Planning a Bachelorette Party: Ideas on a Budget
Bridesmaids at a slumber party bachelorette.
If you’ve spent any time on social media, you might be wondering - is that normal? Does everyone spend a week in Cabo for a bachelorette party?
Answer: No. If you’ve all got the time and money for it, that’s a fantastic way to celebrate with your bride. But most people don’t. So don’t worry if your party is a lot more casual.
The idea behind the bachelorette party is for the bride to spend some time with her friends. You don’t need to spend a ton of money to have fun together.
In fact, most brides don’t want you to wreck your budget on a party. What they’ll value the most, is the fact that everyone made time, and put some thought into her bachelorette.
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How Do You Plan a Cheap Bachelorette Party?
Even if you’re on a budget, you can still plan a great bachelorette party. Start by deciding how much you and the other bridesmaids can spend. Then choose an inexpensive activity, like a slumber party, pool party or scavenger hunt. Or find an inexpensive outing, like brunch, manicures or a dance class.
How to Start Bachelorette Party Planning
Set the budget for the bachelorette party.
Choose activities for the bachelorette.
Decide on the bachelorette party location.
Add up all the costs.
Check in with the rest of the bridesmaids.
Collect each persons share of the costs.
Book the bachelorette party activities.
Buy bachelorette decorations, games and extras.
Send bachelorette party invitations.
On the day-of: set up for the party.
Greet the guests and enjoy the bachelorette!
1. Set the Budget For the Bachelorette Party
Everyone’s idea of a budget is different, so you can’t just tell the other guests that it’s a small budget. To one person, a hundred dollars is a small budget. Someone else might think three hundred dollars is a small budget.
When you talk about the budget, make sure to use actual numbers. Sometimes people are funny when we’re talking about money. Nobody wants to feel awkward so we’ll just avoid it. But you need to know how much to spend before you can start planning.
If the other guests won’t say a number, pick one, based on your own budget. Are you comfortable spending $500? $250? $100? Offer that number and let people either agree, or offer a different number.
Once you find an amount that everyone’s comfortable with, you can start thinking about activities that fit the budget.
2. Choose Activities For the Bachelorette
A bachelorette party can be anything from a ladies night out, to a yoga class or a hike in the park. It just depends on the bride’s interests. Check in with her to find out what kind of a bachelorette she’d like the most.
Bachelorette Party Ideas on a Budget
Wine tasting or beer flights
Roller skating
Bowling
Karaoke
Brunch
Dinner party
At home spa day
Take a Class or Learn a New Skill
Flower arranging
Cooking
Cocktail mixing
Cake decorating
Ideas For an Outdoor Bachelorette
Hiking
Cycling
Camping
Picnic
Beach day
Pool party
3. Decide on the Bachelorette Party Location
Once you decide on your main activity, you can book the location. If you’re planning brunch, lunch or dinner, choose the restaurant and make a reservation. If you’re planning a night out, choose which clubs you’ll go to. If you’re planning a night in, decide if it’ll be at a private home or a rental.
Weekend Bachelorette Party On a Budget
Depending on the size of your budget, you might even be able to plan an overnight or weekend bachelorette. You can save money by borrowing a cottage or vacation rental from a friend or family member. Then fill the weekend with inexpensive or free activities. Check out free walking tours, hiking trails or local beaches. Round out your activities with some bachelorette party games or a scavenger hunt for your group.
4. Add Up All the Costs
Invitations
Games
Decorations
Matching t-shirts
Admission fees
Cover charges
Class fees
Food and drinks
Ride shares
Tips
Who Plans the Bachelorette Party?
Depending on your group and your relationships, you might or might not have others helping you plan. Some groups will want to have everyone involved. Other groups would be happier if one person did the planning and just checked in with the rest.
The easiest way to plan a bachelorette party is if one person takes the lead, usually the maid of honor. If she doesn’t, it’s ok for another person to do the planning.
5. Check in With the Rest of the Bridesmaids
Sometimes a friend group will have too many different ideas. If you’re the one planning the bachelorette party, it can be easier if you start with only two ideas. If you offer people too many choices, they’ll never decide. It’s easiest if you give the group two choices, then take a vote.
For example, if the bride doesn’t have a preference, make a loose plan for a night out, and one for a night in. Then let the group vote on which choice they like the best. Start a group chat and say:
Choice A: We’ll meet at the Bride’s favorite restaurant for dinner. Then we’ll take a ride to her favorite bar for a few drinks. If we buy t-shirts, straws, scavenger hunt game cards and a prize, it’ll cost around x dollars per person.
Choice B: We’ll meet at someone’s house (TBD) for a sleepover. We’ll bring all the drinks and snacks. At dinner time we’ll order from the Bride’s favorite pizza place. In the morning, we’ll cook breakfast before everyone goes home. Adding up the food, drinks, games and decorations, it’ll cost around x dollars per person.
6. Collect Each Persons Share of the Costs
Once everyone’s agreed on the activities, you can nail down the costs and make a firm budget. Add up the prices and divide it by the number of guests.
Depending on the party plan, you might want to collect the money in advance. Especially if you’re booking a rental, a room or a class. You don’t want to pay for everything yourself, then have people change their plans on you.
If people pay ahead of time, they’re more likely to show up. It would be awful if the group flaked on the bachelorette. Having it planned and paid for will help make sure everyone comes. And if they don’t - at least you won’t be out a bunch of cash!
If you’re planning an activity where each person will pay for themselves, they can pay on the day, at the event. If you’re buying t-shirts, games or decorations, add it up, and collect those costs ahead of time.
As well, the bride’s share is usually covered by the group. But if you’re going to a meal or drinks, it can get confusing trying to split it up during the party. To make it simpler, you can collect each person’s share ahead of time. Then during the party, each person can pay their own bill. Since you’ve already collected, you can pay for the bride and yourself.
7. Book the Bachelorette Party Activities
Once you’ve collected the money from all the guests, you can start booking the activities for your party:
If you’re planning an at home party, make sure you’ve got the dates set with the homeowner. Check that there’s enough space for everyone to sit, play games or sleep over.
Check the opening hours for activities like skating or bowling.
Make reservations for any meals.
Book your group classes.
If you’re going out, plan for rides, if necessary.
8. Buy Bachelorette Decorations, Games and Extras
If your bachelorette party is at home, you can decorate with a banner or balloons.
If you’re having a meal, look at some fun table decor, like paper centerpieces, disposable dishes and napkins.
If you need bachelorette party games, you can order them online. Amazon has tons of ready made games. Or you can buy a template on Etsy, personalize it and have it printed.
If there’s room in your budget, you can put together favor bags or mini hangover kits.
Sometimes the bride buys favors as a thank you for the party, but it’s not a requirement.
If the group wants matching bachelorette tank tops, shirts or travel cups, include it in the costs and order them all at once.
You can buy decorations that’ll double as an activity. Photo booth props, or shaped mylar balloons are a fun and easy way to get the party started.
For more decorations, games, shirts and favors, check out my favorites list on Etsy:
Bachelorette Party Ideas on a Budget
Fun Themes For a Bachelorette Party
No matter what shape your party takes, you can add a theme for everything from the invitations to the decor. You can find bachelorette party shirts, banners and more in just about any theme you can think of.
If the bride has any favorites, or hobbies, you can use that. Or you can choose a theme based on how nice the decorations look.
She found her main squeeze
Traveling from miss to mrs
Space cowgirl
Disco cowgirl
Tropical
Disney
Mermaid
Friends
The Office
Luau
Flamingo
Nautical
9. Send Out Bachelorette Party Invitations
Even if you’ve made the plans together, it’s best to send official invitations to everyone. That way, they’ve got all the details in one place.
If your party is low key or casual, it doesn’t need to be a fancy invitation. You can send it by text or email. You can handwrite some invites. Or, you can download and personalize a bachelorette party invitation template. Have them printed and send one to each guest.
Remember to include the time, date and meeting place. If there’s a lot of activities, you can include a bachelorette party itinerary or schedule, as well.
10. On the Day-Of: Set Up For the Party
On the day of the party, give yourself plenty of time to set up and get ready yourself. If the bachelorette is at home, or has lots of DIY, ask one or two of the other guests to come a bit early and help set up. If you’ll be serving food, the rest of the group can help you heat it up, and set it out when it’s time to eat.
11. Greet the Guests and Enjoy the Bachelorette
Start the party! If you’ve got favor bags that the guests will use during the party, hand them out as people arrive. That way they can put on their t-shirts, headbands or temporary tattoos. Plus they’ll have their tumblers or travel cups to drink from. If you’ve got favor bags that are take home treats, like a mini hangover kit, you can hand them out at the end of the night.
Bachelorette Party T Shirts - Bride and Bridesmaid. By: BTSapparel
Personalized Hangover Kit Bags - Bachelorette Party Favors. By: GracefulGreetingCo
Night Out Bachelorette Party on a Budget
The costs for a night out bachelorette should be split between the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. The bride’s share will be covered by the group. Plan ahead, to make sure the bills get split fairly.
Some groups use a financial app to pay, then divvy it up afterwards. But this method can lead to overspending, and morning after regrets.
One way to stay on budget is by using a cash system. Each person puts a set amount of cash into a group fund. The maid of honor can be in charge of the fund. She’ll pay the bills as you go, using the cash pool.
When the cash is gone, the party is over, so try to make a realistic plan. That way you’ll have enough for a fun time, without overspending.
When you’re figuring out how much it’ll cost, write out a plan for the night and give each item a price. Then count up everything you’ll need to pay for:
Dinner
Drinks
Snacks
Tips
Cover charges
Ride share
Women enjoying a spa day bachelorette party.
Perfect Spa Day Bachelorette on a Budget
Spa day is a great theme for a low-key bachelorette. Especially if the bride is feeling stressed from wedding planning. Plan as many treatments as you can fit in the budget.
If your budget’s big enough, you can go out to a salon for manicures or pedicures, then plan the rest of the day at home. After your mani/pedi, head home for a nice lunch then relax with face masks or foot soaks.
Or you can skip the salon and blow your budget on an at-home spa day, complete with candles and champagne. Plan treatments like face masks, hand massage and hair treatments. Take turns pampering the bride for a relaxing bachelorette party.
Show Your Bride Some Love
Remember, the bachelorette party doesn’t need to be expensive or elaborate, in order to be fun. The point is to make the bride feel happy and loved. As long as you’re thoughtful about the type of party she wants, she’ll love that you all came together, and treated her to an event that was planned just for her.
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Women making a toast at a picnic bachelorette party.
