Budget-Friendly Tips for the Best Bachelorette EVER
Planning a bachelorette party can be one of the most overwhelming events you will ever organize. There is so much pressure to impress, not to mention the mixing of friend groups, and on top of all that–it can get super pricey! In fact, the movie Bridesmaids sometimes hits a little too close to home. Here are some tips and tricks to reduce the stress and the expense of hosting a Bachelorette party without sacrificing any of the fun!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Everyday Pursuits
Travel and lodging are the number one expense when it comes to planning a bachelorette party; the more you can reduce those two factors, the better your budget will be. If possible, suggest a staycation in the city where the bride or the majority of the bridal party live.
Now, we know planning a staycation sounds a lot easier than it is. Most bridal parties are scattered all over the country, if not the world, so sometimes a staycation just isn’t an option. If that’s the case for your bridal party, consider an affordable destination, like a spa weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico or a beachy getaway to Daytona Beach, Florida. Believe it or not, Las Vegas can actually be affordable too if you do it right (we cover this a little more in the Ladies’ Night section of this article).
Save money on lodging by booking a suite (or two) and splitting the cost. Suites not only add value by sleeping more people to a room, but they also provide a fun/safe space for all of your bachelorette festivities.
One more way to help you and everyone else in the wedding party save big is by hosting the bridal shower and the bachelorette party, on the same weekend. We recommend hosting a bridal shower brunch on Saturday morning/afternoon and then transitioning into bachelorette mode for Saturday evening. This leaves Sunday for everyone to wake up slow and collect themselves before they hop on a plane and head off to work on Monday morning.
1. Staycation or Affordable Destination
Travel and lodging are the number one expense when it comes to planning a bachelorette party; the more you can reduce those two factors, the better your budget will be. If possible, suggest a staycation in the city where the bride or the majority of the bridal party live.
Now, we know planning a staycation sounds a lot easier than it is. Most bridal parties are scattered all over the country, if not the world, so sometimes a staycation just isn’t an option. If that’s the case for your bridal party, consider an affordable destination, like a spa weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico or a beachy getaway to Daytona Beach, Florida. Believe it or not, Las Vegas can actually be affordable too if you do it right (we cover this a little more in the Ladies’ Night section of this article).
Save money on lodging by booking a suite (or two) and splitting the cost. Suites not only add value by sleeping more people to a room, but they also provide a fun/safe space for all of your bachelorette festivities.
One more way to help you and everyone else in the wedding party save big is by hosting the bridal shower and the bachelorette party, on the same weekend. We recommend hosting a bridal shower brunch on Saturday morning/afternoon and then transitioning into bachelorette mode for Saturday evening. This leaves Sunday for everyone to wake up slow and collect themselves before they hop on a plane and head off to work on Monday morning.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Esther Sun Photography
Pricey invitations can make a big dent in the budget for any event and a bachelorette party is no exception. Consider sending an e-vite instead of a paper invitation–you’ll not only be helping your budget but the planet as well! Websites like Paperless Post make it super easy and affordable to send cute invitations and organize your guest list.
2. E-vite
Pricey invitations can make a big dent in the budget for any event and a bachelorette party is no exception. Consider sending an e-vite instead of a paper invitation–you’ll not only be helping your budget but the planet as well! Websites like Paperless Post make it super easy and affordable to send cute invitations and organize your guest list.
INVITE | Unmeasured Event
If you and your party plan on partaking in alcoholic beverages, it’s a good idea to pregame (can we come up with a new word for this already?) This means stock your suite with affordable bottles of champagne (Trader Joes has a great selection) and maybe a mixed punch bowl style drink. This will give everyone a little liquid courage for the risque games and lingerie parade that precedes your night on the town. Make sure everyone enjoys themselves, but in moderation–you don’t want to lose anyone before the party actually starts.
3. Pregame
If you and your party plan on partaking in alcoholic beverages, it’s a good idea to pregame (can we come up with a new word for this already?) This means stock your suite with affordable bottles of champagne (Trader Joes has a great selection) and maybe a mixed punch bowl style drink. This will give everyone a little liquid courage for the risque games and lingerie parade that precedes your night on the town. Make sure everyone enjoys themselves, but in moderation–you don’t want to lose anyone before the party actually starts.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Esther Sun Photography
Bachelorette parties are for letting loose with your girls but also stocking the bride’s lingerie drawer for her honeymoon. There are a few fun games that revolve around the gifted lingerie, like lingerie bingo or the lingerie guessing game (which is one of our faves). These games are a fun way to shower your bride and include all of your guests in the fun and festivities! These games don’t cost anything extra and are a lot more palatable than some of the other, more X-rated games on the market.
4. A Gift in a Game
Bachelorette parties are for letting loose with your girls but also stocking the bride’s lingerie drawer for her honeymoon. There are a few fun games that revolve around the gifted lingerie, like lingerie bingo or the lingerie guessing game (which is one of our faves). These games are a fun way to shower your bride and include all of your guests in the fun and festivities! These games don’t cost anything extra and are a lot more palatable than some of the other, more X-rated games on the market.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Katie Grant Photography
Look into Ladies’ night deals in the city where you’re hosting the bachelorette party. A lot of clubs and bars offer discounts, free admission, and sometimes free drinks to ladies on certain days of the week. You may not want to post up there, but it can be a fun stop on your way to your final destination.
Not all ladies? Not a problem - consider casinos! Las Vegas is the most popular casino studded destination in the USA, and while it can be expensive, there are also a lot of deals to be had–if you know where to look. Most of the hotels in Las Vegas have casinos inside and offer discounted room rates to get guests in the door. Casinos usually have top-of-the-line amenities like spas, pools, etc., for the bridal party to enjoy during the day and then you can test your luck at the casinos in the evening before heading to the nightclubs. A perk about pregaming in a casino is that drinks are usually free, at least on the casino floor.
5. Ladies’ Night Deals
Look into Ladies’ night deals in the city where you’re hosting the bachelorette party. A lot of clubs and bars offer discounts, free admission, and sometimes free drinks to ladies on certain days of the week. You may not want to post up there, but it can be a fun stop on your way to your final destination.
Not all ladies? Not a problem - consider casinos! Las Vegas is the most popular casino studded destination in the USA, and while it can be expensive, there are also a lot of deals to be had–if you know where to look. Most of the hotels in Las Vegas have casinos inside and offer discounted room rates to get guests in the door. Casinos usually have top-of-the-line amenities like spas, pools, etc., for the bridal party to enjoy during the day and then you can test your luck at the casinos in the evening before heading to the nightclubs. A perk about pregaming in a casino is that drinks are usually free, at least on the casino floor.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Aaron And Jillian Photography
It is expected that your group will have some sort of dress code that identifies you as the bridal party and highlights the bride. Some groups opt for T-shirts with cute sayings, but these can add up fast and you’ll likely never wear them again. Instead of custom T-shirts, opt for color coordination. A classic bachelorette party look is bridesmaids in black or pink and the bride in white (with some sort of tiara or veil to really hit it home - if you’d like!).
6. Simplify the Dress Code
It is expected that your group will have some sort of dress code that identifies you as the bridal party and highlights the bride. Some groups opt for T-shirts with cute sayings, but these can add up fast and you’ll likely never wear them again. Instead of custom T-shirts, opt for color coordination. A classic bachelorette party look is bridesmaids in black or pink and the bride in white (with some sort of tiara or veil to really hit it home - if you’d like!).
PHOTOGRAPHY | Cavin Elizabeth
Traditionally the Maid of Honor (MOH) hosts the bachelorette party, but this doesn’t mean that the MOH should shoulder the entire financial burden. The best way to distribute the costs is to split them evenly across the bridal party. If any of the bridesmaids are unable to contribute the full amount, maybe ask them to pick up a few of the expenses that they are comfortable helping with. While the bride should not be asked to contribute to the bachelorette party itself, it is reasonable to ask the bride to purchase her transportation to and from the party (flight, train ticket, rental car, etc.). Just be sure to discuss the finances before booking the festivities - that way everyone is comfortable with and aware of how much all the fun will cost!
7. Have Everyone Pitch In
Traditionally the Maid of Honor (MOH) hosts the bachelorette party, but this doesn’t mean that the MOH should shoulder the entire financial burden. The best way to distribute the costs is to split them evenly across the bridal party. If any of the bridesmaids are unable to contribute the full amount, maybe ask them to pick up a few of the expenses that they are comfortable helping with. While the bride should not be asked to contribute to the bachelorette party itself, it is reasonable to ask the bride to purchase her transportation to and from the party (flight, train ticket, rental car, etc.). Just be sure to discuss the finances before booking the festivities - that way everyone is comfortable with and aware of how much all the fun will cost!
PHOTOGRAPHY | Tenth & Grace