Bachelorette Invitations

Bachelorette Invitations: Getting the Party Started Right

It is truly an honor to be asked to stand with a dear friend when she takes the plunge into married life. The maid of honor has many responsibilities during and before marriage vows, but perhaps the most enjoyable is planning the bachelorette party.

One of the first steps to planning a bachelorette party is choosing who will be included on the bachelorette invitations list. Whether or not the party itself will be a surprise, it is wise to discuss the guest list with the bride-to-be. She may have preferences about which friends are invited and others that are not, particularly depending on the types of activities that are planned. Because bachelorette parties are traditionally more rambunctious than other pre-wedding gatherings, the bride may have some friends and family members that she would prefer to leave out of this specific event. It may also be helpful to establish a general number of guests to invite prior to speaking with the bride. She may then be more apt to select the most appropriate people.

Once the guest list has been determined, it is time to decide on the bachelorette invitations. Some might prefer to use online invitations, either through an event service, through email, or through a social networking medium. However, traditional invitations are generally preferred for special occasions. Traditional bachelorette invitations can be either purchased or made by hand before being mailed to the recipients.

Invite with Style

The bachelorette invitations should reflect the type of gathering so that guests know exactly what type of party they will be attending. Does the bachelorette party have a theme? If so, the invitation should be in keeping with the theme as well. Using the wedding colors for the invitations and envelopes is also a nice touch. There are also more creative ways to invite guests to a party, whether it is planned to be wild or mild.

A bachelorette party that is planned to walk on the wild side is the old standard, and for good reason. This party gives the bride her last hurrah before being wed and, as such, often includes drinks, dancing, and a devil-may-care attitude. Include headbands with red sequined devil horns attached for all attendees to wear, which will make them stand out in a crowd. Plastic shot glasses can be purchased inexpensively, with a magic marker, write the date, time, and place on each shot glass and deliver to those who are hoped to attend.

Not all bachelorette parties are filled with debauchery. Some brides prefer a day at the spa to a night at the club. For these types of parties, attach a face mask or a flat loofah to the bachelorette invitations.

Information to Include

Nothing is worse than a bachelorette party invitation that leaves out necessary details. It is important to make sure all vital information is included, but don’t get overly wordy, which can confuse guests. Be sure to include the date, the time, and the meeting place, as well as any important details about the planned events for the evening.

Consider the ages of guests; if you are planning an evening at multiple bars, guests under 21 may not be able to attend. If these guests must be invited, have a pre-party party at someone’s home or at a rented hotel room. This will give younger guests the chance to celebrate with the bride, and they can bid farewell when others continue with the night.

Other needed information includes what is expected of the guests. At many bachelorette parties, guests are expected to bring a small gift for the bride. This might be lingerie or a novelty item. If these items are not wished to be received, it should be stated clearly on the invitation that no gifts are necessary.

Conversely, it is considered in poor taste to request gifts to any party, so information about what types of gifts to bring should not be included. What should be included is whether or not guests will be expected to pay for their own drinks, food, and transportation. One way to approach this subject is to state that the first round, or first two rounds, will be covered by the bridal party and a designated driver has already been chosen. This will allow guests to know how much money to bring and exactly what to expect.

For spa parties, guests should be explicitly told how much they can expect to pay or if services are covered for them. If services are not covered, include a spa menu with the invitation. Whatever you do, be sure people know what the bachelorette party themes are, so they can prepare.