Think Outside the Bar: How to Plan a Bachelorette Party, Zen-Style
If you’re in charge of planning a bachelorette party (or birthday party, or girls’ weekend — whatever!), you know there are loads of options out there. Many of the most popular ideas revolve around bars and booze, which, in some cases, can be a lot of fun! But that’s not the right fit for every bride or get-together.
If you’re wondering how to plan a bachelorette party (or another amazing soiree) that doesn’t include Vegas, a pub crawl, four-inch heels or a hangover, we’ve got some awesome ideas for you!
How to plan a bachelorette party for the bride who …
… is in touch with inner goddess (or would like to be): Meditation retreat
Meditation might sound like a solo activity, but actually, meditating in a group — especially a group of close friends — can be a very powerful experience! There are loads of hotels and resorts that offer meditation-focused retreats, and often you’ll find a wide variety of meditation options (silent, guided, walking, etc.) once you’re there.
Outside Online’s list of the best meditation retreats in the U.S. lists 10 retreats based everywhere from Alaska to Hawaii to Florida to Colorado and more. If you’re working with a more considerable travel budget and the world is your meditation oyster, Travel + Leisure has a list of nine meditation resorts worldwide.
… can’t get enough pampering: Spa day
Okay, okay — a spa day isn’t exactly revolutionary, we know. But we’ve learned a couple of spa tricks in our day that we thought might be worth sharing. For one thing, always call and talk to the spa if you’re bringing in a group — they might offer some sort of a group discount, set a special space aside, or offer some other VIP service. And be sure to choose a spa that offers a great area to hang out and relax in addition to the services you want. You can turn a one-hour massage into a full day affair with friends if you book with a spa at a swanky hotel and go from your services out to the pool!
… loves a good workout: Group exercise
For a seriously active group, consider doing a group ex crawl. You can use something like ClassPass to book a variety of classes at different locations, or find a day when a gym convenient to the bride has several classes she’d love and get day passes for the group.
Another fun option that some gyms, like the dance-based fitness studio I’ve been hitting up lately (‘sup, Fly Dance Fitness!), offer is booking a custom class just for your group. While this would be great for a lot of types of classes, I think it really sings for something like Zumba or a hip-hop class, where some members of your group might feel self-conscious in a more public setting.
… loves communing with Mother Nature: Hike and camp
There’s something almost magical about getting out in the woods. Maybe it’s the all the negative ions, maybe it’s the fresh air, maybe it’s the space, but whatever it is, it’s a darn good way to chill out with your favorite people. If you’re going for a hike, consider everyone’s experience level — it’s not much fun for anyone if someone is struggling or falling behind, you know? It might make the most sense to hit up an area with trails of varying difficulty so that everyone can join in on the easier ones, and then the more experienced hikers can spend an hour or so on more challenging trails. And turning the hike into an overnight camping trip can be a tremendous bonding experience.
Got an idea we missed? Make sure to check out our other tips for how to plan a bachelorette party without making it all about the bar scene on FBG! —Kristen