Crowdsource for recommendations.
Search engines are a great place to gather information, but so are your social networks. "It's amazing how many people you are actually connected to on a platform like Facebook," says Haley. "Putting up a post asking for suggestions will help your trip feel more local and special, and less like a tourist trap." The benefit of fielding your online friends for recs is you get to pick and choose what works best for the group's personality. Exhaust your network for tips and ideas from locals says Haley.

Get local.
Instead of a traditional hotel, consider an Airbnb rental with enough rooms to accommodate the group. It breeds the opportunity for the group to get to know each other through meal prep, and feels like a giant sleepover (hard to do if everyone is segmented off in various hotel rooms). The added benefit is you can experience the city like a local and your host most likely has insider tips on how to do so. Even if the bride is from the city you're celebrating in, who doesn't love a staycation.