Bachelorette party cost dilemma

I say choose something that most people can afford. Vegas can get pretty expensive, so they will still have to spend money on food, drinks, activities etc. You definitely can find cheaper rooms in Vegas! I personally wouldn't ask my bridal party to spend over $500 just for my bachelorette, especially when they will have wedding costs as well. Can you get an air B&B or something? That would definitely lower the costs or get a few normal rooms like you mentioned.

Did you ask for everyone's budgets first or did you two plan what the bride wanted to do and then tallied up the cost? If you just planned and then came up with the cost, then more than likely not everyone will be able to afford it. The trade off here is pretty much saying sorry you can afford this trip oh well see you at the wedding, which stinks especially if they are part of the bridal party and looked forward to this celebration. Those who can afford it can always go at another time and you can do a more low key bachelorette that will include everyone that wants to participate. Plus your looking at possibly 1k (Includes food, places to go, shopping, etc) for 5 days which can be someone's entire vacation for the year (I don't know where everyone is financial, family, etc. wise). Just something to think about

I would want an event where all my closest friends/family could attend. If they can't make it because the plan is simply too expensive, that would make me sad. Ultimately you have to decide which one is more important to you (an expensive trip, or celebrating with everyone you want to be there). 4 nights is a lot. $500 is a lot to ask, and you're not even including airfare (or gas), meals, shows, drinks, etc. Ask everyone their budget first, and then plan an event that can accommodate that.

FH and I wanted to do a combined bachelor/ette trip to Puerto Rico - all of his friends could front the money but my friends (a smaller group to begin with) could not. We decided to do two separate trips within driving distance of mostly everyone and still had a great time! It was more important to us to have as many of our friends join than the location we were going and we decided we'll do Puerto Rico as a combined 30th birthday trip instead

I agree with Janet. Especially if you didn't ask anyone what their budget was there will be some people who can't go. I personally wouldn't go on a bachelorette party that I'd have to fly to. $500 for a hotel alone is a lot of money, and while it's a good deal for Vegas, that's still only their lodging. That's not including airfare, food, and entertainment which overall makes this a pretty expensive trip.

If it's important to you for everyone to go then you'll need to ask everyone their budgets and plan accordingly. If it's more important to have a trip then you'll have to accept that you'll be losing guests.

Definitely choose something all the girls can afford!

Instead of going to Vegas, make Vegas into a theme and go to a local casino and stay at a hotel or something!

You're the bride! You can definitely have a say in this! Penthouses are nice, but they definitely are PRICEY. How often are you guys going to be in the room anyway? If you aren't going to be in the room often then I would just go for something cheaper. If you need a place with more room then I highly recommend doing an airbnb instead.

She should ask for everyone's budgets first, then make plans based on the lowest budget amounts. Knowing the numbers you have to work with up front will save from having to keep changing plans due to it being too expensive.

Bridesmaids are not just thinking about the cost of the bachelorette party, they're thinking about the overall cost of being a bridesmaid in your wedding, and you just added $1,000 to that number.

Think about this in the context of all the wedding expenditures. How much were bridesmaid dresses and alterations? Are the bridesmaids buying coordinated accessories/shoes/etc, getting their nails done, or any other salon expenses? Do they need to book hotel rooms before or after the night of the wedding, or have any other transportation related expenses? Are they buying you a wedding gift? Engagement party or bridal shower gifts? A Vegas trip means air fare, hotel room, meals at expensive restaurants, and expensive entertainment. They may also have to use precious vacation days from work, or take unpaid time off, depending on their occupation. Overall, how much is it going to cost to be a bridesmaid in your wedding?

I was just a bridesmaid in a wedding where the bride was not particularly conscious of the financial burden of her requests, and we kept getting surprised with new expenses. It bred a lot of discontentment and grumbling behind the bride's back, and I came away from the experience with the conclusion that she is not as thoughtful and considerate a person as I had previously thought. If these are relationships you wish to preserve, my advice is to stop giving your bridesmaids unpleasant surprises, be up front about what you envision this experience costing them, and don't be surprised if some of them tell you that they love you, but can't spend that much on your their relationship with you.

If you want a Vegas trip that badly, definitely find ways to cut costs, but also consider subsidizing some of your bridesmaids. If you're going to expect people to spend over a thousand dollars on their relationship with you, you need to be willing to do the same for them.

This!!! Costs can add up so quickly if the bride is only looking at them as separate expenses. For the bridesmaids they are all under the same umbrella.