The Bachelorette Party

By Dana Barfield

When I got married last year at the age of 27, I wasn’t just starting a new chapter, I was closing out Part 1 of my life. The median age for a woman’s first marriage these days is at an all time high of 25. Compared to a generation ago, girls no longer live out their childhoods with the prospect of marriage immediately on the horizon. Instead, they expect to have full lives with college degrees and a career underway before they tie the knot. This drastic cultural change correlates perfectly with the popularity of the bachelorette party. For many of us the bachelorette party has become a celebration of our successes as independent women. Women who, if they want, can have fun in bars with impunity.

Much like the male version, a bachelorette party is presumably the last chance the future bride will have to let it all hang out with her girlfriends. Usually thrown by a best girlfriend, the traditional bachelorette party is the occasion for some rowdy, risque fun without the boys. How crazy you want to make it is up to the unique taste of the bride.

TIP - It’s best if these parties aren’t used to humiliate the bride although some friends choose to do just that. Isn’t getting married stressful enough?

A quirky, outgoing bride may get a kick out of cavorting around town with a suggestive veil on her head, but another may find it tacky. So if you’re planning the party please be sensitive to the bride’s style. The rule of thumb is to do the things the bride most enjoyed as a young, single woman navigating the path from home to college to career. It may be necessary to look a year or two in the past before she became part of a committed couple. 

TIP - Don’t do anything you don’t want your significant other to do at his bachelor party.

The current trend with bachelorette parties is, of course, the afore mentioned rowdy bar hop complete with limo, scavenger hunt for silly, sexy party favors. These celebrations can take place at the local hotspots or on location, particularly if a destination wedding is to follow. 

The devil’s in the details when customizing an ordinary barhop into a signature bachelorette party. Just like any party, a creative theme holds the look together, reflects the bride’s personality and makes for a memorable occasion. Whatever sums up the bride - little black dress, southern belle ruffles, or sorority girl pizzazz - the theme brings together a clique of girlfriends for one last night on the town.

TIP - Don’t do anything you can’t fess up to the next day.

Take note that just because mere mention of a bachlorette party calls up images of barhopping fun, doesn’t mean your last night with the girls has to follow suit. Many of us are getting married late enough in the game that we’ve already left behind the late nights at the club. There are no rules that say you can’t spend your weekend hiking or shopping or any number of other things that you love to do with a group of your closest friends. The point is to catch a little break from all the wedding planning, kick back, remember the good times and have some good old-fashioned fun. 

TIP - Yes, it’s okay to combine bachelor and bachelorette parties, but people will laugh and tell you you’re missing one of the greatest nights of your life.