BACHELORETTE BASH ON A BUDGET

by Aimee Lyons 

Your BFF just called to tell you the news: he proposed! More importantly, she said yes. Now, as the maid of honor in her upcoming big day, you're taking your relationship to the next level.

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While the maid of honor's responsibilities run the gamut from emotional support to bouquet-holding, one of the most important traditions is the bachelorette party. Fortunately, there's no single right way to celebrate your friendship and her imminent nuptials. And contrary to popular fears, a raucous bash — or serene spa day, or wilderness weekend — doesn't need to cost a small fortune. From location to entertainment and more, keep these considerations in mind to give your girl a spectacular sendoff into the wild and wonderful world of marriage. 

Location, Location, Location

The single most important factor in your budget will be where the bachelorette party is held. A major city during the peak season will rack up bills much more quickly than a more overlooked destination, and the market for hotels may vary quite a bit by region. Do your research, and consider an option like renting an affordable vacation property where you can easily cook some of your own meals, or having the party during the local off-season.

While you can often save money by staying farther away from the center of a popular destination, keep in mind that you may end up spending more on transportation. Be sure to include this in your budget and take care of those arrangements in advance, if needed.

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Events and Entertainment

Every bride is different. For every bridal party that's dancing the night away, there's another exploring the art at the Met or escaping to nature on a weekend camping trip. You know your BFF better than anyone, so don't be afraid to ditch the usual suspects for the activities she'd enjoy the most. Of course, for some, indulging in the rowdiness of the traditional bachelorette party is half the fun. Keep the communication open in order to make sure you and your friend are on the same page so you can give her the party that will mean the most.

Regardless of the main event, however, you'll want to bring your own streaming device for endless entertainment options. Finding a device with an abundance of content options means you can keep the theme going with an afternoon marathon of The Bachelorette or celebrate with a film that mirrors your own friendship. Even if you only want some background tunes while getting ready, a streaming device can be your one-stop shop for all of your media needs, and you'll avoid having to pay for premium channels or movies offered by the hotel.

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 Don't Forget the Details!

It's easy to overlook the small things, but often it's the details that make the event. Banners and other decorations are a cheap and easy way of ramping up the party, while a sash, tiara, or other standout accessories for the bride-to-be will likely be the gift that keeps on giving throughout the night — no matter where the agenda takes you. If the guest list includes friends who haven't met before, consider fun and easy ways to help everyone learn names, whether that's an icebreaker at the beginning of the weekend or personalized hats.

 A bachelorette party holds the potential to be one of the most fun and symbolically significant events in your friendship. Whether you and the bride are tearing up the dance floor at the hottest club in Vegas or throwing an old-school slumber party, it's bound to be a night to remember — and it doesn't need to break the bank to bring everyone together.

 

HOW TO GET YOUR WEDDING PARTY THE GIFTS THEY DESERVE

Gifts for your wedding party. It seems like a simple task, right? Well, in some cases, it can be difficult, from wondering what kind of gift to give and what you can afford, to whether or not they’ll like it. It can cause some unnecessary stress if you overthink it, so just make sure to give yourself plenty of time to decide and it’ll be smooth sailing all the way to the honeymoon!

For the ladies:

 First things first, think long and hard about the women in your wedding party. Are they girly girls, bohemian, adventurous, athletic? Would they appreciate a sentimental gift, a funny gift or something more classic? For a gift to be successful, it has to be as personal as possible, so consider tailoring your gifts to the women in your life.

Once you’ve thought about the personalities within your your wedding party, then it’s time to start looking for the appropriate gift. There’s so much to choose from, but here are a few ideas:

A Customized Candle - Original and sentimental, it’s something they will cherish!

A Pair of Sunglasses - A unique gift, sunglasses are something they will get excited about!

A Knot Ring - You’ll be tying the knot, with your fiancé and your bridesmaids!

A Wine Glass - Fun and useful for a toast on the wedding day!

For the Gents

 When it comes to gifting the groomsmen, it’s a little more simple; just try to think of something that they will find useful. In most cases, the guys will appreciate something unique and practical, rather than sentimental. These original gifts will show your buddies how much thought you put into showing them with your appreciation:

A Customized Flask - Something they will love to use all of the time!

A Watch - Something stylish that they will be excited to wear!

A Belt - An accessory they can use on the big day and every day after!

A Personalized Cooler - A unique gift that they’ll use all year round!

There’s something perfect out there for any wedding party; you simply need to take the time to figure out what is right for yours! Just remember that no matter what you give them, they will love the gesture as it’s a wonderful way to ensure they feel appreciated for supporting you on your big day! Happy shopping!

 

TO BRIDESMAID GIFT OR NOT TO BRIDESMAID GIFT?

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We’ve noticed this trend among our L’ezu brides that demands brides shower their bridesmaids with cute gifts to show their appreciation for them being a part of their special day. We pulled a Carrie Bradshaw and “couldn’t help but wonder” if this was really necessary, so we went online shopping. On the hunt for cute gift ideas, we came across this personalized Bridesmaid gifts website, so we thought we’d give a few of the products a spin.

Design me a stainless steel tumbler to keep my liquids cold but make it L’ezu? We’re sold. Bridesmaid Gifts Boutique nailed it! Not only does our drink stay hot or cold in this bottle for up to 6 hours, but now we have a super cute, on brand accessory keeping us hydrated while we work at the office. No need for a coaster, the metal tumbler doesn’t leave any condensation. To be honest, we’re loving our L’ezu bottle, but you can get it personalized however you like! I think our enthusiasm for this bridesmaid gifts stems from it’s true usefulness to the receiver.

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How cute is this black denim pouch with gold detailing? It can double as a makeup bag for a quick touchup at a wedding, or even as simple as throwing your phone and wallet in on the go. At L’ezu, we’re most likely use it for some quick fix needle and thread, buttons for any wedding mishaps we may encounter.

These are just some of the cute things we tried out, but there are 300+ items available to personalize and gift on the Bridesmaid Gifts Boutique website. Our take on bridesmaid gifts is that if you feel compelled to do so, make sure they’re useful for after the wedding, because these certainly are!