Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Scheduling

I think having both events the same weekend is the best bet. All parties involved only have to make arrangements to come for one weekend. You guys can go out Friday and Saturday night and have a Sunday Brunch.

View Quoted Comment I like it! I’ve also been to one where it was a “little black dress” bridal shower (cocktail party style) and then the party bus picked everyone up from the bridal shower to start the bachelorette. I thought it was great! What do you think of that timeline?

View Quoted Comment That is actually a great idea !!!! I’ve never thought Of that !!!

So my bff is in Arizona and she has four bridesmaids. Three of us live in California and one lives in Arizona. We decided it was best for the shower and bachelorette to be on one weekend. So logistically I personally think that’s a better idea for everyone travel wise. We are doing as pp suggested where Sunday is the bridal shower day

Combining a weekend sounds like it would be your best bet, but these are pre-wedding events you don't throw for yourself (people offer to throw them for you), so I would defer to whomever has offered to throw the parties and are, presumably, going to be organizing the details.

Absolutely do a one-weekend kind of thing.

I've been to a Saturday afternoon tea party bridal shower that became the bachelorette party at night, so you can always find a way to manage the schedule to your benefit.

That said, it is traditional that your BP throws it *for* you, as the shower is a gift-giving occasion.

I’d say talk to them. Maybe they are planning on doing something for you already, and if not you can get their input directly. They’ll probably appreciate that you understand that it’s expensive and you’re trying to help.
I love to plan so I’m not going to wait and see if someone else is throwing a party for me, even if that’s the proper etiquette I don’t think my friends would care if we come up with something together.

View Quoted Comment Yes, remember that the people who offer to give you a shower, or plan a bachelorette, are the ones who propose a date that is comvenient for them. It is generally assumed friends, and bridesmaids don't travel more than 1-2 hours maximum for a shower. They are very much a lesser party than a wedding. Groups of friends in different locations, or friends here, family there, may give small separate showers where there are 10-15 or more of your female family and friends, and you travel to the shower (s) -all those people don't travel to you. The friends or family who give you a shower may not be your bridesmaids. It is not their responsibility. Any friend, in or out of the wedding, or close family, may do it. It is often bridesmaids or MOH, because they are some of your closest friends. But don't count on it. And some may come to your shower but not your Bach, and vise versa. You may get only one party, or 3 small showers and no bachelorette at all. Since your wedding is a year and a half away, don't plan on parties other people will throw for you. You have decided on bridesmaids very early. But unless all are already married, and have all the kids they are ever going to have, you may lose a few bridesmaids to their own or one of their close relatives' wedding. Or because of inability to travel at all for a few months during or after pregnancy. Friend drift apart, get new jobs or move . In the last 9 months, people usually start plans like this, and will offer specific parties. And dress shopping for bridesmaids is usually in the last 5 months. So lan other things. But not parties you have no control over. Hostesses decide on parties, much later than you. Plan things that only depend on you and your husband. For you to assume your bridesmaids are going to throw you parties is really not at all polite. You are counting gifts before anyone has mentioned giving you any. Stop. Please. It really puts people off. Bride's do not throw parties in their own honor, or decide what they will be like, or when they will be. So, stop. Lots of other things to plan.

I have 5 bridesmaids and 3 of them are from out of state. In order to help keep cost down and not make them travel a bunch of times we opted to have my bridal shower and bachelorette party in the same weekend. I think my shower will be be 11-1/2 or 12-2 and then we'll go out that night. I've tried to keep everything as drama free and not too speedy as I can.

If you want all the bridesmaids to participate in both events then I think your best bet would be to have them in the same weekend. I’m trying to figure out these events for myself. I’ve only got 3 girls: 2 local, one is 8hr drive away, but one of my local girls is going to be working at a camp all summer. For me though the shower is more something the ladies in my family are undertaking. Budget wise I’m hoping we can meet in the middle with my MOH and her sister for bachelorette fun.

View Quoted Comment That’s exactly it! It’s briefly been discussed amongst me and a couple of the bridesmaids but they range from family to grade school friends and college friends so ultimately they're letting me help to make it a bit smoother. Also, my cousin is a bridesmaid who is also getting married within a couple months of me. Shes more the seat of her pants and I’m more of a planner so just to make sure we’re not overlapping events on top of the connivence aspects.