Having planned a few bachelorette parties, I know the amount of coordination, time and research that goes into a fun and successful event. For all you first-time bachelorette party planners or those wanting information for your next bachelorette party, here are some helpful tips and ideas for you to think about.

Ask the bride.
Be sure to get the bride’s input on what she wants to do and who she wants to invite. You can have her completely involved with decisions and scheduling or you can get a general idea of what she wants and make the activities and schedule a surprise. I’ve had friends request no phallic paraphernalia, great food and dancing and allowed the planners to decide and plan everything else. I’ve also had friends who want to be a part of every decision. You know your bride and asking first doesn’t hurt. It’s a party to celebrate her so ultimately she gets the final say!

Have one or two main planners.
These planners can get ideas from the bride and bachelorette party attendees but will be the main ladies doing the majority of research, making reservations, and leading the group. If the bride doesn’t have specific requests, the entire group can be a sounding board for ideas. The best thing would be for the bride to not have to plan anything because the bachelorette party is a gift to her and she’s already planning a wedding! You could have a type-A bride that wants to be a part of the process though.

Plan activities according to your group’s interests.
The bride does get final say, but also know your group. Plan activities that the majority of guests will enjoy. Would your guests enjoy relaxing activities like pampering or physical activities like bike riding? If you go out, some guests could hang out at the bar while another group hits the dance floor. Know your guests’ ages before you book a wine tour or go bar hopping.

Plan ahead!
Start planning well ahead of the party to be able to make reservations and get the best deals. This would include reservations for restaurants, activities, and hotels. Also check online deals like Groupon or Living Social for group discounts.

Create a private Facebook group.
This is very helpful for large groups, guests living in different cities, and guests who don’t know each other yet. The Facebook group can be a central location for getting feedback for planning purposes, sharing last-minute details, keeping track of each other during the weekend, and sharing photos after the event.

Book a place for everyone to stay together.
Staying together in a hotel or house through Airbnb is a great way to keep the group engaged. It adds to the bonding experience and keeps everyone on time. A cute Airbnb house would be best for big groups and you can save money by making meals in the kitchen or storing food and drinks for pre-gaming. Make sure everyone has a bed or a comfy place to sleep!

Decide payment ahead of time.
It may be helpful to set a reasonable budget per person so that guests know how much they’ll spend or to be sure the costs are split evenly. You can estimate the full weekend’s cost and ask everyone to pay one amount or have each person pay at each activity or meal. The bride usually has everything paid for during the party. If everyone is paying at each activity, estimate the cost for the bride and request contributions from the party guests to make sure the planners aren’t stuck covering the whole cost. Also be sure individual payment is available at each location ahead of time. Some restaurants won’t split checks or some activities may require a deposit. No matter what, having a plan about money will help things go smoother.

Don’t forget downtime.
Try not to pack your schedule so tight that you are running frantically from place to place. Allow time to freshen up, relax and travel from place to place. Multiple girls getting ready in one bathroom can take some time! Traffic will happen. Finding a parking spot is sometimes difficult. Extra time in the schedule will help keep things on schedule.

Put together an outlined schedule.
Prepare your guests by giving them a schedule or general idea of what you all will be doing during the party/weekend. This will make sure guests pack/bring the right kind of clothes for specific activities or know where to meet you if they’re only dropping in for a part of the events.

Trinkets are fun!
There’s something about matching trinkets that make a bachelorette party extra festive. Get your bride a veil, crown and/or sash. Get matching beads or buttons for guests. You could even take it a step up and get matching shirts or matching cups for lounging by the pool.

What are your tips for the perfect, stress-free bachelorette party?

The post Tips for Planning a Bachelorette Party appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Photo by Rasy Ran Photography

In my experience and observation of attending and hosting events, I’ve learned a few dos and don’ts for hosts and guests that I’ll share. In other words, I’m sharing all my headaches so you don’t have to experience them! Be a spectacular host or guest by practicing ideal party etiquette. These are general guidelines, so they can and must be adjusted with different celebrations – from a large, formal wedding to an small, intimate baby shower. First up, let’s talk about how to be the hostess with the mostess.

Hosts – your goal of the celebration is to make sure the party goes smoothly and guests enjoy themselves.

Before the event: This is when planning matters MOST. When you get this step right, the rest will be a breeze!

Give clear details to guests.
In your invitation or conversations, make sure your guests know essential details such as what to wear, what the event is for, what they should bring, what will happen at the event and if they have a plus one. This helps set the expectations, prevent any last-minute questions, and prevent any awkwardness when guests arrive.

Prepare the menu at least a week in advance.
This will give you time to review how much time it will take to prepare the dishes and to buy your groceries one or two days ahead of the party. Extra time for groceries will give you time to run back to the store for forgotten ingredients or re-think your menu. Dishes that can be prepared, frozen and heated up before the party are easiest. If you want less stress, limit yourself to two homemade dishes and outsource the rest. Pick recipes you are familiar with or are not that challenging. Be sure to note how much time is needed to defrost and heat up! Consider the next point in preparing your menu.

Give yourself more time than you think you need to prepare.
Check and double check the schedule and timing of cooking your dishes, defrosting, arrival of rentals, and getting yourself presentable. Believe me, you don’t want to be running around frazzled trying to finish up when your guests start to arrive. Don’t forget to factor in cleaning up your kitchen after preparing dishes. After deciding your timeline, add 30 extra minutes for safety! Have a comfortable outfit picked out in advance.

Prepare as much as possible days in advance.
Prepare and freeze dishes. Don’t leave the bulk of cleaning for the day of the event. Craft decorations during the week and start decorating the day before. Think about the timing of the meal if you’re serving multiple courses.

Ready glasses and drink pitchers.
Instead of having to make every drink, make a large batch of the drink and set them out in pitchers or a punch bowl. In addition, have bottles of wine (one bottle of wine is roughly five servings), a selection of beers and some non-alcoholic drinks (water and sparkling juice are great) available. Put out glasses on the counter so guests don’t feel awkward searching through your kitchen.

Walk through your house/venue and do a once-over.
Start at your door and walk through your place, looking for things out of place and things you forgot to do. Is everything clean and welcoming? Don’t forget to check your bathroom.

Prepare the ambiance.
Light candles to freshen up your place but be cautious of how the smells might mix with cooking food. If the food is the main attraction, consider unscented candles. Create a playlist to match the mood. How do your decorations look?

Appoint a right-hand person.
Depending on the size of the party, things could get a little hectic as the party starts. Your right-hand helper can help you prepare before the party and assist with all the little things that come up during the party, such as refilling chip bowls or drink pitchers.

During the event: Relax and go with the flow!

Help guests feel welcome
As they enter, show them where to put their jackets or purses and get them a drink. Introduce guests to each other. Encourage guests to dig into food.

Stay calm.
Don’t let little snags derail you. How you act and react will drive the mood of the party. Spills, running out of food, late comers, etc. – they may happen but there’s always a solution. There’s no need to fret and worry yourself. Your right-hand person could be helpful at keeping you calm.

After the event: Celebrate a great event and de-brief!

Clean up.
I’ve found it more relaxing to get the cleaning done right away.

Thank your guests.
Send thank you notes or emails.

What stress-free tips would you recommend for party hosts?

The post Stress-Free Party Etiquette/Tips for Hosts appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Pretty flowers definitely make a party more festive!

The great thing about throwing a party is that it can be as simple or extravagant as you want it to be. By definition, a party is a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking and entertainment. This includes a weeknight dinner or a bigger event like a wedding or gala. With a few little details, you can delight your guests and take your event to another level. Here are seven tips for you to throw a festive party.

Select a theme.
Choosing a unifying theme can ensure your decor connects throughout your event details. For example, you can simply choose colors (like my pink and gold brunch), base it around a book or movie, center it around a specific food or choose a category (like this travel party). Telling your guests ahead of time gets them excited and ties them into the party elements.

Of course a Halloween Party REQUIRES costumes!

Request guests wear costumes.
Does your theme involve costumes? Costume parties are always fun to see what your guests come up with. Have them dress in a specific color/pattern, decade or wear a costume like this Alice in Wonderland Party.

Add color with tablecloths, napkins, plates and utensils.
Easily spice up your party with color. Try a patterned table runner or wrap your silverware in colorful napkins. Don’t forget to match your theme!

Pick up some flowers or create a centerpiece.
Flowers or a creative centerpiece can brighten a room, especially when the celebration is centered around a dinner table or buffet table. Even a $4 bouquet from H-E-B will spice up the setting. For non-flower centerpieces, try succulents or candles. This is also a good way to tie in your theme. Here are 21 non-flower centerpiece ideas for you.

Hang a banner or lights.
Remember the confetti-themed DIY party? A confetti banner floated above our heads and we made fun banners to use. Hanging decor lengthens or breaks up the room a little, depending on the space. Also try fabric garlands or pom-poms.

For one girls’ brunch, we made flower crowns.

Plan a fun activity.
Depending on the crowd and party purpose, your event can involve an activity like a game, DIY project or dancing. Yes, eating can be an activity! Potluck, anyone?

Cupcakes? It’s a party!

Eat cake/dessert or pop champagne.
How do you say no to dessert, especially it it’s topped with festive sprinkles? Serving a fun dessert or popping champagne gives a sweet touch to an event. You can easily use this as part of your decor. Check out these beautiful cakes and cake toppers!

How do you make an event more festive? Comment below!

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