Who Pays For The Bachelorette Party? (And Other FAQs For The Occasion) (2024)

Who pays for the bachelorette party? A bachelorette party is a celebration of a bride’s last days and hours of singledom before she gets married. Like bachelor parties, bachelorette parties can be raucous events where everyone in attendance drinks more than usual and does everything in their power to have a great time.

If you are planning to throw a bachelorette party—or you’re the lucky bachelorette who’s hoping to have a party thrown in your honor—you’re probably wondering who pays for the bachelorette party, according to tradition? Plus, you might also have lots of other bachelorette party-related etiquette questions, since weddings tend to have a lot of traditions associated with them.

To guide you through the bachelorette party planning process, we’ll answer the question, “Who pays for the bachelorette party?” and cover the most important bachelorette party-related FAQs to clear up all your confusion.

Who pays for the bachelorette party?

As a rule, the bride should not pay for the bachelorette party at all, nor are the parents of the happy couple (even if they’re contributing to the cost of the wedding itself). Instead, the cost of the bachelorette party—including accommodations, transportation, food and drinks, activities, and other typical costs—is typically split between everyone in attendance except the bride herself.

If there are any costs that don’t get split evenly, they’re most often paid by the maid of honor. She also tends to be the one taking the lead on planning the bachelorette party itself.

No matter your party location, you can make the space even sweeter with these Insta-worthy bachelorette party decoration ideas!

Where should you throw a bachelorette party?

The answer to this question, like many of the others on this list: it depends! If you’re the one planning the party, make sure it’s realistically within your budget. Also ensure that it suits the priorities and preferences of the future bride. After all, she’s the one you’re all celebrating! The venue should also have enough space to fit everyone the bride invites. 

For instance, if you’re planning to have your bachelorette party be a destination weekend, then you’ll probably want to rent an apartment or house for the weekend (a hotel is also an option, but for a large group, renting a house often ends up being more affordable). Alternatively, if the bachelorette party is just one evening, then renting a party venue like those available on Peerspace is a great alternative. 

It’s true that you can probably use a space like a friend’s home, but there are many cases when you’ll probably prefer renting a real venue for the bachelorette party. In that case, search for options in your area on Peerspace to choose from thousands of bachelorette party venues throughout cities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Europe.

Peerspace event venues ideal for celebrating the bride-to-be

Check out these three fabulous examples of Peerspace venues that would be a great fit for a bachelorette party:

A bachelorette/girls’ trip house in Scottsdale, AZ

This bachelorette/girls’ trip house in Scottsdale, Arizona is conveniently located only about a seven minute drive from Old Town Scottsdale and has a beautiful open concept living room with a game room and even a beauty bar where you can get ready before you go out on the town. The property as a whole measures more than 2,500 square feet and is filled with spaces designed to facilitate relaxation and socializing with friends and family. From the sectional and 65 inch smart TV to the Peloton bike, everything about the experience of renting this space is incredibly luxurious.

A beautiful BYOB event space in Chicago, IL

This beautiful BYOB event space in Humboldt Park, Chicago is an upscale and stylish option that costs only $50 per hour—incredibly affordable for a venue of this quality! With 1,100 square feet, this venue has space for up to 80 guests but is an equally good fit for more intimate events like a bachelorette party. There’s a chef’s kitchen with a black marble backsplash and marble island, the perfect location to gather with friends. There’s even a back patio where you and your guests can step outside and enjoy some fresh air.

An Instagrammable, girly venue in East Austin, TX

This Instagrammable, girly venue in East Austin, Texas feels like it was designed for a bachelorette party, and is advertised by the hosts for exactly that purpose. Everything about the decor is tasteful and attractive, so there’s no need to worry about decorating for your event. They also provide seating, multiple tables, and a mobile bar with your rental. For extra reassurance that this is a great bachelorette party venue, be sure to check out the more than 200 positive reviews from past renters that add up to a perfect five-star rating for the space.

These are only a few examples of thousands of venues available for rent on Peerspace, so be sure to search Peerspace for bachelorette party venues to find a suitable location!

More bachelorette party frequently asked questions

By now, we’ve thoroughly answered the important questions of who pays for the bachelorette party and where is the best location to throw a bachelorette party. So now, here are our helpful responses to the most common questions regarding bachelorette parties.

What’s the difference between a bachelorette party and a bridal shower?

Honestly, we get why it can be hard to distinguish between these two types of events, even though they have very different purposes, not to mention very different vibes. Yes, they are both wedding-related events, and both often have majority female guest lists (at least traditionally).

But a bridal shower is a more relaxed event that typically happens in the morning. It focuses on celebrating the bride’s future married life by giving her numerous gifts that prepare her for the next stage of her life. Meanwhile, a bachelorette party is a smaller gathering of mostly women who are close friends of the bride, and it’s about celebrating the future bride’s present single status more than anything.

Who typically plans and hosts a bachelorette party?

Most often, the maid of honor is the one who takes the lead on planning and hosting the bachelorette party. As the “head bridesmaid,” she will often involve the bridesmaids in her planning process and rely on them for help with coordinating the event. 

However, it’s not an absolute requirement that the maid of honor be the one who plans the bachelorette party. If the maid of honor can’t do it, then someone else who’s close to the bride can also take over the planning. This might be a good friend, or a close relative like a sister or a cousin. Every situation is different!

For a better understanding of who plans the bachelorette party, this full article on the topic may be helpful.

Does the bride participate in planning her own bachelorette party?

The bride isn’t usually the one doing the nitty gritty logistical part of the planning. But the person who’s planning the bachelorette party will often ask her for input on key details. They can ask her about the location of the party, the theme, the dress code, the guest list, and more. From here, the person in charge of planning takes all these preferences and priorities and uses them to plan the best bachelorette party possible for the soon to be bride!

Running behind on planning? Don’t fret; simply check out these handy last-minute bachelorette party ideas to wow her!

When should you plan a bachelorette party?

In general, a bachelorette party most often takes place about two months before the day of the wedding itself. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, but having it a few months before the wedding is generally a good call to ensure that the bride doesn’t have too much to do right before the wedding.

When should you send out invitations for a bachelorette party?

It depends on how involved, expensive, and time intensive the bachelorette party you’re planning is, and how much advance notice guests will need to be able to make it. For a regular night out, guests need at least three or four weeks of notice, so send those invites out with time to spare. But if you’re traveling and/or the bachelorette party is a weekend rather than one night, eight weeks’ notice is a good minimum to follow.

How many people should you invite to a bachelorette party?

On average, most bachelorette parties have about 10 guests—these tend to be pretty small events compared to weddings, bridal showers, and the like. All invitees to the bachelorette party should be close friends of the bride, including the maid of honor and the bridesmaids. Either way, unless you’re having a tiny, commitment ceremony style wedding, you can expect your bachelorette party guest list to be much, much shorter than that of your wedding.

Conclusion: Who pays for the bachelorette party?

Now that you’ve read this detailed article on the subject, we’re hoping that you fully understand the answer to the question, “Who pays for the bachelorette party?” as well as any other questions you might have about bachelorette party etiquette.

For other event planning guides and much more, visit the Peerspace resources section.

Find unique bachelorette party venues on Peerspace