I’m still catching up on sleep from my bridal shower/bachelorette party weekend. It was so nice to spend quality time with friends and family. (This was also my last pre-wedding event, so it motivated me to get into do-it-or-lose-it mode with my remaining projects.) Here are some dos and don'ts for making your last fling before the ring just as fun as mine was!
The writer (pictured third from right) and her friends at the bachelorette party.
1. DO let friends know in advance if there will be a stripper. In my opinion, having one was just a hilarious way to bond with my friends. We had some very entertaining conversations on the car ride home about his performance. No one in my group wanted to opt out of it, but not everyone is going to feel comfortable in that environment, so it's important to give your ladies a fair warning.
2. DON'T go overboard. It's easy to get carried away with celebratory drinks and shots (especially if they're free) so pace yourself and be aware of how much you're consuming. You don't want this to be a repeat of your 21st birthday or fall asleep during a 4 a.m. breakfast after a night of dancing. Leave that up to a bridesmaid, like I did. I'll do her a favor and not share that particular photo.
3. DO take friends’ locations into consideration. I decided to throw my bridal shower and bachelorette party during the same weekend so that three bridesmaids from out of town would be able to attend both (they wouldn't have been able to come otherwise). An added bonus: We held the party in Chicago, which isn't too far from where I live in Indianapolis, but far enough to guarantee we wouldn't run into anyone that we know. If you plan on wearing crazy bachelorette paraphernalia, you can see why this would be appealing!
4. DON'T worry about the number of people in your party. Ten girls, including myself, attended the bachelorette party. I felt like this was a great number, but don't feel pressured to have a large group—all that matters is that you have a blast with the people who can come. For us, it was nice to have enough girls to warrant two hotel rooms, so that when we got our second noise complaint, we could just switch to the other room...
5. DO say thank you! Whether it’s a two-minute drive or two-hour plane ride, everyone who comes to your bachelorette party is going out of their way to be there for you. Share how grateful you are to them for making time to be there.
6. DON'T be too demanding. Whoever is planning your bachelorette party (my maid of honor/sister Allison organized mine), has enough to worry about—don't stress her out with tons of demands. Trust that the person in charge of planning knows you well enough to plan a party you'll love. The only two wishes I expressed to my sister were that I wanted a stripper and thought Chicago would be fun. Check and check.
So real brides, what are your bachelorette party plans?
—Nikki Stroud
Nikki Stroud is a real bride who is learning every step of the way when it comes to wedding planning. She and her fiancé, Corey Allan (both Ball State alums), will be married in September of 2012 in front of their friends and family in Indianapolis. Glittering ivory lights, exposed plumbing and sleek wood floors depict their romantic yet rustic venue in the Downtown area. The couple hopes to incorporate personal touches to make the celebration truly reflect their relationship.
