How to Plan a Bachelorette Party The Bride Will Actually Love

You’ve got the honor (and the pressure) of planning her last big weekend before the wedding. Whether you’re organizing a wild getaway or a chill weekend with her favorite people, it all comes down to one thing - make it feel like her.

The Most Important Bachelorette Party Planning Tips

1. Start With Her - What Does The Bride Really Love?

Don’t fall into the trap of the “typical” bachelorette party. If the bride is not the Vegas-and-veil type, don’t force it. This party should feel like an extension of who she is. It's too easy to feel the need to make every party about drinking, dressing up, and a big night out, but if that isn't what you really enjoy or something that you and your friends don't do much (or for those of us that got married after 30... don't do much anymore), there is literally no need to force it. 

Think about your happiest times and what you really love to do - if it's camping, going on adventures, crafting, karaoke, exploring a city or a tiny coastal town, gaming, any interest can be incorporated into a party theme that is both fun and perfectly you. Scroll down for unique theme ideas!

2. Be Brutally Honest About the Budget

What used to be just a night out or a get together right before the wedding has evolved into full-on travel, often spanning a weekend or more; and money can get awkward fast within a group of people. As much fun as it is to celebrate, between coordinating travel, accommodations, and events, it’s easy to see how confusion and tension can arise within the group if expectations aren’t managed from the get-go. 

The best way to avoid those awkward money moments is to handle it upfront. Get a clear sense of what everyone is comfortable spending, and break down the budget early. Don’t assume anyone’s got an unlimited spending capacity just because they’re celebrating with you. Some people might be fine with a lavish dinner or splurging on a spa day, while others might need to keep things more affordable.

Start by asking for a rough idea of what everyone can realistically contribute, or work out the rough budget and let all of your invitees know with the initial invite, so they can know whata the financial expectation is.  For things like lodging, if you’re booking an Airbnb or hotel rooms, divide the cost evenly across the group. As for the bride’s dinner, consider it a group gift - everyone chips in a set amount so no one feels singled out.

For other expenses like Ubers, drinks, and meals, try to estimate those costs ahead of time. Put together a rough itinerary with expected costs for things like group activities, transportation, and meals so everyone knows what to expect and can budget accordingly. If you’re splitting meals or excursions, make sure everyone’s comfortable with how it’s going to be divided before anyone feels the pinch. This is especially important if you plan on group dinners or special activities where costs can quickly spiral.

The key here is to plan smart, not over-the-top. A bachelorette should be about the bride and the group having a good time, not stressing over who owes what or whether anyone ends up feeling taken advantage of.. 

3. Don’t Overbook the Itinerary

You don’t need a minute-by-minute schedule. Anchor the weekend with one or two standout moments - a big dinner, one killer activity, maybe a night out - and let the rest breathe. Make reservations where they are needed, popular restaurants, spa bookings, or any private activities that need advance planning. Leave room for spontaneous detours, hangover naps, or the accidental three-hour gossip session that ends up being everyone’s favorite part.

If every second is accounted for, the whole  event can start to feel like an obligation for those that don't love order and structure. Downtime isn’t wasted time - it’s where the real bonding happens. Less stress, more memories.

4. Keep Everyone Organized - Without Chaos

Group chats aren't everyone's favorite way to communicate. For the major plans and sharing important details like flight times, reservation numbers, and an overall itinerary on a shared doc, Notion board, or planning app. Put everything in there - who’s coming, payment deadlines, dress codes, surprise plans, addresses, times, even the playlist. No one wants to be that person scrambling because they didn't know what the plan was.

5. Plan One Sentimental Moment

You don’t need to make the whole thing a cry-fest - but carve out one moment that feels personal. A toast. A video message. A scrapbook. A quiet drink just the two of you. Make the bride feel seen, loved, and celebrated for more than just her ring, and if you are planning your own party - make sure to take a minute alone with each of your best friends to appreciate your unique friendship amidst the party and group excitement.

Unique Bachelorette Party Theme Ideas and Activities

Whether you want to go hard or go soft, 10 unique themes and activities for every Bride Squad

1. Camp Bachelorette: Cabin-Core Edition

Think retro summer camp meets adult wine weekend. Book a big cabin in the woods, decorate with camp signs and bunk-bed name tags, and plan an itinerary with nostalgic touches - friendship bracelets, fire pit s’mores, truth-or-dare, canoe races, and a talent show that gets wildly out of hand. Add camp T-shirts with inside jokes and disposable cameras for a full throwback. Bonus if everyone has to pass a “bachelorette badge” challenge to earn their drinks.

Perfect for: The bride who is forever a Summer Camp Person (IYKYK) and still lives for group bonding, nature, and chaos.

2. Surf Camp Bachelorette

For the girls that love being in the ocean and not just sitting on the beach. Whether you're seasoned surfers or total beginners, a surf camp or surf and yoga retreat can be the most fun, active, and sun-drenched few days for an adventurous group. All-in-one retreats make for easy planning and containing budgets: you book your spot, your flights, and all the planning, logistics and other expenses are taken care of. A lot of retreats and surf camps in Central America like Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama can be incredibly affordable compared to US travel or more popular places like Cabo, making the longer trip not break the budget. 

Perfect for: The outdoorsy, sporty, laid-back bride who already loves surfing, or wants to take up something totally new and wants her last hurrah with her toes in the sand.

3. Apres All Day

Because not everyone loves the beach! This theme is all about chalet glam - think faux fur, snow goggles, hot toddies, and over-the-top après-ski outfits - or actually hitting the slopes for a couple of days if your group likes to ski or snowboard. Rent a mountain house and lean into the glam Swiss Alps coziness with hot cocktails, fondue, warm fireplaces,  metallic puffer coats and matching thermal onesies for the ultimate off-season après vibe; and for the more adventurous - winter hikes, iceskating or snowshoeing.

Perfect for: The winter bride or ski bunny who loves glam, cold-weather fashion, and champagne in the hot tub.

4. Beach Resort-Core: Bikinis & No Stress Planning

Skip the chaos, book the beach resort, and lean into peak poolside glam. Think matching swim sets, oversized sun hats, welcome bags with SPF and sheet masks, and zero plans besides spa time and sipping something cold. Add a cabana brunch, a group sunset dinner in all white, and a beachside photo shoot with natural glam. Booking an all-inclusive resort makes planning and budgeting easy - you know exactly how much you're going to spend from the get-go. (My favorite all-inclusive is Xcaret Arte in Riviera Maya)

Perfect for: The bride who wants luxury without the drama, a group that loves The White Lotus (without the murder), and those that want the planning to be easy. 

5. Retro Slumber Party 2.0

Throw it back to the golden era of sleepovers - but make it adult. Silk pajamas, face masks, pizza, gossip, magazines, and bad reality TV marathons. Spice it up with a custom cocktail bar, temporary tattoos, and nostalgic games (M.A.S.H., anyone?). Rent a cute house, bring every comfort food imaginable, and stay up way too late doing nothing in particular.

Perfect for: The bride who wants cozy chaos, middle-school memories, and deep belly laughs - without leaving the Airbnb.

6. Wellness Weekend Escape

Book a cozy cabin, desert retreat, or laid-back resort and turn the whole weekend into a reset. Think yoga on the deck, a long hike with views, a day at a spa with facials and massages, healthy meals, and a fridge full of kombucha and wine. You can still pop some champagne in robes - but the vibe is calm, clear-headed, and genuinely restorative - and you can all return home without feeling like you've been annihilated by the party. Zen, but make it bachelorette.

Perfect for: the bride who is more in her green juice and pilates era, or the over-30 group that is no longer into going out. 

7. Destination Concert Weekend

Focus your trip around a concert that your group really wants to go to - then snag the tickets and turn it into a full weekend. You can either plan for the city first - Beyoncé in Chicago, Harry Styles in LA, etc - or, because we all know how hard it is to get tickets in major cities, see what cities are available for your favorite tour and end up somewhere  completely new (I randomly really loved Omaha, and they have a couple of major concert venues) Book a cool Airbnb, plan pre-show cocktails, have fun dressing up, and build in time to explore the city. It’s a concert and a getaway wrapped into one, and way more memorable.

Perfect for: music lovers, city girls, and everyone still upset that they didn't get tickets to The Eras Tour. 

8. Girls Gone Mild: The Craftcore Bachelorette

For the bride who’s over the entire concept of going out and just wants a soft, cozy weekend - with craft activities thrown in. Think oversized robes, oat milk lattes, slow mornings, and a full-on craft bar set up in the living room. Spend the weekend journaling, face-masking, and DIY-ing everything in sight - from custom candles and rhinestoned sunglasses to the ultimate “bride era” scrapbook. Movie marathons at night, paint pens by day. Wine optional. Vibes mandatory.

Perfect for: The bride who thrives on deep convos, cozy energy, and getting weird with a hot glue gun. Less chaos, more creativity.
Recharge and bedazzle.

9. Mexico Getaway Fiesta

Skip the overdone party cities and fly south for sun, ceviche, and actually affordable luxury. For East Coasters - Tulum, Cozumel, and Riviera Maya are easy destinations to get to, and for West Coasters - Sayulita, Todos Santos, and Loreto are incredibly quick flights. For city girls - Mexico City is undeniably cool, and for the group looking for a truly unique experience - take the Jose Cuervo train to Tequila. Days are for beach lounging, pool drinks, or cenote swims. Nights are for rooftop dinners, mezcal tastings, and dancing barefoot somewhere that doesn’t have cell service. You can keep it chill or go full glam - either way, the trip delivers and the “one last fiesta” shirts hit harder in actual Mexico. Passport required, drama not invited.

Perfect for: Jetsetters, beach lovers, and brides who love to travel.

10. The Party-Hard Traditionalists

Some brides want zen. Others want to black out in a tiara wearing all white sparkles - this one’s for the latter. Go big, go loud, go full cliché - in the best way. Think VIP tables, themed outfits, a packed club itinerary, and bottle service with sparklers you’ll pretend to hate but secretly love. Add a party bus, a hangover kit, and a game plan for surviving the group chat the next day. No shame in wanting the classic, all-out bachelorette chaos. In fact, do it right and it becomes iconic.

Perfect for: Brides who want it wild, want it extra, and want the stories to come with a legal disclaimer. Mostly reformed party girls that still want to dance on tables. This is the “last fling” energy they warned you about.