Category Archives: Bachelorette Parties

An LA Renegade Craft Fair Bachelorette

I’m always on the lookout for one-of-a-kind celebrations, but this one instantly caught my eye—a Renegade Craft Fair bachelorette party! Ica’s friends knew just what this DIY bride would love—a day of silliness and shopping at LA’s Renegade Craft Fair, followed by an intimate (and absolutely stunning) backyard celebration complete with pine-cone place-cards, wine-bottle centerpieces and lots of twinkle lights. Seriously, you’re enjoying the quirky-cool finds at the craft fair, day-dreaming about a lighted vintage ampersand of your own, and then suddenly you’re transported to a picnic wonderland.

A few words from the bride:

I’m a DC bride who’s blessed with a huge bridal party that lives all over the country. Two of my sweet bridesmaids from LA (Hope and Reinna) decided I should fly out to LA for my last “single lady” trip and threw me an unforgettable bachelorette bash. They know my crafty heart all too well, so the partying began at LA’s Renegade Craft Fair’s Holiday Market. As a DIY bride it was the perfect place to spend time with my ladies, get silly, party and even get some wedding shopping done. They dressed me up from head to toe and made sure I had a good time. While us ladies were out all afternoon, my dear groomsman Christian was setting up and styling an intimate dinner in his in-law’s backyard just for me. When we showed up for dinner I was so overwhelmed with all the prettiness, and all the love I was shown, I cried happy tears. The rest of my evening was filled with my favorite bubblies, my favorite candyies and cupcakes, a scrumptious dinner and countless giggle-filled bachelorette party games. It was such an intimate, one-of-a-kind celebration. I am one blessed and thankful bride.

You can see more images from the special day on her blog, Ica’s Images.

Venue: Renegade Craft Fair LA Holiday | Eats: The Greasy Wiener | Photography: The bride (with the help of her friends, of course)

And some of the bride’s favorite vendors at the fair that she specifically brought home goods from: Oh Hello Friend, Shop Miguez, Love Pray Jewelry, and Joie Studio.

A Zombie Bachelorette Party

Uhm, these people are my heroes. After attending what seemed like a million bachelorette parties with the same theme, Sara decided to throw a different kind of party for her sister Melissa—a zombie bachelorette party. The boys got in on the action too, and the two groups spent half the night apart and reconvened at Minneapolis’s very own zombie-themed bar, Donny Dirk’s Zombie Den.

Sara shared some of her tips for creating your own zombie a-party-lypse. (Admittedly not my best pun.)

To start the evening, everyone got ready together at my sister’s apartment. All of the females dressed up as “Zombie Bridesmaids” by using old bridemaid dresses we thought we’d never wear again. Everyone destroyed their dress in their own unique zombie way—spray paint, shredding, dirt, fake blood, etc. All of the males dressed up as “Zombie Groomsmen” and similarly, they took old tuxes, suits, dress clothes and destroyed them in their own way zombie way. My sister and her (now) husband, dressed up as a “Zombie Bride & Groom.”

Everyone went all out on the zombie makeup. Most of us painted our faces with grey paint, had dark eye makeup, spray-painted grey hair, fake wounds and fake blood.

Here is Zombie Makeup 101:

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A Bellydance Bachelorette in Cape Town

I very rarely get to share real bachelorette photos, so imagine my joy when I saw these colorful, sassy images from an Arabian Nights theme bachelorette party held for twins Aa’isha and Aneesa by their older sister Raihana at her Cape Town home. The twins’ weddings are only two months apart, so she decided to combine the parties for double the fun. Candlelight and sequined pillows set off the gorgeous jewel-tone scarves and carpets draped into a hideaway to enjoy cakes and a hookah. The best part? For me, it’s a toss-up between the bellydance lesson and those silly and surprisingly sexy fake boobs. Those girls know how to rock a look!

Host Raihana dreamed up the Arabian Nights theme for her sisters and pulled it together with the help of her whole family:

We wanted the theme to be very sensual and sexy—my bachelorette party’s theme was “sexy exotic dancers” and we had a pole-dancing tutorial. We wanted the twins’ party to be as fun and it only made sense to have a belly dancing tutorial. My husband, father and uncle helped me decorate our living room area, and our cousins brought along some sweet treats. I found the fake boobs at a party shop in Kenilworth Centre, Cape Town.

Photographer and friend Shafeeqa captured all the action during the bellydance session…and the surprise dancer who showed up later:

The bellydancer was performer and teacher Tenille Lindeque (Feminine Divine Studios), one of the finest in Cape Town. I did photography for her previously and also joined her dance studio for a while so I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Raihana had asked her for the evening. Tenille gave us a memorable performance followed by a tutorial, having us collapsing in laughter, pain, and breathlessness from her difficult moves! Snake arms, shimmies, hip circles, and more. About an hour later when everyone finally recovered, there was a knock at the door. Surprise, twins! It’s the next dancer, and he means business…

Photographer: Shafeeqa Effendi | Bellydancing Performer and Teacher: Tenille Lindeque, Feminine Divine Studios | Catering: Alhambra Caterers | Decor: Rosy’s Event Design and Decor, and host’s own pieces

1920s Party Inspiration

Decadence, glamor, candlelight and alcohol—what more do you need for a classy bachelorette party or swanky shower? Channel the Roaring 20s with a speakeasy vibe, strong cocktails and tiny canapes. This is a great theme for an at-home party as it instantly fancies things up. Here are some simple tips for creating a 1920s vibe.

A room with dark wood or brick walls is the perfect setting for your speakeasy 1920s soiree. Choose deep, rich colors as your accents, like burgundys and mauves, and don’t be afraid to throw in a few peacock feathers. I love the vintage Deco prints used as placecards here. A vintage tarot deck could be put to use in the same way with absolutely striking results.

Visit Grandma’s house or local flea markets to look for vintage pieces that will make an impact. A lace tablecloth would be delicate and striking, but make sure it’s not a family heirloom (real lace is incredibly expensive!). An old radio or typewriter will set the mood and is much likely to end up with red wine all over it.

Prohibition meant unmarked bottles and secret cocktail lounges. Since you probably want your guests to know what they’re drinking, think about decanting your liquors into beautiful bottles with your own labels. The bar instantly feels like an exclusive destination.

Don’t have an old library cart? A bookshelf can easily double as a bar. Line up glassware on an old silver tray if you have it. A mirror is a great alternative. Add candles at night for shimmer or flowers for a daytime event.

During Prohibition, the quality of alcohol was pretty low, so big batches of punch were a good way to make a little liquor go a long way and mask the taste. You can make a high-class (and way tastier) version, like this pomegranate champagne punch. Note that it uses one large ice block, another authentic detail to the era. For a really large one like this, fill a loaf pan or metal bowl with water and freeze. For individual cocktails, you can buy king-size ice cube trays like these.

When it comes to wardrobe, you can carry the theme a little, a lot or not at all. If you want to add a little 1920s vibe but not put pressure on all the ladies to buy complete ensembles, nothing says flapper like headwear. A scarf, a velvet cap, a feather—it all looks good. Add a long strand of pearls or elbow-length evening gloves to almost any outfit and you’re all set.

Inspiration from Wedding Chicks, Green Wedding Shoes, and Ruffled.

Bride-To-Be Bangle Game

I recently came across this amazing idea for a bachelorette party game on Penelope and Pip. Rachel knew her super-stylish friend wouldn’t want to wear a tacky veil all night, so she came up with another plan: The Bride-To-Be Bangle Game!

It’s like truth or dare, only the bride ends up with a gorgeous bracelet at the end! Throughout the night, guests present the bride with challenges: Truth, Dare, Memory or Love. The bride completes the challenge or shares a story, then ties the ribbon to her bangle. By the end of the night everyone has gotten to know the bride a bit better and she has a cute memento from the event. Get all the details for completing this project here.

Beach Weekend Invites

August makes me think of extreme heat, sunny days on the beach and that moment of anticipation before you plunge into the ice-cold water for some much-needed relief. It’s the end of summer, but also probably the perfect month for a bachelorette weekend if your bride has an October wedding (one of the top four months for weddings according to The Knot). Here are some of my favorite beach weekend invites.

This sunny invite comes from one of my favorite Etsy vendors: SocialitePaperworks. I think Raquel makes some of the most modern, cute bachelorette and girls weekend invites that I’ve seen. Her pieces are feminine and flirty but also clean, crisp and unique.

This invite is definitely outside of the type I usually go for, but it’s such a cute concept and the illustration won me over. Plus, it’s not something I’ve seen before. The artist is also open to complete customization, so each placket on the sign can say whatever you like and you can even request a different font or colors to correspond with your bride.

Now this one is totally up my alley. Cute graphics and a great color combination that’s muted yet modern, plus lovely unique typography. It’s totally perfect for Miami in particular, what with its Florida Deco vibe.

Beach party a bit out of reach? You can still cool off with a summer pool party. This invite can be customized for a bridal shower. I love the typography and the ikat print, especially the bold red mixed with pale blues and that pop of emerald. It’s fresh and cool, just like your shower.

Planning a couples shower? Check out this adorable lake house-themed option, complete with Chinese lanterns, cattails and a cute little duck. The seller, Paige Burton Designs, also has a similar beach invite for couples showers. The colors and lines are striking and whimsical without being too cutesy. Love it!

Yoga Bachelorette Party

When I found this New York Times article on incorporating workout classes like yoga and Pilates into a bachelorette party, I have to admit I was at first quite skeptical. After all, the first thing I associate with the word “bachelorette” is alcohol. But the more I think about, the more I actually do like this idea. Then I saw these images on Bridal Musings, and I was sold:

Let’s be honest: Most brides are trying to look their best the day of, and that doesn’t end with the bride. The bridal party wants to look good too…after all, we have to be in all those pictures! Plus, I know lots of girls who love working out (I happen to be one of them). And since I’ve always loved the idea of incorporating activity into showers and parties (see kickball and field day suggestions), I don’t know why I didn’t entertain this idea earlier. Why not run a 5K together complete with sashes, signs and T-shirts? A dance class might be perfect—you still get your groove on, but you also burn calories! And the physical activity part can just be the beginning of the party. Start with yoga, then head to the spa for massages or manicures and toast the bride with some champagne, then finish with a dinner and, yes, drinks.

Some additional advantages I see:

We’ve all seen a friend get way too drunk or overdo it at a party. Adding a workout class before the drinking begins will help get everyone’s metabolism up and you’re less likely to get wasted. Chances are you’ll also drink less.
If the bride really is super dedicated to looking great for her wedding, this kind of party will make her feel good about herself and allow her to let loose with her friends as well.

Some things to keep in mind:

When choosing your class or activity, think about the skill level of all your guests. You want to be sure you choose something that all those invited will not only feel comfortable with but will also enjoy. If your friends are all super-athletic, feel free to pick a higher-level class. But if you have mixed skill levels, go with beginner. The comfort of your guests is the most important thing and, honestly, this isn’t about getting the toughest workout of your life. It’s still a party.
Make sure guests bring a change of clothes if there will be other activities after the class, and make sure the facility has showers, hair dryers, shampoo, and everything else the girls will need to get ready.

Brides love this idea? This bride had her yoga party the morning of the wedding and turned it into a brunch for her bridesmaids. Also an amazing idea!