How To: Throw A Bachelorette Party

Hello and welcome to even MORE wedding content! Let’s be honest, bachelorette parties these days have gotten totally out of control. Please don’t get overwhelmed by the crazy extravagant parties you see on Pinterest because as long as your bride is happy, anything goes! Last year while I was planning my friend Kaleigh’s bachelorette party I received a lot of questions about how to plan and execute one so I thought I’d write a blog post explaining my thought process.

Click the following links to check out Kaleigh’s bachelorette party part 1, part 2, and part 3!

bach·e·lor·ette par·ty

/ˌbaCHələˈret ˌpärdē/

noun NORTH AMERICAN

a party given for a woman who is about to get married, typically one attended by women only.

All Kaleigh wanted for her bachelorette party was a cozy night in with her girls! So I added in the lingerie shower component to take the party to the next level and make her feel totally showered with love and new lacy goodies too! (Although sometimes the lingerie shower is a separate event from the bachelorette party.)

Step 1: The very first thing you need to do is decide on the following important things:

Choose a location
Ask the bride for a guest list
Pick a theme
Optional: hire a party planner & a photographer

Step 2: This is my favorite part of the planning process because I love little details!

Design & send invitations
Plan party games
Set a loose party time line
Gather decorations (balloons, flowers, etc.)
Plan a food & beverage menu (snacks, charcuterie, dessert, wine)
Bonus points:
- Have custom Instagram GIFs made
- Make party favor bags for your guests
- Have matching shirts made OR ask everyone to dress in coordinating colors

Step 3: Always be prepared for anything!

Here is a ridiculously extensive list of things I usually come prepared with:

Veil & “bride” sash (I promise no matter what the bride will want to wear the veil)
Bottle/wine opener
Scotch tape and painters tape
Scissors
Bluetooth speaker
Sharpies and pens (for playing games)
Zip-lock bags or containers (for left over food)
Table runner
Knifes (bring several kinds for cheese and for slicing veggies)
Ice colander
Coolers (just in case the venue doesn’t have a refrigerator)
Wrinkle release spray or a portable steamer
Garbage bags
Extension chord
Power strip
Sewing kit
Serving bowls and platters
Cell phone charger
Props for pictures (For Kaleigh’s party I went with big inflatable pool toys. I chose a diamond ring and a pink heart! I also brought a portable electric pump.)

Step 4: You can do this!!

I know planning a party to celebrate the most important girl in your life during one of the most important seasons of her life can sometimes feel overwhelming, daunting and even stressful. I understand. I have been a bridesmaid SIX times so far! Just remember that your friend’s happiness is all that matters. Never let her see you sweat and think of the party as your love letter to her!

Here are some other random touches I’ve done in the past:

Assign someone to take notes as the bride opens gifts so she knows who to send thank you notes.
One time I cut up stripes of gold metallic contact paper and wrapped them around water bottle labels so they would match the theme. Yes, I might be a crazy perfectionist but they looked good!
Reach out to the bride’s friends and family who can’t attend the party and invite them to send you presents and letters for the bride to receive at the party. It’s a nice way to make people feel included.
Invite the party guests to email you pictures of them with the bride and make a scrapbook! Include blank pages so everyone can write little notes to the bride at the party.
Bring a Polaroid camera to the party and then present the bride with a photo album of the event when it’s over.
Personalize the party’s theme and maybe even keep it a surprise from the bride! One time I threw a lingerie shower the night before my friends wedding and the theme was secretly Harry Potter and she loved it!