10-step Guide to Planning a MIAMI Bachelorette Party

Updated: Nov 7, 2019

Are you a maid of honor and need to plan a bachelorette party? Or do you just wonder what it's like to get 25 women to the beach for a long weekend?

Here's how I did it:

1) Decide on dates with the bride and bridesmaids

Perhaps the most important thing is to pick a date that works for the bride and the bridesmaids. All of the other guests are definitely important, but shouldn't have a say in the date. Plan it plenty in advance, I suggest six months. This way only weddings will keep guests from attending due to scheduling. I let everyone know Marissa's bachelorette party would be beginning of August, by the end of February.

2) Pick the location with the bride

Some people like to surprise the bride and not give her a say in the location. I personally think this is a disaster waiting to happen. If she is happy, everyone else will be too. Make sure guests know they don't have to come, and they shouldn't feel obligated to spend the time or money. The bride will be much happier knowing people aren't there that don't want to be.

3) Compare hotels on Booking.com

When it came to Miami, we had a lot of options, too many options. I knew I wanted to keep the budget to $50 a night for each girl. I normally use Booking.com or Hotels.com to find hotels in my price point. We didn't have to be on the beach, but having a pool was a bonus. Within walking distance to tons of bars and restaurants was ideal, and rooms with 2 double or queens beds was also a must. Because I booked the hotel prior to everyone confirming, I needed it to be refundable, in case I needed to change the number of rooms. Luckily Booking.com allows that often, so we ended up with the Stiles Hotel and loved it, at $159 total per guest. (TIP: I also made room assignments in advance)

4) Start a Facebook event!

I started an event on Facebook with the major details laid out, and added all of the invited guests. A couple girls didn't have Facebook so I would screen shot images of what I would post and text them individually. This kept potential guests in the loop.

5) Pick at least 1 major thing to do

We planned the weekend around a catamaran day on Saturday, which was the main event of the trip. Besides the hotel, it was the only thing I asked for guests to pay in advance. Having one planned day allows flexibility to your guests the other days. Keep in mind that as the maid of honor, it's possible that people will join and drop prior to the trip. This means that you may be eating some of the cost. However, it's much better than constantly changing the cost on all of the guests.

6) Give a ballpark price

Before even requiring a deadline, I gave what I estimated the flight costs to be ($300-$400 per person), catamaran cost ($120 per person) and hotel cost ($159 per person for 3 nights). By giving the invited guests a ballpark total, before food and drink, it gave them a better idea of if it would fit in their budget.

7) Establish a deadline to confirm and pay

After giving a firm price estimate, I gave guests over 1 month to decide, with a deadline 5 months before the wedding. To confirm their spot, I only required they pay the $120 for the catamaran, as I wouldn't be paying for the hotel until July. I let the girls know when they would be expected to pay the final hotel payment to me well in advance.

8) Keep the bride in the loop (but keep a few surprises in store)

Plan some games or things to do that she wants, but also surprise her. Marissa wanted a catamaran day and a beach day, and I planned the rest around it. I made all the bachelorette party games a secret and had guests work with me in advance. Planning the meals, as well as mapping out the evening plans, can be done without the bride too!

9) Make sure everyone has some down time... it's their vacation too!

I found this vital. Guests can break off and do their own thing in groups. Besides the beach afternoon, catamaran day, and one night at dinner and then a club, guests had free reign to eat and drink whenever and wherever. This is a big trip for a lot of girls, so it should be fun and worth their money!

10) Ultimately... Do whatever the bride wants

If you are a maid of honor, bridesmaid, or just a guest, the weekend is really about the bride. Make sure she is having fun and the rest will fall into place!