ) If you don’t have local wineries near or they are out of season, throw a wine tasting party at a house of one of the bridesmaids! In order to keep the cost low, ask each guest to bring their favorite appetizer to be shared with everyone else. You could even take it a step further and have them bring their favorite pairings of wine and appetizer, and then the party could be turned into a wine pairing party! There are also two games you could set up to play. The first would require everyone to bring their favorite bottle of wine. Then, you would put each into a brown lunch bag and number it. One by one, everyone would taste each wine and then vote on their favorite. The winner would receive a gift that you set up! The second fun game be to buy a large variety of types of wine, and then cover all the wine in brown paper bags. Number them, and then give each attendee a piece of paper. One by one, try each wine and have everyone try to guess the type of wine (Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.), and possibly even the maker. Each right answer gets a point, and the person with the most points wins a prize. Both games offer laughter and guaranteed fun!
• Slumber Party – As we grow older, we don’t partake in slumber parties anymore. So, why not bring them back for the bachelorette party, especially if it’s a party for a childhood friend! Theme the slumber party to the season or the wedding, with a signature dish and mixed/blended drink. Don’t forget the popcorn and scary movies or chick-flicks! Take this time to give each other manicures or pedicures, as well as play games that are centered around the bride. A fun idea is to give each person a clothespin when they get to the party – anytime someone mentions the groom’s name, someone else should call that person out and collect their clothespin. The person with the most clothespins at the end of the night wins the game!

These are just a few ideas that you can do for a fun bachelorette party, but there are many more things that you can do. Do not be afraid to be creative when planning. However, when planning on a budget, the most important thing you must keep in mind is that everyone knows what they’re paying for ahead of time, and that it’s reasonably priced. For example, for 10 girls at a party that cost $250, make sure everyone understands their portion is $25. The bride must not pay for anything, as the day is for her! Happy planning!

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