Hold on Tight!
Want to plan a truly original bachelorette party? When strippers and booze aren't you're idea of a memorable evening, consider doing something exciting and challenging instead. White water rafting can be a great bonding experience for the bride and all of her close friends and female relatives. There are many rafting locations but consider a place that does all the work for you. All-Outdoors Rafting (www.aorafting.com) in Walnut Creek, California is one of these places. Once you make your reservation they will plan the event for you and even send out the invitations. On top of that, they offer meals, equipment, and shuttles and will give the bride a complimentary T-shirt and waterproof camera. If the Bay area in California is too far of a hike for you, surf the web for closer places and be sure to inquire about special packages for parties.
Good Girls Have Fun Too
Just like your teachers and parents probably told you when you were growing up, you don't need drugs and booze to have a good time. A bachelorette party doesn't have to be a wild bachelorette party! Keep in mind that the most important reason for having the event is so that the bride-to-be can spend valuable time with all of the women that she loves. Some of the best bachelorette parties can be ones where you just sit around and hang out. If the future bride isn't a party girl, consider throwing a slumber party, a tea party, or even a girls' night movie and gossip night. Good, innocent fun with the girls might be all your gal pal really wants...keep that in mind.
Plan an Event to Remember
Are all of the tips on planning a bachelorette party that you've been hearing sounding the same? That's probably because most bachelorette parties are the same. A bunch of girls get together to embarrass their girlfriend before her big day. There is usually heavy drinking, a limo, and, of course, male strippers. It may be a hoot and a holler that evening but what will the bride think about it when she looks back? Will she even remember? The whole point of a bachelorette party is to bond with the bride-to-be before you kiss her goodbye, why not make the event memorable? Try something exciting instead. Plan an activity that the bride has never experienced and surprise her. Think sky diving, cliff diving, or parasailing. Not her bag? For a milder adventure plan a wonderful luncheon followed by a beautiful hot air balloon ride. Make it an occasion she'll never forget.
Run a Tight Ship
A bachelorette party is a big event and, if you're putting one together, it's important to be organized. One of the most helpful tips on planning a bachelorette party is to make a list of everything that needs to be done (the guest list, sending out invitations, getting supplies, making reservations, renting a limo, etc.). It's smart to start your preparations weeks ahead of time to ensure that you have the time to pull everything together. Throwing a party together at the last minute can end up being sloppy and, well, a flop. Get on the horse early and maybe even think about getting some mutual friends to help out.
Wilderness Girls
Want to throw a wild bachelorette party? Instead of getting wild on the town, take the party to the wilderness. Round up the girls and plan a truly rugged event, a hike through the woods or mountains. There are hiking areas everywhere, even if you have to drive for a couple of hours. Pack up your gear and hit the trails. It's a really good idea to pack a nice picnic lunch to enjoy midday. If you are truly the roughing it types, camping in the woods for the night could be great times. If traipsing through the wild for a day is all you can handle, however, book a hotel (or motel) in the area or possibly a charming bed and breakfast.
Pick a Great Date
Before you can throw a killer bachelorette party you have to pick a date. This may seem like a simple enough task but, in fact, it be the most difficult part of the entire process (as well as the most important bachelorette party planning task). This party doesn't revolve around you, it revolves around the bride so making sure it fits well into her schedule should be a top priority. Talk with the bride-to-be and get a list of dates that work for her. Between fittings, interviewing bands and the like, her free time isn't going to be very expansive. Once you establish when the bride's available, find out who the most important people on the guest list are and talk to them as well. Then, come up with the best date to accomodate everyone. Once you score a good date, everything else should be a piece of cake.
The Last Hoorah
Another one bites the dust. You're losing one of your girl pals to the married life and it's up to you to make sure that she has one last night of single bliss before slipping on that wedding band. Planning a bachelorette party is not something that should be taken lightly, make sure it's a night that she will remember forever. When actually putting the bachelorette party together, keep the bride to be in mind. Is she a wild girl or a prim a proper lady? It's supposed to be a night dedicated to her so keep her likes and dislikes in mind or it could end up being a night she wants to forget (and not for the good reasons). If you plan an event that will make her uncomfortable or won't be exciting enough she's likely not to have a good time. Try to get hints way ahead of time on the kinds of things she's like to do. Ask plenty of questions about her interests and take notes.
Take it Down a Notch
So, you're in charge of the bachelorette party planning, what now? Do you want some tips on planning a bachelorette party? It's important to plan your evening out carefully. The majority of bachelorette parties end up out on the town and that's always great fun. Before letting loose and getting buck wild, however, start things out slowly. To start your party off right, make reservations at a great restaurant or plan a dinner at someone's house before heading out to party. Have a nice meal and give everyone a chance to catch up and/or get to know one another before things get chaotic. This is also a great time to hand out party favors, and let the bride-to-be open her gifts. Everyone will have a clear view and no one will have to shout over loud music.