Planning a Fun Girls' Night to Celebrate Your Wedding
A lot has changed since “bachelorette party” was synonymous with a night at Chippendale’s, complete with chauffeured limousine and champagne. That’s still a fine way for you to spend a night with the gals, but it’s no longer considered de rigueur. Bachelorette parties now range from luxurious (spa day), to sophisticated (wine-tasting), to downright extravagant (a long weekend in the Caribbean).
First, a couple of notes: Anyone (save the bride) can host a bachelorette party. It can be the maid of honor, another bridesmaid, a co-worker, or just a good friend. The people invited don’t necessarily have to be wedding guests (though if nine invitees are in your wedding party and the tenth is not, things can get awkward). Mothers don’t have to attend; let the decision to invite rest on the type of party, and your relationship with both moms. Usually, everyone in the party chips in for the event, but the bride is not expected to pay for anything. (Think of it like a birthday dinner.) Finally, if you plan on a night of heavy drinking, don’t have your party the night before the ceremony. Red, puffy eyes don’t look so hot in wedding photos.
That said, before you suggest a thing to your bridesmaids, keep in mind their time and budgets. They’re paying for this, they all have different amounts of income to spare, and they should be having fun too. Remember that they’d probably like to spend some alone time with you, to reminisce, to giggle, and to celebrate your union.
Soiree in the right style.
As the average age for brides grows, so do the maturity of the events. Spa days are one of the most popular trends, and easy to arrange. Since it’s fairly easy to find a salon anywhere in the United States, all you need to do is call and book. Ask about group discounts. You can keep it simple (manicures and pedicures), or spice it up with facials and massage.
Wine-tasting is a bit more costly, and not as readily accessible to women in Corpus Christie, Texas, as to those residing in Napa Valley. If you live near a winery and it can be a one-day excursion, it’s easier to arrange, and much cheaper. Keep in mind that wine-tasting often leads to intoxication, so you’ll either need a designated driver, or arrange for transportation, or hotel rooms. If one of your friends doesn’t drink, you should probably nix the idea. Even though she might be too polite to mention it, you’re excluding her from the party.
As for trips to the Caribbean or anywhere else (Las Vegas has become a big trend; so has New York City), who wouldn’t want to spend a few days in paradise- or Sin-City? But who wants to pick up the tab is another story. If the girls in your party have last names like Hilton and Hearst, it’s probably not going to be an issue. For the other 99% of us, it could raise problems. Just remember, it’s not only about what you want, but also what you can afford.
So you may want to forget about big money trends altogether; they certainly aren’t the only popular options. Dinner at a favorite restaurant is fun and relaxing. If you’re all theater buffs, a night at a show is a great plan, and cultural (downside: no alone time to chat). You might all be so pooped from planning, that TV night and popcorn at a friend’s house is the best gift of all. It’s not where you are that matters; all that really counts is celebrating your happiness with your friends.