This Low-Key, Budget-Friendly Bachelorette Weekend Will Blow Your Mind
Not every bride-to-be wants to spend her bachelorette weekend club-hopping in Vegas, dolled up, downing drinks, and dropping loads of cash. In fact, some brides are looking for the exact opposite. After all, planning a wedding is stressful and expensive enough!
If a low-key, budget-friendly bachelorette getaway is what your bride wants, try looking off the beaten path. For far less than the cost of a weekend at a hotel, you can escape to a cabin in the woods to enjoy good food, great company, and relaxing pre-wedding activities.
Where to Stay
Steer clear of hotels if you can, as they’re more expensive and almost always situated right in the middle of town. Instead, check out vacation rentals on sites like Airbnb. They’ll accommodate more people, which will make the lodging bill more affordable, and many come with perks like hot tubs, game rooms, and cozy fireplaces.
If you want to disconnect entirely, try glamping. It’s like camping, but with fewer bugs and easily accessible bathrooms. Accommodations range from modest yurts to luxurious villas, but glamping destinations all have one thing in common: they are secluded in nature. Glamping can also give you access to electricity, which means that if you bring along any accessories that need some juice (think lighted makeup mirrors, your favorite set of top-notch hot hair rollers, or anything else you need to look fabulous during your outdoors-y adventure), you won’t have to worry too much about finding a way to give them a little power.
Keep in mind, the further off the grid you go, the less reliable cell phone service will be. While that may be a selling point, you’ll need to make sure you can still be reached in the event of an emergency. If you’ve asked a neighbor, friend, or family member to watch your child, your home, or your pet while you’re away, be sure they know how to get ahold of you.
What to Eat and Drink
There likely won’t be many options for takeout or delivery where you are, so plan ahead. Make a menu of delicious, low-cost, easy-to-prepare comfort foodsbefore you go. (Hint: Ask the bride what her favorite meals are, and go from there.) Same goes for drinks. Each guest can bring a bottle and a mixer, or you can hit up the liquor store on the way and split it.
You can either send out the list in advance and ask everyone to bring certain items, or one person can make a trip to the grocery store and split the bill. If a member of your party enjoys cooking — and she’s good at it — it’s fine to designate one weekend chef. Otherwise, take turns frying bacon and mixing drinks so everyone has a chance to relax and enjoy the weekend.
What to Do
After you wake up and drink a lazy cup of coffee in your pajamas, you’ll need something to dobefore your afternoon nap. Luckily, the middle of nowhere actually has a lot to offer in the way of low-cost, high-fun adventures. You could explore your surroundings. Get a little exercise on local hiking trails, take a hot air balloon ride, or drive into the nearest town to peruse local boutiques. Then again, you could pour yourself another cup and bust out the party games.
If you travel on a holiday weekend or in the off-season, be sure to check in advance that local attractions are open for business. Some parks, venues, and historic sites in tourist towns and more rural areas close to the public during certain times of the year.
In today’s society, a bachelorette party is expected to be a wild, lavish event. In reality, that’s not always the case. Maybe the bride doesn’t like to party, or maybe she’s a city girl who needs a break from the hustle and bustle. Maybe she just wants a chance to truly relax and enjoy the company of her best friends before her big day. Either way, a laid-back, low-cost getaway might be just what she’s looking for.
Aimee Lyons of http://diydarlin.com/