Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Juggling the Bachelorette Party Budget



Let’s just say that learning how to juggle is difficult, whether it’s your career and social schedule, 3 balls in the air, or a bachelorette party budget. It’s all the same. If you don’t do it right the first time, you end up with a pile of mess at your feet. And who needs the drama or a ruined French pedicure. But if you put some time into doing your research and make a plan, chances are you’ll be much more prepared in tackling whatever is thrown at you.

The first thing you should know is a bachelorette party is a wedding event, and like most wedding celebrations, there are etiquette rules and practices which are already in place. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should follow those, because each bride-to-be should feel free to create her own traditions that are suited for her. However, knowing what is “accepted” in the celebration as far as budgeting is a great jumping off point.



Who pays for the bachelorette party?


The common practice is that all the guests of the bachelorette party chip in and split the cost of the party, and the bride-to-be doesn’t pay for anything. However, in my experience, working with bachelorette party groups, only half or less follow this tradition. Sometimes one person covers a portion of the party or the entire check, and many times they aren’t even invited to the blowout. Talk about a nice gift! Here are some examples from past clients.


She’s the Best: Usually the maid or matron of honor is in charge of making the arrangements for the bachelorette party. Many of these ladies take care of paying for a little extra something for the event, and then the guests pay for the remainder of the party. I’ve had maids of honor pay for dinners, entertainment, guest favors, outfits for the guests, bachelorette cakes, and a gift basket for the bride-to-be. The maid or matron of honor that goes above and beyond her call of duty is a friend forever.

Mama Knows Best: For the brides-to-be that work closely with their mothers in planning, this scenario will have a familiar ring. Personally, I love working with the mothers because they want to make sure their little girl has the best event possible. And in general, moms have more experience in understanding all the details of the event – from the transportation to the entertainment and party favors. I’ve worked with many mothers who manage the entire planning process with us and take care of the payment. Some of those events have included venue parties in a private room with entertainment, food, beverages, cakes, decorations, initiations and personalized details to make it extra special. After all, moms are always looking out for their pride and joy, and we love them for it.

Daddy Dearest: You wouldn’t expect a dad to get involved with the planning of a bachelorette party. However, I have worked with fathers of the bride who call up to make the initial arrangements. They usually let the bride-to-be or maid of honor do the planning but they cover the bill for the night out on the town with a BNO Party Guide or indoor comedy event. Wouldn’t you agree that girls should be spoiled by their Daddy’s and why not for their bachelorette party too?


That’s My Man: Yes, believe it or not, the groom-to-be has put in some cash to make sure the bachelorette bash is a success. One particular client’s dream man paid for a plush hotel suite in Las Vegas, food, and beverages for his favorite lady’s special event. The party guests chipped in for a few drinks on the town, but other than that soon-to-be-hubby covered the bill. He’s a keeper!

So if you are a maid of honor, mother of the bride, father of the bride, groom-to-be, party guest or even the bride-to-be, feel free to offer some kind of financial help to make it a success.

Budgeting for the Event

After you’ve worked with a BNO Party Consultants to determine what your “party personality” is, and what your likes and dislikes are for your event, you’ll have a better understanding of pricing and your must haves. The first thing you need to do is determine what is most important for your guest of honor and guests. Is it the entertainment, the food, the beverages the gifts, the decorations? Choose one and put most of the budget into making that fabulous. The other details should not be ignored, but you can use more imagination to spruce those up. When I am working with clients who prefer to do things on their own, I provide them with a consultation and guidance on creating low-cost solutions to creating details with impact. Personalized features are always important and store bought books aren’t going to get you the results. Think outside the box, and if you need some extra help, we’re always here.

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