Bachelorette Party Checklist

Short answer: Start planning 8 to 12 weeks out for a destination trip, or 4 to 8 weeks for something local. Nail down the guest list, budget, and location first, then build outfits, activities, and a packing list around it. Pack your self tanner days ahead so your glow is set before the trip, not something you're scrambling to figure out the morning you leave.

Planning a bachelorette party can be overwhelming, there are countless details to coordinate and important moments to get right. Toni and Patt have both been part of this world for years, Toni through actually planning and attending bachelorette trips herself, and the two of them together DJing weddings and shooting wedding and engagement photography. This guide pulls from all of that real experience, not just a generic checklist.

Must-Haves

Themed Outfits: Coordinate fun outfits that match the party theme, matching activewear sets are always a simple, flattering option for a group look.
Invitations: Send them out well in advance to ensure all guests can attend.
Venue Reservations: Secure the party location, beachfront, city bar, or cozy cabin.
Bachelorette Decorations: Banners, balloons, and themed decor that fit the vibe.
Party Favors: Fun and memorable favors for all attendees.
Food and Drinks: Plan a menu and stock up on beverages.
Entertainment: A playlist, games, or a dance class.
Transportation: Organize rides to and from the venue if needed.
Gifts for the Bride: Collect thoughtful gifts from the group.
Camera and Self Tanner: Capture every moment, and bring a self tanner and face mist for a natural, photo-ready finish.

Optional Add-Ons

Spa Day: Treat the bride and squad to a relaxing day before the party.
Photo Booth: Set up a booth with fun props for memorable pictures.
Customized T-Shirts: Custom tanks or tees with clever slogans for the group.
Themed Playlist: Curate a playlist of the bride's favorite songs.
Surprise Activity: Plan something that aligns with the bride's interests.
Late-Night Snacks: A must-have for when the dancing makes everyone hungry.
Guestbook: For attendees to leave heartfelt messages for the bride.
Emergency Kit: Pain relievers, band-aids, and stain removers.
Squad Awards: Humorous awards to celebrate each member of the bride's squad.

Bachelorette Party Planning Timeline

One reason planning feels stressful is that tasks pile up at the last minute. Use this timeline to spread things out and stay organized.

8 to 12 Weeks Before

Decide the vibe: local night out, weekend trip, or destination
Confirm the guest list and collect contact info
Choose a date that works for the majority
Set a budget range and confirm what is realistic for the group
Pick a location and start accommodation research

6 to 8 Weeks Before

Book the stay, flights, or key reservations
Decide on the theme and outfits
Plan one to two main activities and one backup option
Assign responsibilities so one person is not doing everything

3 to 4 Weeks Before

Collect money for shared expenses and confirm bookings
Build a loose itinerary with key times and addresses
Confirm dinner plans and transportation
Order decor, favors, and any custom items

Week Of

Send the itinerary to the group and save addresses in one place
Confirm reservations and dress code expectations
Pack the emergency kit and any party supplies
Plan your airport outfit, see our airport outfit guide for travel-day looks

Day Of

Confirm the group chat is active and everyone has the itinerary
Designate a photo person and a schedule person
Hydrate, eat, and set the tone for a fun day

Budget and Who Pays for What

Budget is the biggest make-or-break point in bachelorette planning. A clear conversation early makes everything easier.

Guests typically cover their own travel, meals, and a share of group expenses.
The group often covers the bride's portion of the stay or one special activity.
The maid of honor organizes everything, but does not have to pay for everything.

Give the group a budget range and let people vote. A party everyone can afford beats a party where people drop out.

Packing Checklist

Outfits and Accessories

Themed outfit(s) and accessories
A comfy travel look, airport ready
Going out outfit(s)
Pajamas or matching loungewear sets for downtime and getting-ready moments
Swimsuit if needed
Sneakers and a dress shoe option

For travel days and cozy getting-ready moments, our loungewear collection feels elevated without sacrificing comfort.

Beauty and Glow Essentials

Makeup, skincare, and hair tools
Self tanner and a mitt, see our how to self tan guide for a full prep plan
Traveling by air? A travel size self tanning mousse under 3.4 oz is TSA approved and carry-on compliant, so you never have to check a bag just for your tan.
Body lotion, non-oily is best before tanning
Mini deodorant, perfume, and wipes

Browse the full self tanner collection to build your kit before the trip.

Travel and Safety

ID, payment card, and emergency contact note
Portable charger
Any medications and band-aids
Water bottle and electrolytes

Toni's Miami Bachelorette Story

Toni's most recent bachelorette trip came together last minute. She'd just gotten back from a book tour stop in LA for one of her favorite authors, Emma Grede, Patt had surprised her with the tickets, and she turned right around and flew out to Miami for the bachelorette party.

Miami bachelorette parties go big. Skin-baring dresses, nice dinners, the beach, boats, it's a lot of exposed skin across a lot of different settings, so your tan actually has to hold up and look right the entire trip.

She gifted the bride the newest MAKAI travel tanner before the trip, and the bride loved it so much she packed it again and brought it on her honeymoon to Cabo. Out of the more than 10 girls on that Miami trip, not one of them believed Toni was naturally fair skinned. They assumed she just tanned easily in the sun. She doesn't. It was self tanner the entire time, and that's exactly the kind of result a good formula and proper prep can give you, even across a weekend of dinners, beach days, and boat days back to back.

Bachelorette Outfits

Themed Outfits

Themed outfits add a fun, cohesive element to the party. For a tropical theme, suggest Hawaiian shirts and leis. For an athleisure moment, matching activewear sets are a simple and flattering option that keeps everyone looking pulled together.

Outfit Ideas

Consider having the bride wear white while her squad wears matching sets or coordinating colors. A coordinated activewear collection is a popular choice for group bachelorette looks.

Bachelorette Gifts

Gift Ideas

Personalized gifts like custom photo albums or scrapbooks with handwritten letters from each bridesmaid make for treasured keepsakes.

Comfort and Style

For a gift that combines comfort with luxury, consider gifting a loungewear set or cozy pajamas from our loungewear collection. A thoughtful gift that helps the bride relax before the big day will always be appreciated, and it's exactly the kind of gift Toni herself has given brides before their own weddings.

Bachelorette Party Foods

Party Menu Ideas

Match the menu to the theme. Beach party? Tropical cocktails and coconut shrimp. City night out? Signature cocktails with clever names and grazing boards. Always plan for late-night snacks, dancing makes everyone hungry.

Best Bachelorette Locations

Mountain Cabin

Aspen, Lake Tahoe, Park City, Smoky Mountains, Big Bear, Blue Ridge

Vibrant City

Las Vegas, NYC, Miami, Nashville, Scottsdale, Dallas, Los Angeles

Beach Getaway

Key West, Miami Beach, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Gulf Shores, Malibu

Desert, Pool, and Beach Destinations

Toni has also kept the glow going for bachelorette trips to Arizona and Hawaii, both places where you're living in a swimsuit around pool and beach settings all day. The first time she went to Arizona, well before MAKAI existed, several girls in the group had gotten spray tans elsewhere before the trip. They were frustrated that their color faded strangely and didn't feel dark enough after getting in the pool almost right away. Toni wasn't the one who did those tans, but it's exactly the kind of situation that shaped how MAKAI formulas are built to hold up, water and pool time included, not just look good for one photo before fading unevenly.

If the group is budget sensitive, a local weekend with one great dinner and one activity can feel just as special as a destination trip, with far less stress.

Activities, Music, and Games

Easy Activity Ideas

Brunch and a cute photo stop
Spa day or at-home spa night
Boat day or pool day
Wine tasting or cocktail class
Private chef dinner

Building a Playlist That Actually Keeps the Vibe Going

Patt has DJed weddings for years, and his advice for a bachelorette playlist is the same approach he'd use for any event: think like a venue, not like a random shuffle. A good restaurant, day club, beach club, or night club builds their whole atmosphere around a specific sound, and your playlist should do the same. Pick your genre and vibe first, then build around it, rather than throwing together whatever songs come to mind.

His go-to tool is Spotify's DJ playlist feature. It takes your own playlist and auto-mixes it based on BPM and key, so transitions actually flow instead of jumping between songs that don't match energy. You can let it smart-mix and rearrange your playlist automatically, or build the order yourself and let it handle the mixing between tracks, that's Patt's personal preference. Spotify's DJ feature on the home screen can also just play for you directly, and you can request songs on the fly to keep the vibe seamless without stopping to manually queue something up.

Games That Actually Work

Rose, bud, thorn (quick group check-in)
Bride trivia (short and sweet)
Playlist vote (everyone submits 3 songs, group votes)
Photo scavenger hunt (keep it classy and fun)

If your group wants a morning reset before brunch, a light movement session works perfectly. See our upper glute workouts guide for a quick at-home routine.

Bachelorette Photos

Between the two of them, Toni and Patt have shot weddings and engagement parties professionally, so their honest take here is simple: for a bachelorette, you and your friends already know how to pose and have fun in front of a camera. Where people actually go wrong is the equipment and lighting, not the posing.

Patt's real recommendation if you want to rent or buy a point-and-shoot for the trip: skip the Canon G7X that everyone defaults to and look at the Sony RX100 VII instead. In his experience, the Sony has a better flash, faster autofocus and response time so you're not missing the moment, and more realistic in-camera skin softening compared to the G7X. He's used plenty of point-and-shoots, and it's not close. A small pocket light is also worth packing, it makes a bigger difference in low light venues than people expect, and it's a lot more portable than trying to fix bad lighting after the fact.

A good self tanner also does real work here. Tan skin photographs beautifully, helping balance light and shadow for better shots in almost any setting, daylight, golden hour, or low light indoors.

Emergency Kit and Backup Plan

Emergency Kit Essentials

Pain relievers
Band-aids and blister patches
Stain remover pen (worth knowing how to handle a self tanner stain specifically if it comes up)
Safety pins and fashion tape
Mini deodorant and wipes
Electrolytes

Backup Plan Examples

If weather ruins a boat day, swap to a spa night and games at the rental
If dinner is delayed, have a snack tray ready so nobody gets hangry
If someone is tired, build in one quiet hour before night plans start

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plans the bachelorette party?

Traditionally the maid of honor leads planning, but the best bachelorettes are group planned. Assign tasks so the workload is shared.

Who pays for the bachelorette party?

Guests usually cover their own expenses and split shared costs. Many groups cover the bride's portion for one or two special items if the budget allows.

How far in advance should you plan?

For a destination trip, start 8 to 12 weeks out. For a local night or weekend, 4 to 8 weeks is usually enough.

How long should a bachelorette party be?

Most groups do one night, a weekend, or a long weekend. Choose what fits the budget and everyone's schedules.

What if someone cannot afford it?

Offer lower-cost options, shorten the trip, or plan a local celebration. The goal is celebrating the bride, not stressing the group.

How do I keep my tan looking good across a whole bachelorette weekend?

Apply a few days before you leave, not the morning of, and pack a travel size formula so you can touch up mid-trip. Pool and beach days are the biggest reason color fades unevenly if it wasn't fully developed and well prepped beforehand.

Conclusion

Planning a bachelorette party is a delightful experience when you have a comprehensive checklist to guide you. Follow this timeline, divide the tasks, and focus on making the bride-to-be's last single days truly special.

For your glow, start with the full self tanner collection. For travel days and cozy downtime with the group, browse the loungewear collection.

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Bachelorette Party Checklist: The Complete Guide

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