Bachelorette Party Etiquette

It’s officially wedding season, which means that many of us have bachelorette parties lined up all summer long. I’ve been to a handful of bachelorettes through the years, so I thought I’d put together my list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to celebrating your bride-to-be bestie.

Now, keep in mind that every bride and every bachelorette party is different. However, there are a few golden rules of bachelorette etiquette to stick to, no matter what the specifics are. Here we go…

All About the Bride

The absolute, most important rule of etiquette when it comes to bachelorette parties is this: You are celebrating a very special bride-to-be, and this weekend is all about her. I’ve been to a handful of bachelorettes where some of the bridesmaids and guests lose sight of this, and make the festivities about them and what they want to do. Now, I know that everyone is paying their own way (and in many cases for the bride, too), so it can be tough to put that aside and focus on what the bride-to-be wants to do. But trust me—if you want to have a happy bride-to-be, keep the weekend about her.

Cover Costs

It’s traditional bachelorette party etiquette to cover costs for the bride-to-be. This one can vary from bachelorette to bachelorette, but in most cases, the guests will pay for meals, cocktails and special celebrations for the soon to be bride. My advice? When you know that you have a bachelorette coming up, try to save a little extra each month so that you can spoil the bride-to-be on her special weekend. A note on gifts: In my experience, it is not necessary to bring a gift to the bachelorette party. You’re paying for your transportation, hotels, meals, and most likely will be covering costs for the bachelorette—that is quite a lovely gift, if you ask me!

Social Media Savvy

You’ll want to be extra careful when Instagramming over a bachelorette weekend. Bachelorettes can get a bit wild (depending on who you’re with and who you’re celebrating), and some of the photos you take should never see the light of day. Just make sure to get approval from the rest of the bach’ party before you post/tweet/etc. And if you need a refresher on the topic, take a peek at our blog on social media etiquette.

Dress Code

Determining what to wear to a bachelorette party will have a lot to do with where you’re going, what the plans are and what the weather will be like. However, there are a couple rules to follow no matter where you’re going. First, it’s customary for the bride-to-be to wear white, so unless you’re the bachelorette being celebrated, leave your white-on-white ensembles at home. Next, I recommend keeping it ladylike when it comes to your outfits. While it can be tempting to wear that too-short dress for a night out in Vegas, think twice before you head out in an outfit that you’ll regret the next day.

Drink Responsibly

The worst feeling in the world is waking up the next morning either not remembering what happened the night before, or dealing with a hangover that means you have to miss the day’s celebrations. It’s definitely fun to have a few cocktails with your best girlfriends and celebrate one of the most exciting times in a friend’s life, but trust me, you’ll want to be able to soak up every minute with your friends instead of being stuck in bed with a hangover headache.

Now, keep in mind. If you’re going to Vegas, the vibe will be very different than if you’re heading to Palm Springs for a spa weekend. You’ll want to make sure that you plan (and pack) accordingly, based on where the festivities are located and what’s on the agenda.

You’ll also want to refer to our proper party girl etiquette as well as our wedding guest etiquette post. Most of those rules also apply to bachelorette parties.

Do you have any other bachelorette party etiquette tips?

Leave them in the comments!

 

Today’s blog post is courtesy of laurenconrad.com

 

Tipping Etiquette: Who and How to Tip The People that Help

You have probably read the title of this post and are thinking “I just shelled out thousands and thousands of dollars for my vendors and now I have to tip them??” Well the answer to that question is–probably. Most vendors already include a tip in their contracts, so make sure you look that over before your wedding. If you see that tips are not included in your contracts you might add them to your discretion. Also make sure you prepare the day before. Have the tips ready in separate envelopes and  put someone in charge to give them out at the end of the night.

If you have a Wedding Planner they are typically not expecting a tip. It’s up to you whether or not you think your planner went above and beyond to make sure you had an amazing wedding. A cute way to say “Thank You” to your planner would be a nice bottle of wine, or gift certificate (no more than $100) and a hand written “Thank You” card.

Your Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist  do expect to be tipped at the end of their service. Think of it like you went to a restaurant. You tip your server, unless they were extremely horrible. With your stylist and makeup artist, you would want to tip them between 15-20% of the final bill.

If you are having your ceremony in a church or synagogue that you frequent, a donation would be better than a tip. A sizable donation of $500+ is recommended. If your officiant is not part of your church or synagogue then a tip of $50-$100 is fine.

The wedding photographer and videographer are an important part of your big day. If the photographer and videographer are not the owner of the company, then you should tip them. Typically a tip anywhere between $50-$200 a vendor is acceptable

The wait staff at your venue are there to make sure that everything runs smoothly and properly. Ask the venue first if they allow you to tip the staff. Once you get their permission you should tip the bartender and waiters anywhere between $20-$25 per person. If you have a coat check, tip that person $1 per coat, and valet should be tipped $1 per car.

The music at your wedding is so important on whether or not everyone has a good time. If you decided on having a band, the tip should be $20-$25 per musician. If you had a DJ they should typically get between $50-$100.

If you had a limo or shuttle, you should tip the driver depending on if they showed up on time and didn’t get lost. If they did everything right, you should tip them 15-20% of the total bill.

Remember each of these people were there to make sure that you had an incredible wedding. Show your gratitude whether it be with a nice tip, or a hand written “Thank You” card. A little kindness can go a long way.

For more Wedding Etiquette check out this great blog on what each member of the bridal party does.

Sources: The Knot, Perfect Wedding Guide, and Frugal Bride

Bridal Party Etiquette: Who’s Who and What should they Do?

Asking your girls to be your bridesmaids is a huge deal. It’s an honor for them to be a part of your special day, and it’s an honor for you to have a great group of friends that are willing to embark on this journey with you. Sometimes it can get confusing about who plays what role in your wedding party, which is why we are here to help you figure it all out.

Maid/Matron of Honor (MOH): So really quickly, in case you didn’t know the difference between a Maid of Honor and a Matron of Honor, is that the Matron is married while the Maid is not. That’s pretty much it. All the duties are relatively the same. The MOH is part wedding planner, part shoulder to cry on. The Knot has a great list of duties that the MOH should perform but here is ours: