four tips for your perfect destination bachelorette or girls' weekend (updated 2024)
Whether you’re a maid of honor planning your bestie’s bachelorette or received the dubious honor of organizing the girls’ weekend away that your friends want to take – getting a big group somewhere for a destination weekend can be tough! We’ve compiled four ideas to make your weekend away as smooth as possible and fun for the whole group!
A bit about us before you start reading: Kay & Co is a boutique travel & event planning company specializing in bachelorettes & girls’ weekends. We’re based in Charleston, South Carolina, but our Planning Shop is packed with downloads, guides, + even freebies to assist you in your planning process no matter where you’re partying!
Grab my Bach Party Planning 101 Guide to get my step-by-step guide to planning, organizing, budgeting, + booking your entire bach weekend, with no stress, no guesswork, + no worries
send invites way in advance, but get organized first
Before you text all your girls to invite them, do your best to figure out the general outline of your weekend + get estimates for all the activities/meals you’re thinking about. That way you can tell the girls their estimated costs when you’re inviting them. I think it’s important to be really transparent about costs up front because this allows your invitees to make an informed decision. You’d rather have them say no upfront because of costs than bail at the last minute!
This blog post includes a sample text that I used to send to my sister’s friends when I was inviting them to her Cabo bachelorette!
Once you’ve invited everyone, make sure to keep good track of who’s paid what and what is still owed. Our planning freebie includes a spreadsheet template that will help you get your guest list organized so you can easily track everyone’s info. There’s also a tab in the download to track details of your itinerary + what everyone needs to bring/wear/plan for!
Check Airbnb, VRBO, & local realty companies for beach houses or downtown lofts that everyone can share
What better way to bond with the whole group than by sharing a rental house on the beach or somewhere in the city that you’re visiting? Sharing a common space, rather than having separate rooms in a hotel, has multiple perks:
you can buy snacks and drinks to keep in the kitchen for a quick breakfast or late-night munching (this is a huge money-saver if you can have even one or two meals at home);
all the girls can get ready for dinner or a big night out together, as well as hang in the living room or kitchen to recount their night out (and maybe nurse a hangover in the morning);
if you’re doing something as a group like taking a cocktail class or having a pajama party, you can do it right there in the house rather than having to rent a local space;
and last but not least, splitting a house or another shared space is often a lot cheaper than getting separate hotel rooms!
Book activities ahead of time & talk to the girls about what they want to do
Don’t be that girl who’s going to “see what’s up when they get there.” Most activities, as well as reservations, will book well in advance for groups bigger than six, especially in cities like Charleston, Nashville, and Austin that attract a lot of bachelors and bachelorettes. Look into unique activities like local classes (we’re currently loving in-home cocktail classes + yoga), rooftop bar hopping, and outdoor activities like party boats, pedal pubs, and sunset cocktail cruises.
Pro tip: a lot of restaurants will do a pre-set menu for groups of more than 10 or 12, which is amazing for splitting costs! If you can have the girls pay ahead of time for as much as possible, you’re going to have a way better time during the weekend with payments — please don’t be that girl asking the server to split the check 12 ways. Our cost + reimbursement tracker will help you plan for costs ahead of time + we’ve even included columns for gratuity, taxes, etc so you don’t forget all those pesky fees when you’re getting reimbursed.
we love a cocktail class! if you’re traveling to Charleston or Austin, check out Charleston Cocktail Co + Austin Cocktail Co
a boat day is always a good idea!
Don’t skip decor, but don’t go overboard
The bachelorette party scene has gotten a little crazy, but we kind of love it! An Instagrammable backdrop in the living room, BRIDE balloons in the bride’s bedroom, and printed itineraries are so fun to have waiting when your group arrives — and of course, getting someone to stock the fridge in advance is a must. That being said, don’t feel like you have to spend thousands — if you’re on a budget (or the group is giving you a little pushback), we recommend focusing on one or two key decor moments and DIY-ing the rest. The bride is going to feel spoiled no matter what!
When it comes to favors, less is more — we’ve heard from a lot of girls that they’d actually prefer one high-quality “gift” that they can use for the weekend (like a reusable water bottle or Turkish towel) instead of all the little knick-knacks that are going to get thrown away. Of course, tattoos of the groom’s face + fun sunglasses are great, but don’t feel like you have to pack that monogrammed tote full of goodies just to say you did! Most gals would prefer something simple over a bunch of stuff that’s just going to get thrown away— and this is also better for the environment, so shoutout to you!
Of course, if you’re traveling to Charleston, Kay + Co can handle all the decor before you arrive! If you’re not partying in one of our cities (or are planning to DIY), get started by checking out our Amazon shops, which are sorted by theme to make it super easy on you.
That's all for now -- check out our blog for even more inspiration!
And of course, if you’re traveling to Charleston, South Carolina for a bachelorette party, girls’ weekend, or just a getaway… we’re your girls for decor services, local treats + charcuterie delivery, fill-the-fridge services, + anything else you might need. Click here to learn more about how our team can make your Charleston bachelorette weekend absolutely perfect and more importantly, stress-free.
xoxo,
Randi and the Kay + Co team
related article: 3 ideas for your girls' weekend (that aren't just bar hopping)