Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Bachelorette

I want to rock the party.

yersinia — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:10:51 -0800

One bachelorette party, ten miscellaneous female guests, one extremely introverted organizer (that's me!). Activities are set, but what little things can I do (or how should I behave) to keep things cohesive and lively, instead of awkward or lame? As maid of honor at my sister's wedding, I'm in charge of running her bachelorette party in a few months' time. The thing is, I'm personally pretty reserved and low-energy. I've never been to one of these things myself, and in general female group socialization of the "SQUEE!"/Sex-and-the-City variety is kind of a mystery to me. Sis is also on the quiet side of average, but she does like parties and I know she'd enjoy having a proper bachelorette experience.

The guests are likely to be a mix of mutually-unacquainted high-school, college, and work friends, ages 25-35, and I haven't seen Sis with any of them, so I have no real sense of the existing social dynamics. We'll likely be doing a pole-dancing class plus dinner, and thanks to this question I'm set with ideas for smaller activities/games.

What I'm worried about are the intangibles of executing this plan, the little details of demeanor and conversation that might help unite everyone into a group and ensure that the energy level stays high. Being a kind of un-fun person myself, I've had plenty of social interactions that bottomed out, energy-wise (as well as some where I ended up having to exhaustedly feign enjoyment for hours at a time), and I'm worried about how the party will fare if I'm the one responsible for getting the evening going.

Normally, just the thought of attending a bachelorette party would fill me with dread and anxiety, but I think I can make it through the hostessing if I have a very clear, explicit plan for how to act/what to say/how to "be"/etc. to keep things lively for everyone. So thinking back to the absolute funnest small party you've ever attended, what qualities and behaviors characterized the host(ess)? And how can I fake being, well, more like that?

Where to party in like a Southern girl?

thejanna — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:12:31 -0800

Where to go for a girls night out in Charleston, SC? We're going out tomorrow night for a girls night/bachelorette in Charleston, South Carolina. We're all from out of town and don't know where to go, especially since it's a Wednesday night so some of the happening places might be closed or dead. I'm not looking for anything too wild - just fun places to hang out and have drinks or dance. Any South Carolina Mefites have any suggestions?

Things To Do In Virginia Beach

fancypants — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:19:57 -0800

I'm heading down to Virginia Beach with some friends for a low-key bachelorette party this weekend. We have a beach house rented but no other plans. Help us find fun things to do! Other than getting some sun and doing some grilling what is there to do in Virginia Beach at this time of year? Are there restaurants and bars that we shouldn't miss? We're not super in to clubs or woo-hoo bachelorette party type things, but we'd definitely like to go out and have fun. Obviously it's a little early for serious beaching, but will it be warm enough to walk and just sit by the water?

Philly bachelorette ideas needed!

als129 — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:08:55 -0800

Philly Philter: I am looking for a pre-dinner activity for a very low key bachelorette party. If this were happening in NYC, we'd likely hit up Beauty Bar for martinis and manicures before dinner. But I'm striking out when it comes to finding something like this in Philly.

Any ideas would be appreciated -- even a wine tasting or something like that would be cool.

For what it's worth, it will be happening on an upcoming Saturday and dinner is at Cuba Libre around 8 p.m. So if the activity was in the Old City (or at least Center City) vicinity, that would be ideal. We will be meeting at a bridesmaid's apartment before going out, so even an activity there could be fun. I just lack inspiration.

Thanks -- all ideas welcome!

PS: No strippers or anything like that. It's just not that type of crowd.

Bachelorette Party Fun in Paw Paw

eggerspretty — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:19:09 -0800

How do I do an inexpensive and not lame bachelorette party in a tiny town in West Michigan? I'm helping to host a bachelorette party in a very small town in West Michigan. The nearest city of any real size is 25 minutes away and the city with any real activity is 1 hour away. The bride has asked that all of the girls come in two days early, and this is the only thing they will have as an activity for the two days before the wedding so I want to make it fun.

Unfortunately, the maid of honor has given up planning or paying for the party so I am left trying to figure out what to do with ten late-20-something women who have all flown in to Michigan and driven three hours to the hotel that morning.

I am planning on having us trek to the city 25 minutes away for a nicer dinner and some bar hopping later in the evening, but I need something for us all to do from about 3pm-6pm that will not be hokey or expensive. It also will have to be in a Holiday Inn conference room. (woohoo!) I am also driving 13 hours the day before with two dogs so I can't bring a lot as far as supplies.

I have called yoga teachers, spas, cooking teachers, and caterers. They are all either too expensive or won't travel that far for a class. The bride has made it clear that we have to be "active" - she originally asked for the party to be from 11am-11pm, but I nixed the idea when it turned into me planning and paying for most/all of it. (Plus, I pity the fact that everyone would have to fly into MI an extra day earlier than they would expect just for a weekend wedding with little notice at this point.)

Thanks for the ideas. The wedding is in Paw Paw if that helps, and I have called the wineries in the area but am weary of adding daytime drinking/tasting onto nighttime events.

I just wanna par-tay!

santojulieta — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 13:31:50 -0800

What do bachelorettes who hate techno music dance party clubs do for bachelorette events? My bestie-for-life Maid of Honor and I are both getting married in October, and so we're planning a joing bachelorette party.

However, I don't think anyone really wants to do your traditional drunken club evening. Well, we're not opposed to the drunken part, but if I have to spend time in another overcrowded, college-aged, meat market club, I'll just die.

So, I need your help. I need some killer ideas for non-traditional stagette parties. I read a few other threads and stumbled on the 80s bridesmaid theme, but what else would be fun to do or play?

FYI: We're having it in Grand Rapids, MI (boring mini-metro city in SW Michigan.)

Good time in Texas

xaire — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:12:34 -0800

Bachelorette party ideas in Dallas? Planning from out of town - help! I'm in charge of planning a bachelorette party in downtown(ish) Dallas in the next few months from the other side of the country--eek!

I'd love some help coming up with ideas where to go. Ideally, I'd like to choose 3 or 4 bars/clubs/restaurants/activities with different vibes to visit throughout the evening, close enough that it isn't a huge journey between them (walking distance would be fantastic, but I'm not sure that's doable). We're up for anything (except strip clubs - no thanks!), but the place we start needs to serve tasty appetizers (early evening), and I'd like to have at least one place be a silly, cheesy good time (karaoke, drag show, 80's dancing, something goofy). There will be half a dozen fun, laid-back ladies in our mid-twenties, and I am doing everything possible to stop blow up penises and lolly-pop laden tank tops from accompanying us. The bride is also from out of town, so she won't have her heart set on any specific place. All ideas are welcome, even better if you can offer a few within those constraints!

One last caveat - strongly prefer places without excessive cover charges, very strict dress codes or insanely long lines.

Happy to provide more guidance, but since this isn't my city I wanted to be open to any great local options. Thanks!

Pinup Girl Bachelorette Party?

ultraultraboomerang — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:21:03 -0800

I'm planning a lingerie shower/bachelorette party with a pinup girl theme (e.g., Gil Elvgren, Art Frahm, etc.) Any ideas about how to work the theme into the evening? This is my first Maid of Honor gig, and I'm doing it from a few hundred miles away. How should I integrate the "pinup" theme into games, party favors, goodie bags for guests, etc.? Is it too much to ask the (~10-12) guests to wear something pinup-y? What kinds of favors/prizes can I make or have made that will fit in my luggage? Generic recommendations on bachelorette parties will be appreciated as well, since I've managed to reach my early 30s whilst remaining relatively clueless about bachelorette parties and weddings in general.

Help me hire a stripper for my friend's bachelorette party.

n'muakolo — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 05:01:32 -0800

Stripping class for a bachelorette party in DC. Is there such a thing? How would I arrange it? I was thinking - and so was the bride - that a fun pre-party (before hitting some bars) event at her bachelorette party would be to hire a female stripper who could give the group some basic lessons on doing a fun, sexy striptease for our men. In my mind, it would be pretty tame and we would keep our clothes on, we would just learn a few, um, tricks. Is there such a concept? Where would I find such a thing? It has to be DC.

Bachelorette party in Savannah, GA!

chiababe — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 18:11:56 -0800

Bachelorette party in Savannah, GA! Bar & restaurant recommendations? I am going to Savannah tomorrow with 2 other girls to celebrate my wedding next weekend and we're looking for some suggestions on where to hang out as none of us have spent any time down there. We're staying through Sunday morning at the Doubletree downtown, so we'd like suggestions that are walkable.

We're in our late 20's, pretty casual, like to dance, enjoy good cover bands, but looking to avoid outrageous cover charges and snooty exclusive and/sketchy places.

Restaurant suggestions would be welcomed too, as we're going to have to eat sometime between the rum!

Bachelorette party in Portland?

Milkman Dan — Tue, 08 May 2007 16:47:24 -0800

Where can a group of girls go for a classy, non-skanky, dancing/drinking bachelorette party in Portland, Oregon? My wife's helping throw a stagette for her soon-to-be-married friend, but said wedding is happening in the city of Portland. Unfortunately, we're in Calgary, AB. We need the help of Portland Metafilter folk to help choose a place for the evening: what's your vote for a hip, respectable venue for five or so girls to spend the evening partying before the big day?

Help (safely) Humiliate the Bride!

rmless — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:30:44 -0800

Bachelorette Party Filter: All the events for the day and evening are planned, but I've been put in charge of games, stupid hats, embarrassing tasks, etc. The games and entertainment parts will take place at a lunch picnic (just us 6 girls) and then later at a bar after dinner. I was thinking at the picnic we could have some "How well do you know the bride" type game, but I don't really know how to run it or what the format for that would be.

For the bar part, things can get crazier, drinking games, phone number contests etc.

Our group of friends is very close and open-minded, so suggestions can get pretty wild and embarrassing. Dares, challenges, contests, games, whatever.

Caveats:
no strippers, no touching the bride inappropriately, nothing illegal, and props or favors shouldn't exceed $100

Thanks!

let's ge this (bachelorette) party started

gaspode — Mon, 22 Aug 2005 16:44:45 -0800

New York City bachelorette party suggestions, please. I'm helping organize a bachelorette party in New York, where I live, but I tend to frequent dive bars and nasty diners. Hence I have no ideas about fun places for a bunch of girls to hang out. So I'm the only one in NYC - everyone else is traveling here. There will be 8 or so women, all professional, all early 30s. I only know the bride, and she is like me, reasonably down to earth and not at all "girly". That said, I think we want to embrace the fun girls' night out vibe. We most definitely do not want to be a veil wearing, screeching, obnoxious bachelorette party. So I'd welcome suggestions for fun bars where we can drink girly cocktails, as well as restaurants and clubs. Also other suggestions for day time activities. I mean, I have never even had a manicure, but I have a vague idea that that is something a group of girls might do. We have all weekend.

San Francisco bachelorette party suggestions?

Wolfie — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 13:56:53 -0800

San Francisco bachelorette party suggestions? My little sister is getting married and I'm stumped. After throwing out a bunch of ideas I thought would be fun (an erotic dance class, go-kart racing, a treasure hunt) she finally said what she really wants is a night of drinking and dancing in San Francisco. I've apperently been a married woman living in San Francisco for too long to even have a clue what the cool kids are doing these days. One of her very good friends has suggested dinner at Asia SF and dancing at Ruby Skye. I'll admit that I'm a snob and I think that sounds like my idea of absolute hell. Let's not even talk about the woman who suggested the party trolley... I have no clue what's going on outside of my usual Friday happy hour at Casanova or grabbing beers with friends at the Toronado. Can any of you Metafolks help me come up with a night out that a bunch (5-10) of single 27ish year old girls who don't usually go to the city might want to do that won't make me want to hurl - or barring that -suggestions for getting over myself and embracing this kind of cheese...