Its My Party and Well Do What I Want To
By Eleanor Goldberg
We have no objections to the old, new, borrowed and blue garb, but the traditional Bachelorette Challenge tees must go. Don’t let your best friend spend her waning single moments checking off a list of humiliating dares, while ogling at scantily clad dancers. Instead, customize this final femme-fest to the bride’s personality. Whether she’s a jet-setter, dare devil, do-gooder or party girl, we have a plan that won’t require her to collect a pair of boxers.
Weekender
The guys are in Vegas and the girls are relaxing in a less cliché spot, where what happens won’t be left behind.
- Cruising Sailing across the globe, Carnival surely offers an itinerary to suit the bride. Whether you choose the Caribbean, Alaska, or even Italy, your trip will be all-inclusive, limiting your job to packing the party favors. http://www.carnival.com/
- Wine-Tasting If your BFF loves her pinot, head to Sonoma and Nappa Valley for a Sideways-esque tour. Bask in the sun and marvel at the mountains while giving each gal a chance to toast the bride—straight from the barrel. http://www.inetours.com/Tours/Winery_Tour.html
- Outward-Bound Take your nature-loving buddy to the serene Omega Institute to partake in the Rest and Relaxation Program. You’ll practice breathing exercises, meditation, yoga and Blackberry detox. Can’t make it to Rhinebeck? Pack the Jeep, head to a local campsite and create your own “OM” experience. http://www.eomega.org/
Risk-Taker
This fearless friend has tried everything. But, maybe there’s an activity she hasn’t attempted with her closest confidantes by her side.
- Sky-Diving The ground is too stable for this chick. Bond with your best friends from 14,000 feet when you take turns tandem jumping from an airplane. http://www.skydiving.com/specials.html
- Body Art Pictures will capture her last single moments, but a tattoo will keep this soiree on her mind (and person) forever. Bring the bridal party and the cocktails to the parlor; just deter this future Mrs. from engraving her fiancés name.
- Race Time Give this athlete a different aisle to envision—one that leads to a finish line. Break a sweat and train together for a 5K, 10K, even a half-marathon. Just, let the bride graze the finish first.
Do-Gooder
This selfless friend has already chosen a Goodwill for her gown and a shelter for the leftover grub. Offer this saint another chance to help others before her guests must fawn all over her.
- Plant a Tree The wedding invitations were printed on recycled paper and the flowers were picked locally. Continue improving the environment by organizing a tree party. Provide each friend with a planting kit and start sowing the seeds outside the couple’s new home. http://www.gifts.com/
- Volunteer The Hands on Network offers volunteering opportunities in all major cities, every day. Gather the ladies and spend an afternoon playing Bingo with the elderly, painting a public school, or reading to underprivileged children. http://www.handsonnetwork.org/home/
House Party
This party girl will be more tearful when she returns the keys to her landlord, than when she dances with her dad. Make parting with this bachelorette pad a little less somber by throwing one final rave.
- Pole Dancing This bride is prepared for her first dance, but she probably hasn’t honed her “poll-frisk” yet. By the end of Pamela Rachil’s two-hour risqué lesson, all the amateurs will have mastered this move and at least ten others. Outside of the tri-state area? Rachil will recommend one of her bendable colleagues. http://www.imagroupmembers.com/
- Spa Day Why cram into a salon with strangers when Medi-spa can transform this apartment into a zen-like haven? Spend the afternoon indulging in manis, pedis, massages and the juicy drama of parties past. http://www.mobilespa.com/
- Cocktails101 Forget dinner parties. This woman will only be serving drinkable nourishment in her future house. Make sure her martini-mixing skills are up to par by hiring her favorite bartender to teach all the gals how to work the shaker.
Just as the proposal, emerald-cut diamond, engagement party, bridal shower, invitations, gown, chignon, tiara, oh, and wedding reflect this gal’s taste, so too should her all-girls celebration. Make sure to incorporate the guest of honor’s personal passions, hobbies (and vices) and not those of the typical dollar-bill-waving kind of girl. But, no matter how prudent of a party your friend demands don’t let her get away with only accepting the G-rated lingerie.







