There are so many different kinds of bachelorette parties that you can plan. Whether it be Vegas themed or going to the city, but what if you are looking to plan the bride something completely different. Something that makes memories that will last forever! We have done some digging and found some great bachelorette party ideas for you to plan for the bride! Continue reading "Interesting Bachelorette Parties to Plan – #AskTheBridesmaid" »
If you are a MOH (maid of honor) or bride who is planning a bachelorette party in the month of October, we have some fall-tastic ideas for you! There are so many more ideas that you can go with than your typical Las Vegas kind of party. Here are some that we love: Continue reading "#AskTheBridesmaid – Bachelorette Parties Perfect for October" »
Dear Ask the Bridesmaid,
I am in charge of planning my best friend's bridal shower. I have done some research and looked online to see if I should plan some games, but I don't know if I should plan a lot or if I should plan just a few. I've never had to host a bridal shower before and I'm completely lost. Can you help me out?
Thanks,
Abby
Continue reading "#AsktheBridesmaid – How Many Games is Too Many?" »
What is the difference between a Bridal Shower and a Bachelorette Party?
Who throws them and when should they take place?
Answer:
A bridal shower is a party for the bride where female family members and friends bring her gifts for the home. Usually the bridesmaids or close family friend puts it together and it is usually held 6 months before the wedding. A bachelorette party is a last hoorah, a ladies night out, put together by the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. This usually takes place the week of the wedding and usually involves a theme. The bride can partake in the planning of these events or it could be a complete surprise.
We hope this answered your question!
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It’s almost bachelorette party season and this means maid of honors from all over are scrambling for ideas to make their bride’s party unique and fitting to their personality. Bachelorette parties have changed over the years. Lingerie showers and hot pink and black used to be the “IT” thing to do (and they still can be), but these last two years I have seen a trend of classy bachelorette parties that are perfect for your relaxed bride!
Here are a few ideas that maybe more suited for your bride:
Is your bride a mermaid in disguise? Come on, we all know one. She’s the girl that never leaves the beach. From tanning to frolicking in the water, she’s all about a day in the sun for her big day. How do you turn her love for the sun into a bachelorette party? If you live near the beach, round your girls up and rent a small house located on the beach for a weekend. The first day can be spent playing in the sun and when the sun goes down it’s time for the lingerie and bachelorette shower! The next day can be spent creating an at home spa for the brides and bridesmaids. It’s the perfect way to cure a hangover from the sun or champagne.
Don’t live by the beach? Enjoy a day by the pool! Everyone can enjoy a day full of fun and floating on the water. Just remember, to wear sunscreen. Anything looks good with a white dress, but a sunburn that’s the color of a cherry, not so much.
Whether you decide on the beach or pool, it might be a good idea to look for several restaurants that you can rent a room out for two nights. There’s nothing like having your own private party to laugh, tell jokes and harp on the bride all in privacy. Beach restaurants are usually packed with families and you’re always so close together. A rented room would be perfect for a nightly bridal shower or to start off a bachelorette night!
It’s time to set sail and feel free!
Wherever you decide to go, don’t forget these bachelorette beach emergency essentials:
Recently, I had the pleasure of planning a bachelorette trip to the city of New Orleans for a dear friend. The trip was incredible and I think every single person had a great time, and of course the bride. However, planning this trip came with a few little bumps, especially when you're planning a destination bachelorette trip for 14 girls all who live no where near each other. So, I'm here to offer a few tips for planning a bachelorette party learning from my experiences, as well as offering up a few recommendations for New Orleans.
Who's in Charge – Thankfully, me and another girl basically took charge of planning this trip. With email & text these days, it was easy to stay in contact.
We did send group emails to all the girls and asked for the opinions so they felt included. Tip: All the girls should get together or get a group email or text going asking for opinions and maybe decide who's in charge of what or put one girl in charge of it all. That way, it makes it easier for decisions to get made.
Budget – Again, me and another bridesmaid just took charge of planning and ordering everything. So, we really didn't have a budget. That wasn't a big deal to us and we loved surprising the girls with all the goodies we got. However, we did have a budget with the hotel. The bride didn't want everyone to pay a ridiculous amount on the hotel, especially since every girl was having to travel for this trip.
We did talk with the bride and all the girls about how much they wanted to spend. Thankfully, we found a great location at a wonderful price at the Country Inn & Suites New Orleans French Quarter. Tip: Talk with the girls about how much they are willing to spend. Tell them what you are wanting to buy and do for the bride and give a per person price.
Bachelorette Theme – Of course, you don't have to settle on a theme. The norm is pink & black. With our bachelorette party, we really want to do something classic with colors that aren't normally used. We chose Tiffany Blue & lavender. We also found cute invites saying "It's time to drink champagne and dance on the tables", so we played off that throughout the theme. Tip: Be sure to stick with the bride's personality.
Bachelorette Goodies – We had fun with ordering the bride's goodies. A bridal sash, veil, bachelorette essentials party favors, personalized cups & koozies, cake, cookies, banner and a Dum Dum bouquet are a few items we purchased. All within the color scheme and suited for the bride. Tip: Stick with the theme.
Lingerie Shower – This was easy. We chose a night, talked our decision over with the bride and put her sizes, as well as ALL of the details in an itinerary we made for all the girls so they knew what was planned for each day. The girls did great in knowing exactly what to get her!
What to Do – We did our research, plus many of us had been there before so it was easy to find things to do. A few of us arrived on Thursday and we walked around a bit before checking into our hotel. We also decided to go to Cafe Du Monde since the line was nonexistent, which is not the normal.
Again, Friday we rested and hung out waiting on the other girls to get there. Saturday was when we did our shopping and made it down to the market, Jackson Square Continue reading "Planning a Bachelorette Trip to New Orleans" »
Alright, ladies! Your closest friend is getting married – this means she will never be single again, and she should (rightfully) celebrate her last day as a single lady with her closest girls before she settles down with her soon to be hubby. So, what are some fun ideas to celebrate the bride's last night of single hood? There are so many options!
Girl's Night In – Start off at the bride's favorite restaurant, have some drinks, and go back to a hotel room for a showing of "Bridesmaids" and act like silly little girls for the night: paint nails & toes, do hair or even bake cookies. Basically, have a fun sleepover! Nothing is more fun than bonding with close girl friends with some much needed girl time. The bride is about to be a wife with all sorts of wife like duties; treat her to whatever she wants on this one night!
Spa Day – You could schedule a complete day of pampering for the bride and the girls, from a fun trip to the hair salon to getting a massage and having facials done. Relax and let the bride soak in her last few moments of single-hood; she will love it! Plus, she'll look her absolute best on her wedding day after a day of pampering!
Day of Shopping – What girl doesn't like to shop till she drops? Go to the bride's favorite stores and treat her to a little retail therapy; just make sure she doesn't rack up those credit card bills too high! Then, take everyone to lunch at her favorite cafe, and talk about all the fun times everyone has had together growing up and talk about when you were just getting to know each other. Even reminisce about how you planned your weddings together as little girls. Some laughs are definitely in store!
Whatever you do, make sure she cherishes each moment, and try to keep her day as stress-free as possible; the day is all about the bride, for goodness sakes! Most of all, have fun!
The coveted bachelorette party once known for its wild and crazy, "what happens here stays here," nights, is changing from the ever so bawdy to extreme rest and relaxation. After planning for months, so many brides are now wanting to rest before their big day, and in South-central Arkansas, they can do just that! To all the maids of honor, here is your planning guide for the perfect R&R bachelorette weekend.
Here’s how I used this planning guide to plan a fun filled getaway to Hot Springs.
If you're from the South, you've most likely heard of a hidden gem in Arkansas called Hot Springs. This historic town, known for it's piping hot mineral springs, is nestled in South-central Arkansas, just 30 minutes past the state capitol of Little Rock. Hot Springs, also known as Spa City, is rich in culture, history and WATER. The city sits between two lakes and has the actual hot springs right in the middle of downtown.
I had the opportunity and pleasure of enjoying the oh-so-fabulous city this past weekend. Our bachelorette R&R weekend started on Friday afternoon when we arrived in Hot Springs, unloaded our stuff and went for a leisurely walk. The winding bends of Lake Hamilton provided a gorgeous view, and helped us clear our mind of all the worries from the week before. After hanging by the pool in the hotel, we decided to head on out for dinner at a local Cantina. We ate outside on the patio and watched a gorgeous sun drift behind the mountains as night began to spread her starry cloak behind us.
Saturday was our Spa day. After sleeping in late, we headed to downtown Hot Springs for lunch at an authentic Italian bistro called Angel's. This corner restaurant located on Central Ave. was filled with character, starting with the menu and ending with the decor. We had a light lunch of salads and appetizers, and then took a short walk across the street to Bathhouse Row.
This street along Central Ave. holds four bath houses, all mostly in their original state. Only two of these are in operation today, the Buckstaff Bathhouse and the Quapaw Bathhouse. The others now house different things. One, a welcome center, and the other a brewery that will be opening up soon!
We chose the Buckstaff, which does not take appointments, so we got in line promptly at 1:30 to get our services done. We all went with the Traditional Bath Package and awaited our ride in the hand operated, original elevator to the second floor Women's area.
Once inside, we stripped down, left our clothes and purses in secure lockers with keys and were dressed in a sheet toga. We were each taken, one by one, to our own personal bath and bath attendant. We started with a 30 minute whirlpool bath using the original whirlpool jet which was outside the tub, but pumped air and water in. After the bath, the attendant came to scrub our arms, legs and back.
With a clean body, we were ready for the steam box! The steam from the flowing hot springs flushed out our impurities and sent us deeper into relaxation. Next, piping hot towels were placed around our legs, arms and back, as we laid on a massage table. I melted into the table as my attendant placed an ice-cold towel on my forehead.
Next, we sat in Sits tubs to help loosen our lower back and relieve pain. Lastly was a massage which, after soaking for the past hour and a half, felt heavenly. One by one, we filed back into the locker room, each looking and feeling like a limp noodle. After two hours of being pampered, we had finally hit extreme relaxation.
We topped off our afternoon with a casual exploration of downtown and scrumptious homemade ice cream at the Fudge Factory. After a good nap, we headed to Bell Arte Restaurant for a late dinner. Bell Arte is both a local favorite and a Hot Springs staple, and it easily passed our taste bud test!
We finished the weekend on Sunday with brunch at the famous Pancake Shop, also located on Central Avenue. Since 1940, the Pancake Shop has resided in downtown Hot Springs, promising a traditional breakfast to all it's travelers. A wait can be expected, but not to worry. The host introduces you to their sister shop, The Savory Pantry. Here we tested dips, jams and a variety of different specialty seasonings. Our thirty minute wait flew by as we shopped around, testing everything at least once and some things twice!
On Sunday afternoon, we headed back home, reflecting on our relaxing weekend. The bathhouse, the scenery and the history all contributed to a restful weekend. Our bride considered the weekend quite a reward after all the handwork and planning she had put into the wedding.
If you're planning a Bachelorette party, go for the R&R weekend! I promise, your bride will not be let down!
P.S. Don't forget to include a cute tank to commemorate the weekend!
Being a member of a Greek organization opens a lot of doors. It also opens up opportunities to make great friends and be apart of their special day. So when asked to be a bridesmaid, planning a bachelorette party for the bride can be one of the highlights of your role. It is your responsibility to make sure this event is planned to the best of your ability. It may just be the last go round that everyone can attend. So, here’s my advice when it comes to bachelorette parties: play hard or go home.
When planning a bachelorette party, the planner (or planners) must think about what would reflect a good time for not only the bride, but the group. What has always been the dream of the last go round? A spring break trip that was never taken or a Vegas flight that was never booked can be perfect for dream ideas. Let’s say for this group and bride, it was the spring break trip that was never taken. In that case, we’re going to the beach!
It’s time to show off the wedding body you’ve been working on since the soon to be groom slid that stunning rock on her finger. Pack your bags while I tell you the many perks of bringing the girls to this location.
The beach is a great location for a destination bachelorette party. It can appeal to all personalities: party animals, food junkies and relaxation addicted women. Everyone enjoys the summer sun. This is a perfect for a group of women that all have different interests, but all still mold together to make the perfect friendship.
Why do I consider the beach an AWESOME destination bachelorette party?
1.) Destin, FL: If a very popular beach city is in the name of the bachelorette party… It’s meant to be.
2.) Everyone Can Enjoy: The girls are spending their own money to appease the appetite we all have for one last go round. Why not make it a vacation that everyone will look forward to?
3.) Sun Kissed Glow: Glowing skin is the perfect accessory for a soon to be bride. Just remember sunscreen! Protected skin glows, while fried skin is… well… red.
4.) Spa Day: I’ve heard playing in the sand is nature’s pedicure, but sand cannot rub your shoulders. Treat everyone to a massage on the beach. Not only will the bride relieve tension from planning the big day, but she'll also feel like the princess!
5.) Great Food: Let’s be honest, it is hard to find a restaurant that everyone will enjoy. The beach has plenty of restaurants to choose from.
6.) Quality Time in the Sun: A beach trip is more than a night with the girls. It’s a vacation that everyone can enjoy while making memories that will last a lifetime and that is what it’s all about.
Now, it’s time to plan the event we have all been waiting for. Just make sure there is great food and plenty of fun. The memories will make themselves. All you have to do is start packing.
Do you know someone who is in the process of planning a wedding? Are you a bridesmaid in their upcoming wedding? Along with being a bridesmaid, comes pre-wedding activities that must be planned. There are multiple bridal showers, maybe a luncheon, dress fittings and lets not forget about the bachelorette party. This is a time where everyone can let go and put the wedding stress on hold for one night. However, what type of bride is she and what type of bachelorette party will you plan that suits the bride's style. It's her night after all. Well, Wedding and Party Network has a few tips and ideas for your bachelorette party.
Retro Pool Party – Since it's close to summer, pools are getting ready to be opened. Therefore, now is the ideal time to host a bachelorette swim party. If the bride is more laid back and enjoys the sun, this is perfect. However, throw a fun twist on it and go retro. This gives you a good excuse to find fun party decorations and for the girls to dress up. First off, find a pool to host this party at. Next up, find party invitations and party decorations that give off a retro vibe like polka dots, paisley, zig zags and are featured in retro colors like orange and green. For the activities, just plan fun mani and pedis by the pool. This is time for relaxing and enjoying everyone's company. Don't forget about the retro inspired bathing suit, magazines, retro sunglasses, fun totes and the drinks with the cute umbrellas.
Barbie Inspired – For the bride who loves dressing up and is all things girly, this bachelorette party is for them. Plan a night out on the town and rent a limo. You can go to her favorite restaurant and plan a night out afterwards. The main thing here is to have the girls dress up as their favorite Barbie. This is great for everyone to dress up and have a good time.
Parisian Inspired – So, if the bride isn't much for spending a night out on the town, another great alternative is having it the bachelorette party at someone's house. You can take the bride on a trip in her own home. Think of having a Parisian inspired bachelorette party. Feature black and pink party decor, butterflies, trellis, ruffles and French inspired photos of the Eiffel Tower. Don't forget the mini champagne bottles, French pastries, beautiful cupcakes and cute food signs. Don't forget about the movie. It can be any French movie or even a funny one like Bridesmaids.
Beauty Party – If your bride is a big glam girl, a beauty inspired bachelorette party is a wonderful idea for her. Think about keeping everything clean, light and refreshing throughout your party food and decor. Since you don't have to go all out within those areas, you can think about bringing in a makeup artist and hairstylist to show you different ways that you can put on makeup, show you the latest trends and style your hair.
There are many different directions that you can take a bachelorette party. The main thing is to just think about the bride and what she enjoys. Does she enjoy having a night or does she enjoy spending time at home? Just keep her interests in mind and have fun with it.
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2024 is here, and that means it’s time for everyone’s favorite blog: wedding trends for the year! If you’re planning a wedding for this year, or hope to plan one soon, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to learn what’s …
