Come as You Are...Or Who You Wish You Were...
Picking bachelorette party accessories for everyone can be tricky. Who are you to decide what the masses should wear (aside from the best bachelorette party planner in the world)? Most themes are a little outdone as well, so where do you start? Well, try thinking outside the box. Instead of deciding what everyone should be, let them dress as something they would never be. Throw an alter-ego party! Alter-ego parties are a blast because they let people dress up as someone that is the opposite of who they really are. Let the good girls be bad girls, the bad girls be good girls, let the modest be sheek and the ultra-hip be nerdy. And, of course, dress the lovely bride-to-be up as an old maid. *Alter-egos are sometimes hard to identify so make sure that everyone wears a name tag!
Heaven or Hell?
Bachelorettes can be naughty or nice, depending on the moment you catch them. Looks can be deceiving, however, so why not spell it out for the spectators? When purchasing bachelorette accessories stock up on halos and devil horns. And, on the night of the event, have each girl wear one or the other. Then, make "naughty" and "nice" name tags. Imagine the looks you'll receive when you're out at the clubs. Isn't it fun to be the center of attention? To catch even more eyes (and ears) hit up a karaoke bar and have the angels sing "Heaven is a Place on Earth" and the devils sing "Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot." Wrap it all up with a group encore. Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely?" is an excellent choice and be sure to dedicate it to the bride-to-be who will, of course, get to hold the microphone.
Giddy Up!
Are you thinking that one veil will be enough for your bride pal? Just because you're throwing a bachelorette party doesn't mean that you have to deck the bride-to-be out with stereotypical bachelorette accessories like the condom-covered veil coupled with a "last night out" shirt. Instead, try something more unique and stylish. If you're on the prowl, in the midst of picking bachelorette party accessories, try buying an inexpensive white cowboy hat and spicing it up with a pink band and some bells. Use a paint pen to write "bride-to-be" across the band. The fact that your friend is getting married will be clear but not overstated. If you want to complete the outfit have her wear a denim skirt and a gold star as well. And, if you want to get extra cute, let her carry around one of those horse heads on a stick.
Queen Bee
Themes are always cute and there's nothing cuter than a swarm of bachelorette bumblebees! Believe it or not, this is easy to pull off. Request on the invites that each girl wear a yellow top and a black bottom. Then, apply bee stripes to everyone using black tape. To top the outfits off, have each girl wear sparkly "dicky boppers" antennae. If you really want to go all out, you can create stingers by dipping styrofoam cones into black paint (make sure it's water-based) and allowing them to dry. They can be attached with velcro strips. Make all the bees extra adorable by positioning some silk flowers in each girl's hair. Finally, to pull the whole thing together, have the bride wear a tiara and create signs that read "our queen is leaving the hive."
Be Real Fans of the Bride
If the bride-to-be is more the type to wear a sports bra and some cleats than a party tiara and a frilly sash, don't try to turn her into something she's not. News flash: Sports-themed parties aren't just for men! If your gal pal would rather spend her girl bonding time in the bleachers than at a spa or out clubbing, make her happy. Buy group tickets to a minor league baseball game, an MLS soccer game, or even a college football game. And, when picking bachelorette party accessories, forget the stereotypical veil covered in condoms and attach this sporty girl's veil to the back of a baseball cap that says "Bachelorette" on it. If heading out to the games isn't an option, why not set up a special athletic day at a local park? Break out the gear and play mini team events and maybe even give out cheesy ribbons to the winners and an MVP award to the bride. At the end of the day your buddy will thank you for letting her be herself.
Rekindle Your Youth While You Collect Kindling
Bachelorette parties can be a blast but seem a bit repetitive these days. Why not slip on your bachelorette accessories and set out for some "natural" fun? Pack up the tent and sleeping bags and plan an overnighter in the woods. Light a fire and tell ghost stories while you roast marshmallows and make s'mores, it'll be just like camp! The true point of a bachelorette party is for the bride to have some quality time with her favorite gals before her big day. By arranging a campout you'll eliminate all of the other distractions (except for those creepy noises in the dark). When picking bachelorette party accessories for the occassion, think cowboys and indians, or even girl scout uniforms. Rest assured that by morning the future bride will have completely caught up with everyone and have gotten to feel like a girl again before making her grown-up commitment.
Bachelorette Pageant
Picking bachelorette part accessories is a must but they're getting so predictable these days. Bachelorette sashes are commonplace these days. You'll see giggling women dripping with them in more than half of the bachelorette parties out there. Why not reinvent the bachelorette sash? Try making personalized bachelorette sashes that capture the personalities of each guest. You can create your own sashes using wide ribbon and safety pins. As each lady arrives, give her a blank sash to wear. When everyone is in attendance and has had a few predrinks have them all sit in a circle. Then, have each girl stand up one at a time while the other guests spout off name ideas (Miss Prude, Miss Sexual Dynamo, Miss Smart Pants, Miss Gold Digger, etc.). Make sure that the bride-to-be gets a "Miss Bride" sash and a jeweled tiara. Finally, take your pageant to the clubs!
Hang Ten at Your Bachelorette Event
If you're picking bachelorette party accessories, you might as well go all out! And, why not go Hawaiian? Buy a bunch of bachelorette leis, some flowers to perch in everyone's hair, and a whole lot of grass skirts. On your invites, encourage invitees to wear Hawaiian print blouses, bikinis, and flip flops. You'll have all of the guests looking and feeling like they just stepped into a hot vacation spot. So, you've decorated the guests, but what about the party scene? Line the yard with tiki torches, hang fish cut-outs on threads of fishing line, and serve all drinks in hollowed out coconuts. For entertainment, do the limbo and have hula-hooping contests. Your guests and the bride-to-be will be thrilled my your effort. *As this type of party is better served outdoors, it's best to only consider it for warmer seasons, preferably summer.
Sew What?
If you like the idea of those bride-to-be t-shirts but are more of a do-it-yourselfer, have at it. Everyone knows that there's something a little more special about something homemade and the bride is sure to appreciate your time and effort. Try picking up a hot pink tank top and attaching tiny bows to it. Then, find some fun fabric (black and white patterns contrast nicely with pink) and cut out the letters B-R-I-D-E. Sew the letters to the shirt, add a party tiara, and you've got a smashingly trendy bride-to-be outfit. If you're not so handy with the sewing kit but still want to add a personal touch to that "final fling before the ring shirt" try fabric pens to add special messages.
Break That Old Thing Out
It never fails, the wedding gods aren't smiling down on the bridesmaids (or the bride has an evil sense of humor). Whatever the reason, we all have one lurking in the back of our closetsĄthe bridesmaid dress from hell! You'll never wear that thing again, or will you? A great twist to add to a bachelorette party is to ask all of the guests to wear an old bridesmaid dress. Screw the party tiara, what yells "bachelorette" louder than a hideous bridesmaid dress? You can skip over the annoying task of picking bachelorette party accessories because these are THE party accessory. I can guarantee that few things will turn more heads than a flock of ridiculously overdressed women. If you're still scarred from your last cameo in that thing have the party in the safety of someone's living room but at least order pizza so someone can have a good laugh. And, by the end of the event you'll probably feel pretty lucky about the dress that you ended up wearing in comparison.