My D (who is 26) is the maid of honor in a friend’s wedding this September. D asked if she could host the Bachelorette party (at the end of July) at our vacation place. I’m fine with that. I have known the bride and all the bridesmaids (except for one) since they were in elementary school. They’re all lovely young women.
The question is what to do for the weekend. The guests are arriving on Thursday and leaving on Sunday. So far, D has planned a beach day and has reserved a private room for dinner one night at a very nice restaurant. My H (who loves to cook) is going to make dinner for everyone on the night they arrive and then they’re going to a local night club.
Other than that, the only thing D considered was to have a nail party (a local nail tech has agreed to come to the house). They can also do stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) one day–D knows the woman who teaches SUP yoga classes and she’s would love to do a class or take the group out on the boards.
Would love to hear suggestions for other activities or ideas for making it a special weekend.
Sounds like you have a lot of great stuff already planned! Definitely leave enough down time for relaxing and just hanging out and chatting. Given there is a night club planned for one night, and since they have known each other forever, maybe one night can be a stay in night ala sleepover parties of old - pajamas, chick flicks, chit chat, bowls of m&ms and other junk food (and cocktails ).
Wow, it sounds like a fantastic weekend! I agree that an old-fashioned slumber party would be fun for one of the nights with chick flicks, popcorn, Ouija board, etc. Sounds like you have the rest of the weekend covered. I wouldn’t pack it too heavily with scheduled activities; enjoying the company and surroundings is the main draw.
And how sweet of your husband to cook a dinner for them one night! I remember you saying that your husband is a Thinas Keller fan and likes to cook elaborate meals so that is likely to be a highlight of the weekend!
Sounds like a very special weekend! These are very lucky gals! Agree that a slumber party with fun movies and lots of reminiscing will probably be great.
So fun! Maybe try and dig up some slumber party activities from their youth - since I have a D who is 27 I know that might mean watching Full House, playing “Pretty Pretty Princess” - stuff like that.
Maybe make a special signature cocktail for the weekend?
Is there a short road trip to a cute little town to get out and take photos, shop, etc.???
S’s best men planned his bachelor party a few weeks ago (with our permission) at our beach house. They enjoyed visiting the local area, enjoyed kayaking and swimming on the lake, had a campfire every night and even stayed on the beach one night till sunrise - they have all thanked us profusely for this relaxing opportunity - I bet your party will feel the same!!!
I think your ideas sound great. My only suggestion…try to limit the costs where possible. My DD has been to a number of bachelorette parties that were over the top exoensive (she more than covered her plate by attending a paying for these events…because remember…everyone splits the bride’s costs).
I think one dinner at a nice restaurant is great IF all those attending can afford it…and don’t get stuck splitting the check when others get much more expensive dinners…and drinks. I’m saying this from experience. DD went to a bachelorette last summer. They went out to eat at ONLY high end restaurants. They were all,out of DD’s prices range…especially since she spent almost $1000 on airline tickets to get there…and hotel (it was at Disneyland). DD thought she would be OK…ordered salads, doesn’t drink. But then the MOH decided that the bill,should be evenly split amongst all attending. DD’s $12 salad and water with lemon quickly turned into $40 plus at every dinner…she finally spoke to the MOH…said she was more than willing to chip in for the bride…but really didn’t want to split the drinker bills. It was awkward and should have been avoided, IMHO.
So…just think about the budgets of those attending. There can be lots of fun that doesn’t cost a fortune.
I also think you have plenty planned - it’s nice to have the activities you have planned (the dinner, the nail person, the paddleboard yoga). Whenever I’ve done “girls weekends” types of things, everyone also just appreciates the chance to hang out, split a bottle of wine and gab as well so I personally think you have enough. Have fun!!
Figuring $$ is the key. They have all agreed to split the cost of the restaurant dinner one night. It might be that they decide to do just one other activity–either SUP yoga or nails instead of both events. They’re all staying in our guest house and D and I will stock the fridge. D’s goal was to keep the costs down. Two of the girls are in or starting grad school and the other four are working.
Maybe your daughter can use a tool like survey monkey to determine which activities and associated costs appeal to the other women the most. It could be a discreet way for folks to indicate financial concerns/limits.
If some are on a budget, I’m sure there is plenty to do low cost/no cost given the beach location. For example, they could paint each other’s nails, as they might have in their younger days instead of having the nail person to save some $. SUP and yoga sounds like a fun, active activity to me as long as they are all into it.
I think one nice dinner out sounds doable budget wise if other meals will be eaten at the house to keep costs down. If it was my daughter and her friends, I think for the most part they’d be happy to hang out and chill at the house. Pitchers of mojitos and sangria over $12-15 craft cocktails at a restaurant would be more their speed and budget right now.
I completely agree with dos chicos. Also, I might just have SUPing as an activity without the yoga. Renting boards (if you don’t already have them) is cheap and, truth be told, paddling on the boards is a lot more fun than doing yoga on them!
One morning all the girls can get together and prepare brunch. It is a fun meal to make.
One can make waffles or pancakes while another makes eggs. Another cuts up the fruit while another one prepares hash browns. Spending time together and sharing each others creativity and talent makes for fun times.
Another thing that is fun is afternoon tea. It can be formal or informal with tea (hot or cold), cucumber sandwiches, scones, and other baked goods.
Brunch and tea are always fun as a group and something girls would enjoy.
Try out different hair and makeup styles to prepare for the wedding day.
All of this will be memorable as a bunch of girls hanging out together and bonding before the wedding.
True, but I can’t imagine the host doing everything on her own or having her parents do all the cooking. Also it is a good opportunity to learn how to entertain guests.
There is another thread about making smores. I have never been to one of those wine and painting classes but I think some canvas and paints from Michaels could be bought. They could create something from pinterest. (something wedding themed) Maybe prepare gift bags for the wedding or complete some other task.
There must be some sights to see together or some shops to visit.
I like your suggestions, except for preparing gift bags. I don’t know where this new trend started that your bridesmaids are supposed to be your hired help to do all your little tasks, but I don’t like it at all. I think a bridesmaid’s job is to show up, go to any relevant events like showers and rehearsal dinners, look pretty, and have fun - not to be the bride’s unpaid labor. Unless she explicitly volunteers (for example, I ised to do calligraphy so I calligraphied a friend’s invites - but I offered since I knew she was short on money to have it done professionally).
All your other ideas though are great! You must do a great job bringing people together!
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