Bachelorette Parties
Five genius bachelorette party ideas that skip the bars but still raise the bar—in a good way.
Male strippers and pub crawls can give bachelorette parties a bad name. If you're not the kind of girl who goes for those sorts of things, it may have been tempting to tell your BFFs to call it off entirely--until now.
Etiquette FYI: any friend can plan and attend this party. Unlike the bridal shower, a bachelorette party isn't restricted to those invited to your wedding. But to keep it manageable, it is best to keep this party to 10-20 max.
Here are five alternatives to stuffing bills down a beefcake's briefs or pounding shots decked in a veil.
Surf's Up
Are your girls game for a weekend jaunt? (It's a great option when you're bringing a group together from different parts of the country.) Why not entice them to jump on planes and meet at an all-female surf camp?
Quite a few venues (we're talking about Chica Brava in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Surf Sisters in British Columbia; Northwest Women's Surf Camps in Oregon; Surf Diva in La Jolla, CA and Swell Women in Maui, Hawaii) offer weekend-long surf lesson packages that also include accommodations, meals and other activities. Before taking the plunge, what's better for girl-bonding than riding the waves together?
Ohm Yes
Or keep your luggage at home and arrange a mini-wellness event that includes the requisite private yoga session at your abode. Karen Lindenberg, who practices "deep, honest, vinyasa" at her Seattle-based Phyzz Yoga studio, specializes in teaching wedding-related parties with different degrees of experience.
"It is the utmost importance to have a teacher who is easily able to adapt instruction to suit students' different ability levels." She bills about $150 an hour--and will bring everything from mats to music to your home.
Another etiquette tip: the bride shouldn't have to contribute to paying for the activities at her bachelorette party. It is okay for the hostess to ask the other guests to pitch in for the cost of the affair. Surprise the guests with monogrammed yoga mats, such as these from My Custom Yoga Mat, as party favors to thank them for their contribution.
Sleepover Party!
You're never too old for a good, old-fashioned sleep-over party. So gather the ladies and stay at a hotel that feels like the most luxurious home-away-from-home: one with an in-house restaurant, gym, spa, the works.
Take the Wauwinet Inn in Nantucket, Mass, for example, with its mere 32 rooms. You and the girls can book spa appointments at their Spa By The Sea, then grab cocktails and dinner at its restaurant, Topper's. A girls'-night-in has never been so satisfying.
What's Cookin'
All this girl power in one room can certainly make one more than a bit peckish. So consider a night that revolves around a catered meal--cooked by a personal chef at your home. Integrating the dinner's prep into your night's activities can be a real blast--minus the drag of dirtying any well-manicured hands!
Celebrity chef Devin Alexander, author of a steady stream of calorie-cutting cookbooks (like I Can't Believe It's Not Fattening) advises getting referrals to insure you get a qualified culinary master. Or think about giving the pro some direction: "See if they can make some of your fave recipes," suggests Alexander, host of FitTV's Healthy Decadence and chef on NBC's The Biggest Loser.
Say, Spa-aaah
Who can say no to hours of pampering? Why not organize a spa party at a day spa that can accommodate large groups or even hire a couple of masseuses and few manicurists to come to a private residence.
Pick your favorite local haunt and ask the manager if they do house calls or log onto online directories like PuurSpa for listings in your area.
These alternatives to a strip-tease just may be harder to resist.
http://www.colincowieweddings.com/inspire-me/celebrate/beyond-a-girls-night-out?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=engagement&utm_campaign=status
Take Advantage...
Take advantage of events that happen in the area... this was in Aspen on Jan. 14 for an event called Winterskol... can't beat it to end dinner and move onto dancing
Check with the Chamber of Commerce where you plan to get married and see if they have great events that you can incorporate into your weekend.
Fall Crafts - Birch Bark Containers
Flower Arrangement in a Birch-Bark Vessel
The Martha Stewart Show, November 2010 http://www.marthastewart.com/286090/flower-arrangement-in-a-birch-bark-vesse
Impress guests with a charming floral embellishment for the holidays: seasonal blooms arranged in a handmade birch-bark container. Less formal and more unique than the standard vase, this rustic vessel adds texture and beauty to any arrangement.
Floral and event designer Lewis Miller shares this easy how-to.
Tools and Materials
- Pine box
- Pieces of birch bark
- Heavy-duty staple gun
- Scissors
- Heavy plastic sheets
- Oasis floral foam
Birch-Bark Vessel How-To
1. Using a heavy-duty staple gun, attach birch bark to the sides of the pine box.
2. Cut the bottom edges of the bark so the container sits level.
3. Line the interior of the box with heavy plastic. Add floral foam to support the flower arrangement and prevent leakage.
Fall Floral Ideas
Lewis recommends combining flowers, foliage, and fruit in orange, brown, and green tones for a modern autumnal display. Here are some of his recommendations.
Flowers: Autumn hydrangeas, Capriccio roses, brunia, chrysanthemums
Foliage: Black privet berries, gray mullein leaves, senecio, garden ivy
Fruits and Vegetables: Persimmons, artichokes, Seckel pears
FUN & FUNNY: First
we're looking at the fun and funny for this session:
All summer I have been amazed at how FUN everything was. From an incredible game of paintball with the whole rehearsal dinner group to "glamping" (that would be glamour camping) for the ladies bachelorette party (champagne and mani/pedis included).
Unusual and fun is the way to go... there are traditions that will be important to one or both of you and I recommend indulging in those, but the wedding should be a perfect representation of you as a couple. Make it an event that you would want to go to.
Wedding images
I'm sure Clint Shuttlesworth (the photographer) will have many more amazing shots, but here are a few to get you going...
the bridal suite...
Reception:
can't wait for better photos because these really don't do it justice... it was stunning!
Greenvelope
Name: CreativeWeddings
Discount: 15% off any package
Expiration: No set expirationThank you Sam!
Invitations
The invitation will set the tone for your wedding... that is a given...there are SO many options (classic and contemorary)
For those of you who know me you'll know my taste runs pretty classic, but I can still really appreciate the variety.
My favorite bridal gown designer is Monique L'huillier. She has a line of invitations as well which I am pretty fond of (so fond that I carry it...)
I love the look and feel of Letterpress the most.
I also love Oslo Press. They engrave wood laminate and they are a statement and a half...
we've done some custom work with them and they are GREAT... guests keep the invitations around because they are so cool (one person is still using his as a coaster...)
I have to remind you to use recycled products wherever possible! If you are feeling totally green you can also use an online invitationer
www.greenvelope.com
Quite a few styles, but lord knows I'm big on customizing!!! They will track your RSVP's for you which is pretty nice.
So, there you have some options... of course you can't go wrong with Crane's or William Arthur or numerous others. Good luck!
contact me if you need suggestions...
origami... 
beaded...
a wooden aspen leaf ornament...