Are you the maid of honor at your friend’s wedding and need to plan a bachelorette party? Then have no fear – Vegas Girls Night Out is here to help you get through the process. Whether you’re planning a simple one-night bash or a girl’s weekend full of activities, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Get Your Ducks in a Row
First things first, you should sit down with your bride and ask her what she envisions for her bachelorette party. Does she want a girls weekend at the spa with a relaxing day at the pool? Or does she see her hen party as a wild night going to a nightclub and hitting up Thunder From Down Under? It’s important to learn what she wants to do so you can come up with some creative ideas.
Tip: Ask the bride what her dream bachelorette weekend looks like.
Chose a Date
Once you know what your bride wants for her bachelorette bash, then you can chose a date. You shouldn’t schedule the party too far in advance of the big day, but you also don’t want to have the party the day before the wedding. It can also be nearly impossible to schedule a party that fits into everybody’s schedule. A good rule of thumb is to plan the event far enough in advance that everyone invited has the opportunity to make arrangements to attend. Many experts suggest sending out invites two months before the party.
Tip: Stay away from holiday weekends when venues will be busier, more expensive and sometimes harder to get to because of traffic.
Be Budget Conscience
According to TheKnot, while it’s customary that the host pays for a bridal shower, the attendees of a bachelorette party pay for themselves – and the bride doesn’t pay for anything. Make sure everyone you invite knows that they will be partially paying for the festivities. However, you should be sensitive to what your attendees can afford in order to avoid embarrassment and hurt feelings.
Tip: If possible, arrange a chat with all attendees about events and set a budget to stick to so everyone is on the same page.
Don’t Overschedule
If you have a whole weekend to fill with activities, it might be tempting to stuff as many things into the schedule as possible. That’s a BIG mistake! Instead, pick the three or four things that are “must dos” and leave plenty of time for transportation, naps and spur of the moment ideas.
Tip: Always tell people dinner reservations are an hour earlier than you actually plan so people will arrive on time.
Remember It’s a Fun Party
It sounds like a given, but many bridal parties forget this is a time for celebration. Don’t get stressed out by scheduling everything and freaking out over little details. This is a time for the bride to forget about the stressful wedding plans and kick back with her gal pals. So make it fun, silly and a time to look back on and say “Remember when…”