[Photo: Splash News]
Not setting a budget.
Being a bridesmaid is not a cheap endeavor. There’s the dress, shoes, gifts--for months it will seem like you are purging money. And everyone’s budget is different, so before you finalize any bachelorette party plans, sit down and talk honestly about what everyone can afford.
Forcing everyone to travel.
If you decide to travel out of town for the bachelorette, be aware that some people--both in and out of the bridal party--might not be able to afford airfare, hotels, multi meals, etc. If that’s the case, don’t make anyone feel bad about missing the event. After all, you don’t want anyone getting into serious credit card debt just so they can be in on the fun. Instead, you can plan a separate, low-key night to meet for drinks with the bride so those that can’t travel can still wish her well.
Not thinking outside of the box.
The weekend in Vegas, spa days, wine tastings, etc.--they've been done to death. Try to get a little creative when planning by thinking about the bride’s interests. Does she love the outdoors? A day of hiking followed by dinner and drinks or even glamping might be more her style. Or if her favorite band is coming to town, get tickets so you can all go together. You get the idea.
Planning at the last minute.
Whether it’s one night out or a weekend away, you’ll want to start planning as soon as you know what you want to do. Waiting until the last minute means the risk of paying more, getting shut out of certain events and causing a lot of stress for everyone involved.
Assuming everyone wants to get wasted.
Having a good time doesn’t mean drinking to excess. In fact, some guests might not want to drink at all, so no pressure! And if you want to skip the cocktails completely, you can check out our roundup of 8 bachelorette party ideas that don’t involve alcohol.
Letting the bride control everything.
Yes, this is an event to celebrate her impending nuptials, but that doesn't mean she should have complete control over it. You can ask if there’s anything that might make her uncomfortable (like strippers), but then take the lead.
Not going over the guest list.
You should also ask the bride who exactly she wants to invite. One rule: Anyone invited to the bachelorette should also be invited to the wedding. And while you might not like the bride’s childhood BFF, if the guest of honor wants her there, she has to be included.
[Photo: Minted]
Packing too much (or too little).
It might be tempting to try to pack in too many activities, especially if you're going away for the weekend. You don’t want to exhaust everyone, and keep in mind that more activities often means spending more money. On the flip side, you don’t want to just "wing it" and not plan anything ahead of time. So strike a nice balance between the two.
