Bachelorette Party Ideas and Planning | Unique Ideas for Your Bachelorette Party

Planning a bachelorette party? Whether you’re the bride-to-be or a guest, there are a few faux pas to keep in mind to save yourself and everyone else any embarrassment after the big night. Read on to learn what not to do so you can avoid awkward moments after her bachelorette party and consider the right bachelorette party ideas for a great time.

1. Dwell on Personal Drama
Check your problems at the door. This night is all about celebrating the bride-to-be. No one wants to hear you complain about your demanding boss or romantic woes. Save the drama for your mama and avoid talking too much about yourself. Instead, share fun memories of your single adventures with the bride.

2. Constantly Complain
As with any girls’ night out, this is an occasion to get glammed up, but be sure to choose attire that is comfortable. Wear something that you feel confident in. Constantly complaining about feeling bloated or your painful stilettos is a surefire way to put a damper on a fun party.

3. Break the Bank
Usually the bachelorette party is paid for by the guests, so make sure to be budget-conscious when planning the festivities. Call a cab instead of ordering a chauffeur-driven limousine or start the night off with champagne at someone’s home instead of paying for over-priced bottles at a restaurant or nightclub.

4. Confess Concerns
If you get the urge to confess your doubts about the groom after your third glass of wine, remember, now is not the time to spill the beans. Serious conversations are always best sober. This is neither the time, nor the place.

Looking for a great bachelorette party idea? How about sending the bride-to-be to Vegas! Las Vegas is the quintessential hotspot to host a bachelorette party, featuring some of the world’s best hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and gaming. With so many options, planning the weekend can be time-consuming, which is why we’ve scouted the top spots for you!

Where to Stay
The Hard Rock Hotel and the Palms Casino Resort are ideal options for a rowdy group, featuring lively pools and over-the-top nightlife. Prefer to stay on the Strip? The Cosmopolitan and ARIA at CityCenter are stunning new resorts right in the middle of all the action.

What to Do
Las Vegas has something for everyone! Whether the bride-to-be wants to be pampered, see a show, gamble or get a lap dance, everything is possible in Vegas! Spend the day at the spa and start off the night at Chippendales. Move on to Flirt Lounge, where the all-male wait staff is minimally outfitted and chivalrous. Learn new moves for your man and book a private exotic dancing class for your group at Stripper 101.

Where to Party
Las Vegas has no shortage of luxurious nightclubs, with hotspots located in glittering resorts up and down the Strip. Choose a hotel with nightlife in mind, as many clubs offer preferred table bookings and cover fees for hotel guests. The most-popular clubs include Haze at ARIA, Marquee Nightclub at the Cosmopolitan, The Bank at Bellagio, XS and Surrender at Encore, Lavo at the Palazzo and TAO at the Venetian.

Want a bachelorette party idea for a great locale with ample nightlife and relaxation? Cabo San Lucas, Mexico is a popular destination for those looking for wild nights on the town and poolside pampering. In September, media-darling Nicole Richie spent the weekend there with her nearest and dearest girlfriends celebrating her final weeks as a single gal before her December wedding to rocker Joel Madden.

Well-known guests, including songstress Christina Aguilera, DJ Samantha Ronson, hair stylist Andy LeCompte and stylist Simone Harouche, flew to Cabo in high-style on a private jet. They stayed in private villas at the luxurious Las Ventanas al Paraiso Resort and spent their days lounging poolside, soaking up the Mexican sun. Richie and pals indulged in spa treatments including manicures and pedicures. Mother-of-two Richie was spotted constantly texting on her Blackberry, checking up on two-year-old daughter Harlow and one-year old son Sparrow.

The former party-girl kicked up her heels at night with a margarita-soaked group dinner, dining on traditional Mexican fare, at Mi Casa restaurant. Dinner was followed with dancing in downtown Cabo San Lucas at Mandala Club. The famous ladies made efforts to remain incognito, sporting masks as they danced the night away. The bride-to-be wore a sash emblazoned with the same sentiment.

Guests received custom T-shirts that read “Nicole’s Bachelorette 9/17/10” to commemorate the occasion. Christina Aguilera was photographed wearing hers when arriving home in Los Angeles.

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden tied the knot on December 11, 2010 at her father’s (Lionel Richie) lavish Beverly Hills estate.

Toast the bride-to-be with the “wine of kings”! Champagne has a long-standing tradition as a celebratory drink, but before you start popping bottles, read bachelorette party supplies guide for tips on choosing champagne for a great bachelorette party.

• Champagne is a type of sparkling wine produced by grapes grown in the Champagne region of France. Any sparkling wine made outside of the small French region is not considered authentic champagne, though it’s often called that. Brands of true French champagne include Moet & Chandon, Louis Roederer, Krug, Perrier-Jouet and Dom Perignon.

• Sparkling wine is produced throughout the world. It is commonly made from muscat, chardonnay and pinot noir grapes. It is produced by inducing a secondary fermentation of wine in the bottle, which creates carbonation.

• Determine a budget before choosing the brand. A standard-size bottle will fill five to six glasses. If bubbly is the only drink that you’ll be serving at the bachelorette party, provide one bottle per person in attendance.

• Sparkling wine is available in vintage and non-vintage varieties. Vintage means that it’s made using grapes from one harvest, while non-vintage is made from at least two years of grape harvests. Vintage is typically much more expensive than non-vintage.

• Ever wonder what label lingo on the bottle like “extra brut” or “demi-sec” means? Rated from driest to sweetest, the bottle will have one of the following notes: extra brut, brut, extra dry, sec, demi-sec and doux.

No matter what type of bubbly you choose, the bride-to-be will surely enjoy celebrating!

Cheers!

Many new wedding trends emerged and gained popularity in 2010, especially for bachelorette party ideas. Read on to find out the top four bachelorette party trends of 2010 and how you can apply them to your 2011 celebrations.

1. Destination Celebrations
Las Vegas, Cabo San Lucas, Napa and Miami were top destinations for brides-to-be across the country. Forget going out to a local club for the evening. Last year ladies have extended the festivities with a weekend-long celebration in a desirable locale. Whether you’re seeking sun, sand, pampering or fine wine, a destination bachelorette party is a fantastic way to enjoy yourself before the big day!

2. Themed Parties
Another trend of 2010 was themed bachelorette parties. Popular themes include the ‘80s, golf and Christmas-inspired ugly-sweater parties. Many brides-to-be and the hostesses enjoy themes because it creates a more festive event as everyone gets into character. Plan a perfect bachelorette party by keeping everything from decorations to drinks and party favors in a theme the bride-to-be will be sure to love.

3. Non-Traditional Festivities
Not interested in spending your evening imbibing at a male strip club? Last year, many brides-to-be have shunned traditional bachelorette activities in favor of tamer activities such as spending the day at a relaxing day spa. Remember, this is your day and you can celebrate however you want to!

4. Joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
Many brides and grooms opted to celebrate their bachelor and bachelorette parties together in 2010 with a coed celebration. This is an ideal option for couples with many mutual friends and it gives everyone a chance send off the soon-to-be-married couple in style!

Planning a bachelorette party for a sporty girl that’s not into traditional bachelorette activities? Here are three athletic-inspired bachelorette themes that your sporty bride-to-be will enjoy:

1. Bowling: Break out your bowling ball and enjoy an evening filled with a little friendly competition in honor of the bride! By celebrating at your local bowling alley, all you’ll need to bring is decorations. Feeling really festive? Have personalized bowling shirts made to commemorate the occasion!

2. Game-Day Tailgate: Is she a football fanatic? Get tickets to watch her favorite team play on a Sunday afternoon. Get an early start before the game with a bridal-themed tailgate party. All you’ll need is barbecue supplies and beer for a fun tailgate celebrating the bride-to-be. For a unique party favor, have can koozies custom-made to remember her bachelorette bash.

3. Wilderness Weekend: If the bride-to-be loves to camp, spend a weekend in the wilderness to celebrate her upcoming nuptials. Bring tents or rent a camper for the weekend. Stock up on burgers, hot dogs, s’mores and all of her favorite snacks. Hang out around the campfire at night, recounting all of the love stories that have led up to her dream wedding. Plan an adventurous hike to bond with the bride in nature. Design a custom T-shirt for all of the guests as a keepsake of the bride’s bachelorette weekend in the wilderness!

Whether you are sporty or not, the athletic bride will appreciate all of the effort and planning to make her bachelorette party as fun and unique as she is!

Looking for a bachelorette party activity that is as unique as the bride-to-be? Read on to learn about of three favorite bachelorette party activities that wholly celebrate the bride’s past, present and future!

1. See What the Future Holds: Hire a fortune-teller or a tarot-card reader to forecast the bride-to-be’s future. All attendees can find out what’s in their cards. Everyone will love a forward-thinking New Age bachelorette party! After all, who doesn’t want to see what their future holds?

2. Scrapbook Their Love Story: Host an at-home bachelorette party and create a scrapbook for the bride-to-be depicting the love story leading up to her wedding. This requires a bit more preparation than other party activities. You will need to gather scrapbooking supplies like decorative paper, stickers, glue, tape and fancy-edge scissors. Have the bride bring all of her favorite photos and mementos. She’ll enjoy spending the evening with her nearest and dearest, recounting her fairytale romance with the groom. The scrapbook will be a lovely cherished keepsake!

3. Love Games: Stock up on all of the bride-to-be’s favorite snacks and host a low-key bachelorette party at home taking a walk down memory lane. Spend the evening reliving the bride-to-be’s childhood and playing her favorite love-centric board games. From Dream Phone and Girl Talk to the Game of Life, gather childhood games for an evening of nostalgic fun!

No matter which bachelorette-party activity you choose, the bride-to-be will appreciate your thoughtfulness in celebrating her past, present and future with her husband!

Many people stress over the guest list when planning pre-wedding events like the bachelorette party. Who should be invited? Who shouldn’t be invited? Do you have to invite extended family? What about female friends of the groom? The list goes on and by inviting everyone, the bride-to-be’s bachelorette party can turn into a bigger production than she intended.

Stamp of Approval
Generally, the bachelorette party is organized by the maid of honor. As the event organizer, the guest list is her responsibility. It is considered a best practice to have the bride-to-be review the guest list before invitations are sent to ensure that everyone she wants included is invited.

Who to Invite
Polite etiquette indicates that the guest list typically includes all bridesmaids, close friends and female family members. Typically, the invited family members are close in age to the bride, though anyone she wants included should be invited. Many invite their sisters and future sisters-in-law, as well as cousins. Some brides invite their mother and future mother-in-law, though this usually depends on their relationships and the bachelorette-party activities planned.

All for the Bride
There is not a universal rule that can be applied to every bachelorette-party guest list. This is an event to celebrate the bride-to-be, so make sure to consider her feelings and preferences when planning the details of her bash. If she is conservative, you shouldn’t host her bachelorette bash at a strip club. In the same regard, if she is not close with her cousin or future sisters-in-law, do not invite them. This is the bride’s last hoorah; make sure to invite those nearest and dearest to her to share in the festivities!

A bachelorette party is the bride-to-be’s last night out as an unmarried woman. This is her last hoorah, her last chance to get wild with her closest friends before the wedding. Everyone will undoubtedly be taking pictures throughout the night, so it is important to be aware of the proper etiquette for bachelorette-party photos. Here are three rules to keep in mind when taking photos at the bride-to-be’s big bash:

1. Avoid bad decisions: As one of the bride’s best friends, you need to help her avoid making any bad decisions at her bachelorette party that she wouldn’t want her future husband to know about. If you are unable to prevent this, make sure that there aren’t any photos of anything incriminating.

2. No risqué photos: Don’t take a photo that you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see. You never know who will see these pictures, so it is best not to take risqué pictures that could be embarrassing in the future. Be sure to take lots of group photos and other G-rated snaps so that the bride can have a nice keepsake photo album of her bachelorette party.

3. Don’t post photos online: Avoid embarrassing the bride and the other partygoers by keeping all of the pictures from the bachelorette party private. Give the photo files to the bride and let her decide what she wants to share. Remember, this is her day; she calls the shots.

If you’re ever in doubt if a photo is appropriate, just delete it. You’ll save the bride embarrassment and stress by getting rid of any potentially mortifying pictures.

Organizing a bachelorette party for a bride-to-be that loves all things feminine? Choose a theme for the party and a girly activity that she’s sure to love. Here are our top three favorite bachelorette party activities for a girly-girl:

1. Pampered Pleasures: Celebrate the bride-to-be with a trip to the spa! Whether you choose to spend the weekend at a full-service resort and spa or a nearby day spa, everyone will enjoy the opportunity to unwind and relax. With massages, manicure and facials, the bride will appreciate the pampering amidst all of her wedding-planning stress. For an extra-special touch, have a luxurious white spa robe embroidered with “Bride” waiting for her.

2. Wine & Tapas: Spend the evening at a local wine bar enjoying tapas and toasting the bride-to-be. Choose a venue with a great ambiance. Be sure to make a reservation to ensure they can accommodate your party. Write a toast in advance to make the bride-to-be feel extra special on her big night!

3. Tea Party: Plan a chic, Victorian-style tea party for the most ladylike bride. You can host a tea party at your home or splurge and make a reservation at a posh hotel’s tearoom. Be sure that the décor is spot-on, with lots of fresh flowers and lace doilies. For food, stick to finger sandwiches and an array of desserts like macaroons, petit fours and scones. Take this theme to the extreme and ask guests to dress in traditional Victorian frocks and wear elaborate hats.

No matter which of these themes you choose for her bachelorette bash, she’s sure to love it!