11 Simple Bachelorette Party Guidelines

Bachelorette party guidelines coming at you – simplified!

If you ever been asked to plan a bachelorette party, the task may seem a bit overwhelming at first. I mean, where do you even start? What are you supposed to do? Are you even the right person for the role? It can be a lot, which is why I was motivated to write this post on simple bachelorette party guidelines.

The thing is, when it comes to bachelorette parties, there is a lot of interpretation. Yes, they can conjure up images of girls gone wild, but bachelorette parties don’t have to be a big production. And, they don’t have to be wild and crazy. They can be what the bride, and her friends, want them to be. This is a good thing, but doesn’t necessarily make it easy to plan the party.

11 Simple Bachelorette Party Guidelines

This post is going to share with you some simple bachelorette party guidelines that can apply to just about any bachelorette party. Yes, you’ll have to modify and decide the best way to go for your situation. However, whether you are a bride, or the person who is in charge of planning, these guidelines should help.

Let’s get into it!

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #1: THERE IS NOT JUST ONE TYPE OF BACHELORETTE PARTY

The first of the bachelorette party guidelines is that bachelorette parties can vary. A lot.

In fact, I wrote a post last year all about low-key bachelorettes. The inspiration for that post was because, as I mentioned above, people assume that bachelorette parties need to be wild and crazy. This simply isn’t so.

If the bride and her friends like to party and drink, plan accordingly. If they are much more mellow, that’s fine, too. Maybe they like to travel. Or, they like to stay closer to home. Perhaps they are in seasons of their lives that require them to take it easy. Whatever the case may be, it’s absolutely okay to keep it tame, or live it up.  

Here are some examples of bachelorette parties I may (or may not) have been a part of:

• A wild home party with a “fantasy shop” and “entertainment”. And tons of tequila. Shudder.
• A day/night celebration that started with spa treatments, followed by a happy hour, and a fun party at home with a large group of friends.
• A weekend in Tahoe with a group of girls. We rented a cabin, went to the beach, went out to dinner, and visited casinos. The highlight was a scavenger hunt where bride completed dares. 
• A weekend in San Diego with a large group. Everyone booked their own hotel room and there were events like a brunch, a ball game, and the beach. 
• A weekend in wine country with massages, wine tasting and nice dinners.  We rented a cool house with a pool and had a really mellow time.
• A weekend in Vegas with a show, dinners, and day club at a trendy hotel. 

As you can see, some of these bachelorette parties were at home, and others were trips out of town. A couple involved short flights, but mostly they were drivable. Each one fit the bride that was being celebrated.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #2: SOMEONE NEEDS TO PLAN THE BACHELORETTE PARTY

Big shocker here. Bachelorette parties do not plan themselves. Someone needs to take the lead and go for it.

Now, the person who typically makes the bachelorette happen is the wedding’s maid of honor. However, it can also be bridesmaids, close friends, or even the bride herself. In most cases, the bride will talk to the person who she wants to plan it, and delegate accordingly.

If you are the maid of honor in a wedding, or a bridesmaid, and haven’t heard anything about the bachelorette party, reach out to the bride. See if someone has stepped in, or if she has someone in mind. Checking in will go a long way, and she may even need some help from you.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #3: THE PARTY NEEDS TO MATCH THE BRIDE

As mentioned above, the bachelorette party should match the bride.

The party is actually about the bride, right? So it should be tailored to her interests and comfort level. It can be as simple as a dinner out with a close friend. Or a wild time in a big city with a large group. Whatever it is, it should bring the bride joy. And, it should be something that she looks back on with fond memories because she knew it was to celebrate her.

So, if you are planning a bachelorette party, talk to the bride. Find out what her vision is, and then try to help execute it. More on that later.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #4: THE BRIDE NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED (AT LEAST A LITTLE)

One thing should definitely be clear about bachelorette parties. The bride should be involved, at least somewhat, with the planning.

Now, we all know the brides who go ahead and make their own bachelorette happen. While this isn’t usually the case, it occurs. However, if you are involved in planning a bachelorette, you should be checking in with the bride on a few different items.

Here are some questions to ask her:

• How much do you want to be involved?
• Where do you want to go?
• Who would you like to invite?
• Is there anything you’d absolutely like to have there? Anything you don’t want?
• What weekends or dates are good for you?

These simple questions can go a long way in making sure that the bride enjoys her bachelorette, with people she loves, at a date that is convenient for her.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #5: PEOPLE WILL NEED TO BE INVITED  

Unless a bachelorette party consists of literally just the bride and one other person (no judgement if this is what you’re planning), others will have to be invited.

Now, the rules are fluid with bachelorette party invitations. Typically, only people who would be invited to the wedding will also be included in the party. However, if the wedding is tiny, or there are some special circumstances going on, this isn’t always the case. And, the people invited to the bachelorette party don’t have be limited to those in the wedding party. They don’t even have to be limited to just females.

Basically, the bride can invite whomever she feels should be there.

Keep in mind that the more people, the more coordination is needed, especially if travel is involved. Other than that, do what works best for the bride and the possible invitees.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #6: A DATE NEEDS TO BE SET

Okay, so to have a party means that you need to set a date.

There are no bachelorette party guidelines that state that the party has to take place at a certain time. Most bachelorette parties will take place within a few months ahead of the wedding, but really any time works. They can even be combined with another event, like a bridal shower, so everything gets taken care of in one weekend.

To set the date for the bachelorette party, try doing these steps:

1. Ask the bride when she is available
2. Reach out to invitees to see when they are available
3. Decide on a date and communicate it out to everyone
4. Look for accommodations, and book reservations, as needed
5. Confirm with everyone that reservations are made

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #7: SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE LEAD ON COMMUNICATING THE PLANS

Now, the way that you communicate and confirm can vary. Some groups do well with a group text. Others like email. You can even create a Facebook group. Do what works for your situation.

No matter what, someone will have to be the “hub” of communication. They should send out all the details, as available, to everyone. They should also be responsive if anyone has questions.

Keep in mind that when you send out a group message or email, not everyone will respond. In fact, many people won’t. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t getting the information, though. If you find that someone is weirdly not replying to your messages, reach out to them personally. It might mean that their email or phone number is incorrect.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #8: THERE SHOULD BE SOME ACTIVITIES

The most difficult parts of planning a bachelorette party definitely include setting a date, booking travel, and getting people to commit. After that, it’s time to define what everyone will do.

Now, what a group (large or small) does at a bachelorette party is up to them. As I wrote about above, there are a variety of activities out there. It’s all about choosing what will be appealing to everyone. They could range from actually getting out into the world, exploring a certain area, having reservations, or just sticking around a certain location.

My only suggested guideline here is to keep in mind that people will need to entertain themselves. Even if you’re just chilling in a house, bring some games. Have an idea of what will keep the fun going.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #9: THERE WILL BE COSTS

Okay. This bachelorette party guideline can get awkward if you’re not careful.

Bachelorette parties are not free. There are always costs associated with them. The key is to do a little research on what the costs will be, as early as possible. Then, communicate those costs out to everyone. Everyone has a different financial situation, so being clear about what attendance at the party will cost. And, if you find that a certain idea is out of most invitee’s price range, it may be time to rethink what the party will entail.

Here are a few more pointers on costs:

• All attendees should expect to pay for their own travel, split accommodations, meals, and activities.
• In many cases, the group will chip in for the bride’s share of activities and meals, but this isn’t always true.
• The bride should expect to pay for her own travel.
• The easiest way to transfer money and “pay each other back” is via online transfers like Zelle and Venmo. 

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #10: PEOPLE WILL WANT TO EAT

This is more of a reminder than a guideline, but we’ll go with it.

Meals should be considered when planning out a bachelorette party. Of course, if the entire bachelorette party is a dinner, this isn’t quite as big a deal to think about. However, if the bachelorette party is a group of girls renting a house on the beach, someone has to think about what you all will eat.

Here is what I suggest:

• Figure out a way to have food at the home, either by shopping nearby or traveling with food. There should at least be enough for breakfasts and snacks (and drinks).
• Look up local restaurants that are good for a group. Ask around to see if there are dietary restrictions to be accommodated for, and then plan ahead about where the group will eat.
• See if reservations are needed, and book ahead. This can be stressful for some, so if this part doesn’t make sense for the bachelorette you’re planning, skip it.

BACHELORETTE PARTY GUIDELINE #11: FAVORS AND DECORATIONS CAN BE A LOT OF FUN

No post on bachelorette party guidelines would be complete without a note about party favors and decorations.

Now, now, I know that bachelorette party favors and decorations can get a bit, well, risqué, but it doesn’t have to be that way. They can be pretty tame, and just something that is there with the group. Here are a few that I think are fun and will be a hit:

• A blow-up ring floaty, if you are at a place with a pool
• Streamers, signs, balloons (like these)
• Temporary tattoos that are made for a bachelorette party
• Tank tops that are especially made for the event
• Wine glasses with each attendee’s name on it (helps when everyone is drinking in a group)
• Feather boas, hair clips, or anything that makes the party stand out in a crowd
• Fun sunglasses

This part is all about having fun, so think outside the box about what everyone will go for, and make it happen if you’re planning the party.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Bachelorette parties are like snowflakes. No two are alike. They should be tailored to the bride getting married. The logistics are important, such as determining who is invited, picking a convenient date, and making travel arrangements. Be organized and clear about the costs. And, don’t forget to have fun with favors and decorations. Happy bachelorette party planning!

More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice:

13 Ways To Make Sure Your Bridesmaids Have A Great Experience

How To Make Your Courthouse Wedding Super Special

Should You Wear More Than One Wedding Dress?

Did you find this post helpful, inspiring?  PIN it to your Bachelorette Board on Pinterest! 

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