Your one-stop guide to planning bachelorette parties

Just getting to grips with the terminology for a bachelor/bachelorette party is difficult, never mind the planning – in the US it’s a bachelor and bachelorette party; stag and hen night in the UK, and in Australia it’s the hen and buck party.

South Africans have tended to follow a more subdued tradition of a bachelor party whilst the bride and her girlfriends get together for dinner or tea.

This is changing, and we appear intent on following in the footsteps of women in the UK, who think nothing of spending an entire weekend bingeing on alcohol in a European city of their choice.

The do’s and don’ts of organising a bachelorette
Usually the task of organising a bachelorette party falls to the matron of honour or bridesmaids. There are some noteworthy guidelines that should help you keep your noses squeaky clean:

•    Don't leave the organisation until the last minute – eleventh-hour parties are not impossible, but definitely not worth the agony of juggling everyone’s schedules or trying to find a venue
•    Planning – make sure that everyone has a map or directions to the venue and one or two contact numbers as not everyone will travel together
•    Breaking the ice – not everyone attending is going to know one another; something like fancy dress gives everyone something in common.
•    Collect money beforehand – if you are staying overnight in accommodation, avoid collecting money the morning after; make sure you get deposits or money upfront ahead of time.
•    Check with the bride and groom – if you’re verging on the ‘wild side’ for the party, they may have an agreement to which you are not privy.

Bachelorette party ideas:
The low-key bachelorette:
•    Bridal brunch
•    Dining out in style, including a limousine hire
•    Themed evening
•    Trip to the spa

The wild bachelorette:

•    Hiring a stripper for a raunchy night in
•    Booze cruise
•    Bungee jumping or skydiving
•    Sex toy evening – every person brings a sex toy along and fun is had by all!

The key element to planning a bachelorette is that these nights should be about pampering, sharing laughter and strengthening friendships.

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