~PinkVeil...the it girl's bachelorette party blog~

First things first....

The most popular question I get from MOHs and other planners of the big night is, “where do I start?”  So, today’s post is dedicated to how to start to plan your big night out. 

1. The first thing that you want to do is offer to plan the bachelorette and talk to the bride to be about who she would like in attendance.  Request a guest list from the bride-to-be that includes everyone first and last name, cell number, address, and email address.
 
2. The next thing you want to do is pick out a date.  The best way to do this is to ask the bride for three dates and suit her best.  Then, send the group a save the date email.  I like to use evite for this, since they have such cute personalizable options.

3. After you have the date penciled in, talk to the bride about what she would like to do.  She may be your pal from the high school cheer squad, but what you gushed about doing in high school for your bachelorette might have changed. Just make sure that you both are on the same page so she isn’t expecting spa day and gets stripper.

4. The next thing you want to do is make a to do list of the things you need to do.  Some items may include:
    1. invitations
    2. dinner reservations
    3. party favors
    4. bar/club/spa reservations
    5. hotel

5. After you make the list, delegate!  Not only will this save you time, but when you get people involved they feel more a party of the bachelorette party and have a better time.  Plus, they get to do something special for the bride to be, after all they are good friends too!

Accessories for the Bride-to-be

Nothing makes me cringe more than when I see a bachelorette in a light up tiara or a veil made of cheap tulle. I always wonder what her friends were thinking!!! Modern, diva brides want to look hot, not silly on their big party night out.  Here are some current trends in bachelorette parties to keep your bride looking chic……

 

 

Have your bride-to-be wear a large, plastic, diamond ring.  This will definitely get people talking to her and make her the center of attention.

 

 

 

 

 

Another idea I love, comes from one of our Hawaiian readers who recently wore a lei out with her group of friends.  What girl doesn’t love the scent of fresh flowers?  Another cute way to distinguish “the lady of cocktail hour” is by having a flower placed in her hair.  You can have one made for her from your local flower shop for under 10 dollars.

 

If your bride-to-be is a fantasy girl, let her wear a bridal tiara.  If the one you have chosen has an on and off switch, that is not the one we are speaking of! Usually, one of the married girls in the group can lend her the one from her wedding, or you can purchase one for her as the “group gift” from a bridal boutique near your home.

 

Your bride-to-be will probably want to buy a new dress for her big night out, so you can ask her to wear white.  The rest of the ladies attending the party can be instructed to wear black, that way the bride sticks out amoungst her group of friends.  It makes for really cute pictures.

 

 

Whichever suggestion you choose will keep your bachelorette looking smashing and sexy!

Planning the perfect bachelorette….

Often, planning the perfect bachelorette party can turn out to be more stressful than carefree and fun. Today I bring you the top 5 tips to planning a fun and fabulous party…..

 

Rule Number 1 - Keep your guest of honor in mind….

She is your BFF, and you both know each other inside out.  So, plan what *she* would like to do, opposed to what *the group* would like to do.  I am a firm believer in this. Most groups of ladies are very diverse in their tastes and preferences, but the party should be a reflection of the bride to be, and what she would enjoy with her friends.

 

Rule Number 2 - Pick a date as soon as you can.

The ideal time for a bachelorette party is within 2 months of the wedding.  Keep in mind that it might be fun to throw a party the weekend before the wedding, but your bride will probably have last minute errands to attend to, as well as, want to look well rested on her big day.  Picking a date ahead of time makes it easy for other friends to plan their schedules and attend the bash.

 

Rule Number 3 – Set a budget….

Especially with today’s economy, everyone who is invited to the party may not be in the same financial situation.  The best thing to do is to talk to the bride, figure out what makes her comfortable, decided who is paying for what and then STICK TO IT!  It is very common for the bride to pay for herself, or for a family member to pay for her.  If your bride has more extravagant taste, do not feel bad for not picking up her spa weekend bill.  She wants to spend time with her friends, not score a freebie.

 

Rule Number 4 – Close Friends, not all friends….

If you are going away for the weekend, try and keep the guest list to fewer than 10 ladies.  More than 10 become difficult to coordinate and account for when traveling.  For nights out on the town, you can accommodate a few more, however, this is suppose to be a gathering of her closest friends not everyone she has ever known.

 

Rule Number 5 – Don’t wing it…..

The more you plan the better.  If your group of friends is anything like mine, without a clear plan, it can be like trying to herd cats.  Know exactly who will be attending, and make sure you have adequate accommodations for everyone.  If someone is on the fence, ask them to make a decision by a certain date as you need to put deposits down.  Treat everyone like an adult, and things will run smoothly.