Photo: Getty Images
Planning a bachelorette party can be a little bit stressful, especially if it’s something you’ve never done before. If you’re a maid-of-honor or a bridesmaid that’s been given the task of planning a weekend for the bride to celebrate beside her closest circle of friends, you may feel the pressure to plan something that’ll be memorable for years to come. Before you get started, take note of these six important things to know when planning your first bachelorette party.
1. Listen to the Bride
If she says she doesn’t want a stripper or a weekend in Vegas taking shot after shot after shot, listen to her. Don’t ignore the things she truly doesn’t want or else you’ll find yourself with one very unhappy bride and a crew of bridesmaids that just want to find a way to go home.
2. Set a Budget
You may be able to spend $1,000 on the bachelorette party as the maid of honor, but the other bridesmaids may only be able to spend $200 or $500. Before you make grand plans, reach out to all the women invited and see what their budget is. Find a way to accommodate everyone if possible.
3. Ask Someone Else to Plan It
If your personal life is keeping you busy or you’re not keen on planning the bachelorette party, hire a planning service to book your travel and set your itinerary for you. They’ll take on the party planning for you so that you can focus on your job and personal responsibilities.
4. Forget Tradition
Bachelorette parties don’t have to be wild and messy. They can be calm and sober. Plan one that’s in-line with the bride’s style, hobbies and lifestyle.
See More: The 7 Social Media Rules You Must Follow at Bachelorette Parties
5. Have a Backup Plan
When you’re dealing with travel plans and a group of people, things make not go as smoothly as you hoped. It’s always good to have a backup plan in case the flight is delayed, the day turns out to be rainy or the bride just doesn’t feel like doing an activity that you thought she’d be excited about.
6. Go With the Flow
Since there are so many moving parts to planning a bachelorette party, try to just go with the flow. Even if you spent weeks planning the party and then see all your plans changing in seconds, keep a positive attitude and the rest of the bridesmaids will join you.
Jen Glantz is a “Professional Bridesmaid” and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire. She’s the author of All My Friends Are Engaged and frequently wears old bridesmaid dresses to the grocery store and on first dates.