The Bachelorette Party: What a Bride Should Know Before Her Night Out

The bachelorette party is one of the most controversial aspects of engaged life. For many couples, this can be a source of concern and the seed of arguments. When expectations aren't met, bachelorette party situations can add stress to an already busy planning time and can also strain the friendships between yourself and your bridesmaids/friends. Because many bachelorette parties are surprises for the bride or very loosely planned, it is important that you, the bride, subtly hints at some very important matters so that there are no fights or misunderstandings.

 

 

Be sure to discuss your limits and expectations for bachelor/ette parties with your future husband to avoid future conflicts. Establish your limits and encourage your fiancé to also discuss them with your maid of honor or the person you suspect may be in charge of your night out. If you have any reservations or hesitations about these events, it's best to discuss them first with your partner before the events are planned.

Think of the bachelorette party as a pre-wedding gift from your friends and bridesmaids to you. If you dislike a suggested activity, your friends may be disappointed or hurt. Remember that the party planners are trying to please everyone that will be attending, including ladies that they may not have met before or people with very different personalities. Finding an event suitable for everyone isn't easy, but their aim is to please you!

Sometimes, a planner will ask you about your preferences for your bachelorette party. Thinking of the diversity of attendees, you should have some suggestions on hand in case you are asked. The following information would be helpful to a bachelorette party planner:

 

• A list of people you'd like to invite
• Suggested places or events
• Your social limits (Is a strip club acceptable? How would you feel about having alcohol at the event?)
• Your fiance's limits and concerns
• Financial limits (sometimes the bride will be expected to contribute)
• An expressed concern about a need designated drivers

Once you have discussed this with your female friends, your fiancé will feel a lot easier about your last official night of being single.
During the evening, there will be times when you might be asked to participate in activities that might seem otherwise ridiculous, silly, or embarrassing, such as karaoke, standing for public announcements that you are the bride to be, or even wearing a cheap veil or a veil of condoms. Unless you are truly uncomfortable with these embarrassing rituals, it's best to go along with them.
Remember, even though you're the bride, the bachelorette party actually has little to do with you!

You're already committed to settling down, but your female friends in particular need this ritual to mourn the loss of your single days. As a result, the night could range from sappy and reminiscent to wild and bizarre. Your single friends might not feel odd just about letting part of you go, but also about themselves-although they want to celebrate with you, they are now in a different phase of life than you and will be examining their own lives. Some may cope with this through standard party behavior.

The ultimate secret to surviving your own bachelorette party: it's not about you-it's about your new life and how others will cope with it. Do your best to be supportive of your friends.