Weseeawidevarietyoffamilyshapes,sizesanddynamicsfromtheusersofLadyMarry,andwe’reoftenaskedaboutthemostappropriateorderforboththeprocessionalandrecessional.SotodayIthoughtIwouldsharewithyousomegeneralguidelinesforthebigentranceandexitsothatnoonefeelsleftoutorthattheirthunderwasstolen.Aswithmostwedding“traditions”theseareguidelines,notablackandwhitehow-tosotakenotesbutfeelfreetotweakthisasnecessaryforyourbridalparty.
GeneralGuidelines:
ProcessionalOrder(ifpresent):
Recessionalorder(EssentiallythereverseoftheProcessionalorder):
Grandparentsmayalsorecessbutoftenstayseatedbecausethebridalpartyreturnsshortlyforpicturesandthiseliminatesanyexcesswalkingforthosewhomaynotbeasmobile.
MusicChoicesfortheProcessionalandRecessional:
Processional:
SeatingoftheFamiliesandEntranceoftheBridalparty:
EntranceoftheBride:
Recessional:
Ihopethispostservesasaguideandresourcetoyourbigday!
TaskedwiththrowinganepicbachelorettepartyBeforeyouhit“send”onthatgroupemail,pollingeveryoneonwhattheythinkyouallshoulddo,readtheseplanningpearlsofwisdomfrommaidsofhonorandbrides.Followtheirstress-lessadvice,andyou’reallguaranteedtohaveanamazingtime!
“Throwherabachelorettepartythatshewillenjoy,notoneeveryoneelsethinkssheshouldhave.”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“Idecidedtogowithaneonandneutraltheme.ThebrideisapersonalshopperforJ.Crewandshewashavingahugeneon-and-neutralsmoment,soIplayedoffofthat.Shedidn’twanta‘typical’bachelorettepartywhereeveryonewearsblackandsipstheirdrinksoutofphallicstraws.”—AlexandraHansen
“We’veallbeenfriendsforover20yearsandwe’reinourmid-tolatethirties,sowewantedtothrowStaceyabachelorettepartythatwasmoreintimate(andmature)thanVegas,forexample.Also,thebrideloveswineandwantedarelaxingweekend.WerentedabeautifulranchhouseinSantaYnezwinecountry.Thepicnicwithalleightgirlsatthelastwinerywasmyfavoritepartoftheday.”—AmberSanchez
“Askthebride-to-beforabacheloretteguestlist.Makesureeveryoneyouinviteissomeoneshefeelscomfortable'lettingloose’with.Youwanthertobesurroundedbypeopleshewantsthere.Ifshehasn’ttalkedtoherthirdcousinin12years,sheprobablydoesn’tneedtobethere.”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“Ihandledalloftheresearchandnegotiationsfortheeventsofthebachelorettepartyweekend.Afteralltheresearchwasdone,Ie-mailedthebridesmaidswiththedifferentoptionswehad.Fromthere,weworkedasagrouptofinalizeeverything.Ichosetodoitthiswaybecausewefeltitwasbettertohaveonepersongatheralloftheinfo.Thatway,therewasn’tdoubleworkbeingdoneandcommunicationwasonlycomingfromoneperson,soitdidn’tbecometoooverwhelming.”—LucyDeNobrega
“Keepitsimpleandenlisthelp.Bepatientwhenyouareplanningatripwithmultiple,busywomen.Beopentosuggestionsandadvicefromotherattendees!”—AmberSanchez
“Wesavedmoneyonplaneticketsandtravelcostsbybookingearly.ThisallowedustosplurgeonaclassysuiteatthenewCosmopolitan,ahotelinLasVegas.Soworthit!”—IrrumDoss
“Createanitinerarysothatalltheguestsknowwheretobeandwhentobethere,especiallyifyouareplanninganout-of-townbacheloretteparty.Oursincludedallthedetailsfortheentireweekend.Forexample:Nightone,lingeriemasqueradeparty;daytwo,poolparty;daythree,brunchwithBloodyMarys.Allthegirlssaidtheylovedknowingeverythingthatwasplanned,includingwhattoweartoeachevent!!Thisalsohelpsguestsfeelmorecomfortablespendingmoney,sincetheywillknowexactlywhattheyarepayingfor.”—LucyDeNobrega
“Printoutallofyourconfirmationnumbersandbringthemwithyouincaseofanyunforeseenmix-ups.”—IrrumDoss
“Idefinitelyrecommendnotover-planningtheweekend.Haveplansfordinners,showers,supplies(e.g.crowns,sashes,favors)butletthefunhappenorganically.Ileftanopenscheduleforeveryonetorelax,loungebythepoolandcatchup.Wehadablast!”—AlexandraHansen
“Takeintoaccountwhatthebridewantstodo,butalsothepricepointofthegirlsthataregoing.Nooneshouldgobrokefromallofthis.”—LaurelNiedospial
“Ifyouarestayingovernightsomewhereorplanningtogotodinnerandexpecteverygirltocontribute,includethepriceintheinvitation.”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“Mysisterandmaidofhonor,KristinaDegiovanni,cameupwithareallysweetinvitationdesignthatIhelpedassemble.WepickedRyanGoslingbecausehe’sgreattolookat…nootherreason.Mysisterthoughtitwouldbeaneatideatohavepartoftheinvitationhiddenunderhisboxers,soyou’dhavetoliftthemupinordertoseethetext.
Also,don’tjustusesave-the-datesforyourweddingday!Sinceallofmyfriendshaveprettybusyschedulesandtheirweekendstendtofillupfast,mysistersentoutsave-the-datemagnetssothateveryonewouldbeabletoplanaroundthedate.”—AmyOlmschenk
“Makeitspecialandthinkaboutthelittledetailsthatcouldbeusedtomakethepartydifferentfromallothers.Keepwiththethemeandgocrazy.Remember,youdon’tneedtobuyeverything—getcraftyandmakedecorations.”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“Thebridewantedtohaveathemeforournightoutbutshedidn’twanttowearatypicalwhitedressandveil.Instead,wehadalltheguestsdressinwhiteandsheworeanaquabluedress,whichmadeourgroupreallystandout.”—LucyDeNobrega
“Extrasmakethingsinteresting!Webroughtboasforthegirls,anditreallymadeallofusfeellikecelebritieswhenwewerewalkingthroughthecasinoinLasVegas,wherethepartywasheld.Bystanderseventhoughtwewereentertainmenthiredbythehotel.
Also,bringsomefastflats(ourphotographertoldusaboutthisone!).Withallofthewalkingyoudo,it’snicetogiveyourfeetabreak.Plus,theyrollupandfitjustaboutanywhere.”—IrrumDoss
“Withalltheeffortsandexcitementthatthebrideandgroomfacewhileplanningawedding,itisawelcomed(andnecessary)gesturenottohavetoworryaboutasingledetail.Thebridehasenoughonherplate,andthesurpriseishalfthefun!”—MelissaCopson
“IfIcouldgiveanybrideadviceaboutherbacheloretteparty,itwouldjustbetorelaxandhandovercontroltothoseofferingtoplanandhostthefestivities.Thisshouldnotbeastressfuloccasion,sodon’tgointoitwithexpectations,andletyourfriendsandfamilytreatyouastheyseefit!”—CarolinePenningtonGillem
“Ilovedthatmybridesmaidsdidn’ttellmewhereIwasgoing;theyjusthadmepackabagandjumpinthecar.Justmakesurethedateyouchooseforthepartyworksforthebride-to-be.Hercalendarmightbefillingupwithweddingto-dos,sodoublecheckwithherbeforebookingorplanninganything.”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“Surprisethebrideandgetoutoftown!Nothingsays'Iloveyou’likeasurpriseanditcertainlywouldn’thurttouseablindfold.Whoknowswhenyouwillhavetheopportunityagaintogetawaywithagreatgroupofgirls”—MelissaCopson
“Thepoledancingclasswasablast…andalsoverychallenging!Itwasgreattoseesomeoftheshyergirlsreallycomeoutoftheirshell.Theyendedupbeingthebestones!”—AlexandraHansen
“Onegameweplayedisthateachguestbroughtapairofunderwearthatrepresentedthemselves,andIhadtoguesswhobroughtit."—EstherKimWang
"Ifsomeofthegirlsdon’tknoweachotherthatwell,gamescanbeagreaticebreaker.Weplayedaballoongamewhereeveryonepairedupandhadaballooninbetweenthemthathadtobepopped.Thelastpairtopoptheirballoonwaseliminatedthatround.Wemadesuretopairpeopleupwhodidn’tknoweachotheraswell—it’saprettyquickwaytogettoknowsomeone!”—AmyOlmschenk
“Wediddareto-dolists:Forexample,Danceandsingtoabaldman,getapairofmen’sboxers,dothreeshotsinarow,etc.”—IrrumDoss
“MybridesmaidSamsurprisedmewithcutebacheloretteparaphernalia(i.e.tiara,phallicballoons,flashingrings,andashotglassnecklace)andthenleftatrailoftheaforementionedballoonsateachlocationthroughoutthenight,'leavingourmark.’WeendedthenightwitharidebacktothehotelinanEscaladeandastop-overforMexicanfood.”—EstherKimWang
“Arrangeridesifyourpartyincludesalcohol.Rentabus,catchsomecabs,arrangealimo,askyourbrotherifhecanpickyouallupinhislargeSUV…anyridewilldo.Justdrinkresponsiblyandmakesureeveryonegetshomesafe!”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“IworkedwithanEtsysellertomakemugshotboardsforeveryonetotakethatSaturdaymorning.Youcanpersonalizethesignsbycreatingspecific'crimes’foreachgirl.The'morningafter’photoswerehilarious!”—AlexandraHansen
“Itookindividualphotoswitheachgirl.Itwasnicetogetachancetolaughandbesillywitheachofthem.Ithinkthateachphotoserieswetookperfectlycapturesourindividualrelationship.”—LaurelNiedospial
“Hireaphotographer!Therearesomanyfunmomentsthatacameraphonesimplycan’tdojustice.”—IrrumDoss
“Idecidedtohireaphotographerforacoupleofreasons:Iwantedtodosomethingdifferentthatwouldstandout,bememorable,andbemeaningfultothebride.Theweekendcomesandgoessoquickly;itwastheperfectideatocapturethemomentsbeforetheweekendwasover.”—LucyDeNobrega
“Mybridesmaidssavedmoneyonmybachelorettepartybyutilizingitemsfrompreviouspartiesthatwe’veplanned.Wehaveastoragebinthatweopeneachtimeweplanagirls-onlyparty.Wealsohaveatraditionofdecoratingrisquécupcakesonallofourbachelorettes.It’salwaysfunandhilarioustoseewhateveryonecreates…thewinneralwaysgetsaprize!”—MelissaCopson
“Planonhavingthegroomdosomethingspecialforthebride,likesurprisingherwithflowers,champagne,orchocolate-dippedstrawberriessentuptotheroomwithapersonalnote.Wedidthisanditreallymadethebrideenjoyherweekendthatmuchmore,knowingthatherhubby-to-bewasthinkingabouther.Shefeltsospecial!”—LucyDeNobrega
“Havefavors.Youdon’tneedtogiveeachgirlattendingsomethingexpensiveorextravagant,buttheyareputtingoutsomemoneytocelebratewithyou.Itisnicetogivethemalittlesomethingtoknowit’sappreciatedtheyarethere.”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“Iwillcherishmyguestbookalways!EverygirlwhocametocelebratefortheweekendhadtheirownpagewheretheirfacewasPhotoshoppedontoadifferentBarbie.Itwassofunnyandagreatwayforeachgirltowritemeaspecialmessage.”—ChristinePiotrowicz
“Carefullychoosethosewhowillbeamajorpartofyourwedding.Mypersonalattendant,KellyMartin,maidofhonor,JillOlson,andmyparentswereallmysavinggrace.Withoutthem,Iwouldprobablybeinaninsaneasylum.”—AnnMarieVioletSeurer
Mostwomenbelievethattheengagementisthetimetoplantheirwedding.Soundslogical,rightYougetengagedandwithinhoursyousetadate,bookthelocation,secureaphotographer,setupyourweddingwebsite,andbeginmakingthecountlesslistsofdetailsthat,whenchecked,willsecureafabulousweddingday.Mostwomenfocusontheexternals–theflowers,thedress,therings,thecolors–believingtheculturalmessagethathasbeentoldtothemthemsincetheywerelittlegirlsthataperfectweddingtranslatesintoaperfectmarriageandaperfectlife.They’renotconsciouslythinkingaboutthisequation;theydon’thavetosinceeverymediamessagehasinundatedthemwiththisfalsebelief,andassoonastheypickupabridalmagazine,themessageisreinforced:Ifyouplanaperfectwedding,youwilllookbeautifulonyourweddingdayandlivehappilyeverafter.
Andyetwetellwomentospendtheirengagementsobsessivelyfocusedonplanningaperfectday.Weguidethemdownapaththatusuallyresultsindisconnectingfromthemselvesandtheirpartners,spendingaboatloadofmoney,andshowingupontheweddingdaylookinglikeaghostofthemselves.Thereasonsfortheperpetuationofthislieextendbeyondthescopeofthisarticle,butsufficeittosaywhateveryoneintuitivelyknows:whenyoufallpreytotheculturalpitfallsandturnintobridezilla,youcreatemiseryforyourselfandeveryonearoundyouanddonothingtoprepareyourselforyourpartnerforabeautifuldayand,farmoreimportantly,ahealthyfoundationonwhichtobeginyourmarriage.
Sowhat’stheantidoteWhat’sthesecrettoacalmbrideandtrulybeautifuldayThesecretisfourfold:
2.Stayconnectedtoyourintentionaboutyourweddingdaychoices.AreyouplanningaweddingtoimpressothersortoprovesomethingtoyourselforyourcommunityOrareyouplanningaweddingasanexpressionofyourandyourpartner’svaluesandlovePlanningaweddingcanbeahighlycreativeexperience,butonlyifyourintentionistoexpressyourselfinsteadofproveyourselves.
Ifyoufollowthesesuggestions,whichsoundsimplewhenoutlinedasafour-stepprocessbutareactuallya180degreedeparturefromthemainstreammodelthatseducesyouateveryturntoexternalizeyourmotivesandpursueperfection,youwillfindthetruecalmandblissonyourweddingdaythatyou’reseeking.
WhatYou’llNeedInOrdertoGetaMarriageLicense
Manytownsnowhavewebsiteswithallmarriagelicenserequirementsspelledout.
Somethingsyouwillwanttoknow:
When:
Findoutifthereisawaitingperiod,andforhowlongmarriagelicensesarevalid.You’lllikelyneedtoapplyintheweekortwobeforeyourwedding.
Whatdocumentsyou’llneed:
Moststatesrequirebirthcertificates,proofofcitizenshipand/orresidence,andadriver’slicenseorotherphotoid.Ifyouhavebeenwidowedordivorced,youshouldbringalongacopyofthedeathcertificateordivorcedecree.
Feesandhowtopaythem
Ifthereisafee,you’llprobablyneedtopayitwithamoneyorderorcashier’scheck,althoughsomestatesarecashonly.
Isabloodtestrequired
Somestatesstillaskforabloodtest.
residencyrequirements
Ifyouarehavingadestinationwedding,orgettingmarriedinastateotherthanwhereyoulive,you’llalsowanttofindoutaboutresidencyrequirements(howlongyoumustbeinthecountybeforeyoucanapply).
It’sreallynotthatcomplicatedaprocess,butitseemssosincethelawsvarysogreatlyfromstatetostate.Hereisanoverviewofwhatpopularweddingdestinationsrequire.
Wheretoapply
Fees
Approximately$35-$50
Documentsneeded
Documentsshowingbothidentification–suchasadriver’slicenseorpassport–andage–suchasabirthcertificateornaturalizationrecord.
MarriageLicensevalidfor:
60days
Waitingperiodorresidencynecessary:
24hourswaitingperiod;Non-residentscannotobtainamarriagelicenseifsaidmarriagewouldbevoidintheirstate.HawaiiMarriageLicenseRequirements
$60cash
Ifyouare19orolder,acurrentdriver’slicense.Ifyouare18oryounger,youneedtoshowacertifiedbirthcertificate.(Ifyouare16or17,you’llalsoneedthewrittenconsentofyourparentorguardian.)
30days
None
$55cash
Identificationsuchasadriver’slicenseorIDcard,proofofage,SocialSecurityNumber
Indefinitely
$93.50
Driver’slicenseanddocumentshowingSocialSecuritynumber
Three-daywaitingperiodbetweenapplicationandtheeffectivedateofamarriagelicense.
yes,varybycounty
Documentsneeded:
Validpictureidentificationsuchasadriver’slicense.Somecountiesalsorequireabirthcertificate.
90days
no
Thepartybeforethatotherpartyyoujustplanned.
Atsomepointintheweddingplanningprocess,alotofpeoplelookupfromtheirspreadsheetsandthink“Crap.There’sawholeothereventIhavetoplanthatIhaven’teventhoughtaboutyet.”Thegoodnewsisthis:nomatterwhatyourmother/cousin/step-godfathersays,youdon’thavetohavearehearsaldinner.Ifyourresources(acombinationofmoney,time,andenergy)arestretchedsothinbytheweddingitselfthatanothereventmakesyouwanttocry,goaheadandskipit.Perhapsevenbetternewsisifyouwanttohaveone,itdoesn’thavetolooklike“arehearsaldinner”unlessyouwantitto.Possiblyevenmoresothanwithweddings,thereareamillionwaysouttheretothrowapre-weddingevent.I’veplannedrehearsaldinnersrangingfrom$500to$14kinprice,andfrom10to110guestsinsize.Sosufficeittosay,thereareplentyofoptionsoutthere,andmostofthemareprettyfun.
Whatisthepoint
Matchingthewedding,ornot
Whilerehearsaldinnersaregenerallylessformalthantheweddingstheyprecede,therearedefinitelycaseswherethereversecanwork—ifyoudreamedaboutanintimate,multi-coursesit-downdinnerpartyandthenrealizedyoureallywanted150peopleatyourweddingandthetwoofthosefactorsplusyourbudgetdidn’tmatchup,maybeanintimate,four-courserehearsaldinneratarestaurantthenightbeforeyourbigdaytimepicnicistheperfectsolution.Abig,daytimepicnicthedaybeforeyourblacktiesit-downreceptionisalsoatotallyawesomeoption.Inotherwords,youcanusetherehearsaldinnertofulfillyouralternativeweddingfantasy.Youcanalsojustuseittogetpeopletogetherandintroducethemtoeachother(seeabove.)Therearemany,manywaystomakeoneofthosethingshappen,butI’llstartwith:
The“traditional”rehearsaldinner
Themosttraditionalformatoftherehearsaldinnerlookslikethis:allofthepeoplewhowerepresentattherehearsal(so,weddingparty,officiant,immediatefamily,andallpartnersofthesepeople)atarestaurantforanintimatemealdirectlyaftertherehearsal.Occasionallytheguestlistisexpandedtoincludeextendedfamilyoroutoftownguests,althoughwithsomanypeoplegettingmarriedsomewhereawayfromwheretheygrewup,“outoftownguests”canoftenmeanthemajorityofyourguestlist.Thisformatisgenerallyonthemoreformalside,althoughitcanobviouslybecasualifthat’smoreyourspeed.
Houseparty!
OneofmyfavoriterehearsaldinnersI’vebeenapartofwaspizza,salad,andbeeratafamilyfriend’shouseforaboutfortypeople.Thetotalcostwasinthe$500range,anditwasrelaxed,fun,andnotatonofworkforanyone.Moreimportantly,itservedthepurposethecouplewanted,whichwasallowingthekeyplayers(family,weddingparty,innercirclefriends)tohangoutandgettoknoweachotherbetterbeforethewedding.Otheraffordablewaystodoat-home(orat-someone-else’s-home)rehearsaldinnersthatI’vedonehaveincludedtacotrucks,barbecues,anddeli-cateredpartytrays.HowwouldyounormallyfeedalargegroupofpeopleThat’sprobablyatotallygreatoptionforapre-weddingdinnerathome.
The“thisiswherewe’llbe,comeandgrababeer”
Probablytheeasiest,anddefinitelythecheapest,waytodoapre-weddingevent,whichcanalsobeeasilypairedwithasmallerrehearsaldinner,istosimplypickaconvenientbar(ifyouhavearoomblockatahotel,thehotelbarcanworkjustaswell)andletpeopleknoweitherviayourinvitationorwebsitethatthehappycouplewillbetherefrom,say,7–9thenightbeforethewedding,andthatiftheywanttostopbyforadrinkyou’dlovetoseethem.Youcanmakeitclearthatit’snothosted,orpicksomewherewithaffordablepitchersandcoverthoseandthenletpeoplepickupthetabifthey’dliketodrinksomethingelse.
Otheroptions
I’vehadclientshostfielddays,winetastings,poolparties,softballgames,bonfires—really,anygroupactivityisupforgrabsasagoodpre-weddinggroupactivity.Feelfreetobreakoutofthemoldandshareyourfavoriteactivitieswithyourguests.
Don’ttakeonallthebigweddingjobsyourself!Bridesitistimetodelegate.
ThehendoThisisonejobyourbridesmaidswillexpecttobeinchargeof–sowhynotleavethemtoitLetthemknowwhoyou’dliketocomeandifthere’sanythingyou’despeciallyliketodo(ornotdo!)andyou’llbeamazedbywhattheycomeupwith.
TheendlessDIYFact:DIYdécorALWAYStakeslongerthanyouthinkitwill.Whenyouonlyhavetwometresofbuntingsewn,or50ofyour1,000origamicranesmade,it’stimetocallinyourcraftyfriends.Makesureyouprepyourhelpersearlytogetitalldone.
TheguestbookIt’salltooeasyfordrunkpeopletoignoretheguestbooksoaskanusherorbridesmaidtotakeitaround(ordirectpeopletoit)foryouonthebigday.
MusicMakesureallyoufavoritetunesarereadyforyouriPoddiscobutaskyourtechiebrothertosetupthesoundsystem-it’snotallaboutthebass.
ThebridesmaiddressesIfyou’restrugglingtofindtheperfectgowntosuiteveryoneaskyourbridesmaidstotakethelead.They’llfindsomethingthey’recomfortableinandasaresultfeelhappierontheday.
It’sweddingseason,andthatmeansit’stimetostartexercisingyourbachelorettepartyskills.Inotherwords,getcomfortablewithpenises,gettoknowsomestrippers,andprepareyourselftodosemi-humiliatingthingsinfrontofstrangers.Wedothesethingsforourgirlfriendsbecausewelovethem,andit’sjustwhatwedo.Butthatdoesn’tmeanyouhavetothinkit’snormal.Icertainlydon’t.Here’swhy.
1.NOTKNOWINGWHAT’SEXPECTEDOFYOU
Whenyouwalkintoabacheloretteparty,youhavetoassessthescenequicklyandaskyourself,“WhatkindofbachelorettepartyisthisAmIgoingtoberippingmyshirtoffanddoingbodyshotsoffFabio,oramIgoingtobemakinggolfclapswhilethischickopensbasketsofcandlesand‘naughty’nightgowns”Youmightbeabletotellbytheinvite,butyoumightnot,whichmakespickingoutwhattowearorwhattobringdifficult.Thisislargelyaproblemforpeopleonthefringeofthebride’ssocialgroup.Butitcanhappen.Andhashappened.Tome.(Iwaswearinganiceworkdress,whilethemajorityofguestswerewearingbelly-baringtanktopsandtightshorts.AndsomehowIwastheonewholookedstupid.)
2.STRIPPERS
ThefirsttimeIattendedabachelorettepartywithstrippers,Ithoughtitwouldbeenjoyable,oratleastamusing.Iwasnotexpectingittobedepressing,butitwas.Wemadethemistakeoftalkingtothestripper,gettingtoknowhim,hearinghissadstories,findingoutthathismomdidn’tknowhewasastripper.Whileheatepizzawithus,hementionedhehadtohavespecialpantstailoredwithsidesnapssohecouldripthemoff.Ileftthatpartyinsuchabummedoutmood.Iguesstreatingstripperslikehumansisamistake.Guysdon’tdothis,dothey
3.PENIS-SHAPEDEVERYTHING
Yourbachelorettepartywillprobably—nomatterhowhardyoutrytofightit—involvepenis-shapedeverything.Penispasta,balloons,whistles,hats,ringpops,cakes,necklaces,straws,cocktailpicks…Imean,evenifyouthinkpenisesarethefunniestthingsontheplanet,youwillgetblurryeyedaroundthetimethepenisicelugecomesaround.IhavebeentobachelorettepartieswhereIsawsomanypenisshapedthings,Icouldn’tevenvisualizewhatapenislookedlikeanymore.Alittletoomuchpenisonthebrain.
4.THEALLGIRLATMOSPHERE
Youknow,thingscangetalittlenutsinaroomof30high-strung,drunkgirlssurroundedbypenis-everything.IusuallyfindmyselfsayingthingsIdon’tusuallysay,like“ohmyGod,totally!”Also,myvoicegoesupabouttenoctaves.Andsomeoneendsupcrying.WhenIleaveIfeellikeIneedtotakeashower.Or,dosomethingreallydude-like.Likenottakeashower.
5.WHOARETHESEPEOPLE
SometimesIhaveahardtimetotallylettingloseinagroupofpeopleIdon’tknowverywell.SoanytimeIaminvitedtoapartywheretherewillbenakedmenI’mexpectedtodancewith,IliketoknowthereareoneortwofriendswhoIknowwillbebymyside.Goingtoabachelorettepartyaloneisterrifyinganduncomfortable.
6.MIXEDAUDIENCE
So,we’retalkingaboutpenises,I’mwearingabratop,andIjusttooksixshotsoftequila.Whatismybestfriend’smomdoinghereI’muncomfortable.
7.PRESENTS
Myfriendwenttoher(soontobe)sister-in-law’sbachelorettepartyandontheinvitationitsaidtobring“somethinginappropriate.”Whatdoesthatmean!Shefeltgrossbuyingsomethinganythingsex-relatedthathernewsiswoulduse…withherbrother!…ugh!Sosheboughtcreamsforvariousskindiseases(likeboils)andadultdiapers.Inappropriate,yetnotsex-related.Butstill…ew!Whyarewedoingthis!
8.EXPENSES
Youmighthavetotravel,pitchinforalimo,orbuyyourownbachelorette-themedclothing.Thiswouldbealotifitweren’tforthewedding—butwehaven’tevengottentothatyet.(Andyouprobablyalreadyshelledoutforthebridalshower,too.)IcanthinkofathousandthingsI’dratherspend$52onthanthisTeamBridesweatshirt.(Whichwasactuallyarequirementatoneofmyfriend’sbachelorettes.)
9.FORCEDGAMES
Youwillprobablyplaygamesthatyoudidn’tknowwereworthplaying.(Probablybecausethey’renot.)Ionceattendedapartywherethefirstactivitywasinflatingaballoonandgivingitablowjob.I’msorry,whyCanIplease,pleasegohomenowIthoughtIgotoutofforcedgame-playingwhenIgraduated4thgrade.
10.PHOTOS
Andohmygod,someonetookatonofphotos.Thenextday,whenyourmobiledevicestartsblowingup…“Bettyadded49picturesofyouonFacebook”youknowit’stimetostartgettingworried.Andyoushouldstartgettingworried.Let’sjusthopetherewasn’tanyvideo.
11.ANDTHENYOUHAVETOSEETHESEPEOPLEATTHEWEDDING
Youmighthavegonetothebachelorettepartynotknowinganyone,andtheirfirstimpressionisofyougettinghumpedagainstthewallbyarandomstripperorwearingapenismask.Then,weekslater,youareinyourlady-dressoutfitactingallproperinachurchattheceremony.Thiscouldbeawkwardforsomepeople.(Ifnotyou,her.)
Choosinggiftsforyourbridalpartyisnotaneasytasktodoespeciallyforthebusybrides.Here’saguideinchoosingtherightgiftsandsomepopulargiftideasinthemarkettoday.
1.Listnamesofpeoplewhoaregoingtobeinyourbridalparty,whichincludesbridesmaidsandgroomsmen.
2.Setabudget.Decideonhowmuchyoucanaffordandhowmuchyouarewillingtospend.
3.Browsethroughsomeonlineweddinggiftsstoretogetsomegiftideas.
4.Thinkofyourfriends’favoritecolors,hobbies,andthingsyouallliketodoforfun.Thiswillhelpyoubringsomeideas.
5.Jotdownatleast5potentialgiftideasyouhaveinmind.
6.Findthegifts.Beforeyougotothestore,checktoseethepricesonlineoftentimeyoucansavemoneybuyingitonline.
7.Checktoseewhichgiftthatwillfityourbudget.
8.Selectagiftthatwillgowithyourgrouppersonality,style,orhobbies.Giftsforyourbridalpartydon’thavetobeuniform,youmayselecteachgiftsbasedontheirfavoritecolors.Tomakeitmorespecial.youmaywanttopersonalizeeachgiftswiththeirnameorinitials.
9.Writeapersonalthankyounoteforeachofyourbridalparty.
10.Presentthegiftaftertherehearsaldinnerorinthemorningbeforeyourwedding.