Cheers! Create lifelong memories with your own pre-wedding portrait party.
Before a bride gets hitched, there’s a tradition that typically takes place first. All her girlfriends and bridesmaids are required by an unspoken law to get together and celebrate her last night of “freedom”. This usually entails a night full of colorful cocktails, partying, sometimes traveling; but most importantly as demonstrated in the recent chick flick Magic Mike, a well-endowed male stripper is part of the hoopla.
However, there are alternate approaches to celebrating that final night of being a bachelorette if strippers aren’t your style or you just want peace and quiet before a day full of unpredictable. Triple B found 5 alternative (and non-cheesy!) ways for brides to enjoy their friends, make memories and not regret that your name will be changed forever and ever.
Unique Idea #1: Yoga Session
You don’t need to be a fitness nut to enjoy the benefits of a relaxing stretch and a few calming poses before being on your feet all night at a wedding. The best thing about this idea is it doesn’t cost much. All you need is a simple location such as a park, comfortable clothing, a towel and a mat. If you’re looking for the studio feel of being guided through a session, try Core Fitness, the national chain offers special lessons just for this purpose.
Unique Idea #2: Sightseeing Major Monuments
If you’re a bride who likes people watching but avoids crowded clubs, organizing a limo ride — complete with a stocked bar — allows you to explore your favorite places (plus discover new ones) in style. At each stop, you and the ladies can step out, take photos and even make new friends at each destination. You’ll have plenty of happy fellas willing to join the innocent fun. Simply make arrangements with your local limousine company, get dressed to the nines and make sure your camera’s battery is fully charged. Consider spots like Times Square-42nd Street in NYC, Georgetown in Washington, DC, or even Beverly Hills and Hollywood in California.
Unique Idea #3: Weekend Getaway
Having sun-kissed skin makes for great wedding shots! Whether you choose a 3-day Caribbean cruise or a weekend jaunt to Atlantic City, organizing a relaxing weekend away with your closest friends is a fab way to have fun before getting hitched. There’s an opportunity to explore new clubs, spa treatments and restaurants. A weekend enjoying new territory can also alleviate stress from planning such a life-changing event. A few other locales to consider are Miami, Las Vegas (check out this full Triple B post on what to do in Sin City) and even Chicago.
Don't fret over how to celebrate your last night as a bachelorette anymore!
Unique Idea #4: Themed Portrait Party
You and your bridal party feel like getting dolled up and having the moment captured in film? Kesha Lambert Photography has just the solution. Offering brides the opportunity to choose any theme they desire, ‘50’s bored housewife has been done in the past (see pics above); Kesha, a talented lifestyle and wedding photographer based in the NY tri-state area will turn your session of dress-up into a memorable experience. For more information, visit her website or check her out on Facebook.
Unique Idea #5: Cooking Class Confection
The women of old have said the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. It might seem archaic, but even if you you never cook for your spouse, you and your girls can have a ball sharpening your culinary skills in a group setting! Taste of Pace, a food, travel and leisure business in LA, offers parties and classes on everything from knife skills to cooking for vegetarians. If you’re based in the Empire State, consider My Cooking Party, a boutique culinary company that hosts private cooking class parties for groups of 2 to 125 or TriniSoul for private lessons on creating authentic Caribbean cuisine. Life is definitely better when you’re well-fed!
Bonus: Pole Dancing Classes
Pole dancing classes for bachelorette parties don’t really seem “unique” anymore as brides-to-be have been enjoying this fun activity for years. Still, we thought it was worth mentioning. Le Femme Suite in Harlem is a cute place for those in the NYC area to consider. And don’t sleep ladies, working the pole is harder than it looks — it requires superior upper body strength!
Which of these fun options is your favorite and why?
*As always, when reaching out to any of the above businesses, be sure to mention Triple B sent ya!
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Why is everything on this site regarding weddings so cheap and boring??? You make as sound as though if black women want to get married, they better be ready for the most boring, frugal wedding ever as well as the most boring, low budget bachelorette ever!!!
My white girlfriends party all the way through their wedding process, only black women are so PRESSED about this notion of peace and quiet, which is very BORING, just like when they are sitting at home every weekend, very boring!!!
I think the message you put out for black women on this site turns the wedding process into a chore and a burden, instead of the best time of their lives. Your constant need to preach PRACTICAL, FRUGAL AND LOW KEY so called advice equals BORING AS HELL!!!!
Over it.
Danielle, it’s unfortunate that you feel everything on Triple B is cheap and boring. My aim is and always will be to help brides-to-be get the most value for their wedding-related expenses. In fact, this is what the plethora of brides of all races I encounter are craving. Inexpensive and cheap are two very different things. Boring is relative so if you feel the content on the site preaches boring…Well, this probably isn’t the site for you. Triple B contributor Laura Eustache did a great job with this post. Everyone in our audience isn’t in the same income bracket so from an editorial standpoint, we try our best to ensure there is something for everyone at all times — from the penny-pinching bride to the ballin’ bride. I’m not sure how the weekend getaway (unique idea #3) translated to boring and cheap to you. And I highly doubt pole dancing classes wouldn’t be considered low-key to most people.
In light of the global economy, Triple B will continue to make every effort to help brides get the most bang for their bridal buck. I think it is absolutely ridiculous for someone to go broke for one day when they’re preparing to spend a lifetime together. I’ve attended weddings where cost wasn’t a factor and even those brides wanted to get the most for their money. (Actually the most frugal people I know tend to be the ones who are very comfortable financially.) It is quite possible for everyone to plan a wedding within their means and have a blissful time doing so and there are thousands of people who feel Triple B is successful at showing them how.
Did these stories preach boring and cheap?
http://blackbridalbliss.com/2010/04/28/the-villas-at-aquamare-luxury-redefined/
http://blackbridalbliss.com/2012/08/14/not-quite-tie-the-knot-tuesday-dana-will/
http://blackbridalbliss.com/2012/03/06/anniversary-trash-the-dress-shoot-with-nioyona-anthony/
http://blackbridalbliss.com/2012/05/11/exotic-honeymoons-you-can-take-one-too/
Last but not least, you seem angry. It’s too bad the uplifting images of Black women and their love journeys showcased here haven’t added any bliss to your life. Thankfully, I think you are the minority. All the best to you.
Bridgette,
I’d bet money that Danielle is the minority. I, for one, look forward to checking out your site at least once a week and am not even engaged. It’s fun to see the ideas and inspiring to read the stories. Keep them coming. Let the angry and negative be angry and negative, and keep doing you which, in this case, means offering quality, fun and positive content to those who are interested.
Heather
Thank you so much, Heather!
Wow Danielle! I was looking for bachelorette ideas and strolled across this website. I was shocked to read your harsh and racial post and although my time is extremely limited I felt obliged to respond. Everyone is different therefore we all like different things. It is okay to dislike ideas but a shame how you represent yourself.
I pray that you get a new hobby instead of spending so much time on your computer or that someone shows you some love to soften your heart.
Treat others the way you want to be treated :)
I appreciate your comment, Beth. Thank you!
Hi Brigette,
Tell Ms.Danielle to have SEVERAL seats in the back row. I mean REALLY! If you don’t like the site, exit stage left. I personally love that you have a little something for everyone! And even the balling bride would take a deal if she can get it!
@V France – Your comment is much appreciated! Thank you.
I’m definitely thinking of different things to do for my bachelorette party, and this was a welcome read! I’m a mother of four (so far) who will have lived with my fiancé for three years by the time of our wedding. A strip club or a bar is just not that interesting to me, or many of my people that would go with me. But that in no way translates to dull and boring!
While I am not looking to bring down the house for my bachelorette party I think that my event will be far from boring and not hardly cheap. My dream party would be one of pampering and relaxation. After all of the stress involved with wedding planning there is nothing I want more than a “Spa Day”. Manis, pedis, massages and a sauna. What a wonderful day!! I am so super excited.
@Kima-Shai – I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
@Hope – WOO HOO! Bring on the pampering and relaxation. ;-)
Hi, I am the owner of Trinsoul Cooking, and we have hosted a lot of bridal showers and bachelorette parties, and let me tell you they were nothing like boring in those cooking parties.
The women have a great time, fun, laughter, cooking, drinking wine and tropical punches, dancing to the soft music of reggae, calypso and soca.. and off course then sitting and eating the fruits of their own labor.
I will say it’s far from boring. It’s just pure fun.
Thank you Bridgette for showcasing TriniSoul and for doing a great job on the site. Keep up the good work.
I appreciate the love, all!
Thank you SO MUCH, Deborah! I will be in touch very soon.