Non-overnight bachelorette party
So I have been given the task of planning the bachelorette party for a good friend of mine. I have planned one before so this usually isn't hard. This one , however, is hard because so far out of the 5 girls she told me to invited (6 girls total if I include the bride) 4 girls cannot stay overnight. This would leave me and bride to stay the night at this point if we did. Sadly no one (including me) can kick everyone out of our houses and hotel rooms for 6 people are expensive and some do not want to pay for it. Also 3 of the girls have kids and have to go home to them at the end of the night (and I respect that 100%). That being said though I am having a hard time trying to plan a bachelorette party that doesn't include all the girls staying the night. I am needing help with this now because her wedding is in September so I have to start planning it. If anyone has advice that would be great. Thank in advance for any advice.
Re: Non-overnight bachelorette party
Anyway, this is simple. Plan an activity the bride will enjoy for early afternoon (for example, mani/pedis or painting pottery or paddle boarding, whatever. Afterward everyone can have dinner and drinks. Then people can go home. See? Easy
Who assigned you this task? Shouldn't this be voluntary?
I agree with @kwiksilver. If staying out late/overnight is difficult, plan an earlier event. In addition to late afternoon ideas, there are often early comedy club events, too. Not staying overnight doesn't prevent the event, it merely changes the game a bit. If the idea behind the hotel room is more to deter drinking/driving, apply a small portion to what would have been a hotel room(s) and hire a car for the evening.
If any of the guests live OOT and choose to attend, they'll be able to book their own accommodations. You don't have to make it a group thing.
Edited to clarify my last sentence: you don't have to make staying in a hotel a group thing. Obviously the party activities themselves will be enjoyed as a group
Are any guests OOT? You don't need to be responsible for making plans for them. And if it's jus you and the bride that want to do an overnight could you invite her to stay over at your place?
Why can you not just get a room for the two of you if you want to stay in a hotel with the bride? Just plan the night and communicate the natural breaks between activities to the participants. If its just drinks in a club later where everyone pays for their own cover, why does it really matter if someone leaves a tad earlier?
Why do you need to have a house or a hotel room? Can you not go to a nail salon? or a nice dinner? Or wine tasting? Or dancing?
Why are your only options hotel room or someone's house?
I agree to plan an earlier activity, do dinner, then drinks/dancing/bar/pub, and guests can leave when they need to.
-spa stuff
-meals
-sports events
-comedy clubs (early shows)
- painting classes
-jewelry making
-boat charter/tour
-other kinds of tours
-beach day/pool day
-wine tasting at wineries
-theatre
-concerts
-strip shows
-casino activities
Most of the bach parties I've attended have been just a night out, where no one stayed over.
Like PPs have said, there are about 8 billion things you can do during the day that are super fun! If everyone is local, you could make it a long-ish day too. Morning yoga, mani/pedis, brunch, winery tour, dinner with anyone who wanted to go. That would leave guests able to return home for children if they wanted, and anyone who's still around after dinner could go for drinks. You could also pick activities that have start times or things you'd have to make appointments for, so that if someone wanted to come later or leave earlier, they'd know where you'd be and when.
- Bar night. Go to a bar/nightclub you usually wouldn't go to, or on a night with a cool DJ. We have a few speakeasies around here, which would be a neat idea
- painting and wine (or whatever you like to drink)
- tour a local winery or distillery or craft brew spot
- escape room (depending on the crowd)
- local boardwalk/amusement park/tourist spot
- local science center nightlife with open bar (I've been to these in Jersey City and SF...look and see if they have it in your area)
There are so many possibilities that don't require staying over. Just set up something fun, thats probably a bit more special than a normal girls night, without being over the top.
We did a fun afternoon of painting, food, and drinks for one of my best friends. The local art association does private party for paint nights. We just did one during the day. They supplied all of the painting supplies we just brought in the food and drinks. Everyone had a blast.