A Destination Bachelorette - Is it right for you?
Have you heard of couples opting for out-of-town bachelor/ bachelorette parties? Social media abounds with people that have gone this route. From visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras, Bahamas beach vacations, Quebec City culinary journeys or winery escapes in France, people are creating real memories with their wedding party before they say their vows. When I got married in 2012, even my troupe of friends and I spent a few nights celebrating in Toronto (about a 45 minute drive away from my home).
If you’re recently engaged and starting to plan some wedding related events, I can be a sounding board. I will ask you the right questions to help you decide if a destination event is right for you. Outside of travel I’ve worked with couples planning weddings for over a decade. Some questions I may ask you include: Is your wedding party is spread out across the country or the world? Is there a theme or style of event you’d like to focus on? Is there an aspect of your personality or something you love that connects all your wedding party members? Is there something that may bring people together/help them rally around?
Your wedding journey is full of amazing highlights. Let’s focus here on your pre-wedding events and how collecting photos, memories and laughs can be the perfect way to celebrate with your best family and friends.
Let’s hear from a real person about their Destination Bachelorette Party…
Recently I asked my friend Candace some questions about her New York City Bachelorette. I’ve known Candace for almost twenty years and she got married in 2018. She opted for a destination bachelorette party and I was curious to learn more.
Below are the questions I asked her and these are her candid responses:
What was a motivating reason for you to organize a destination bachelorette? “I didn't want to do something super over the top, but I also wanted to do something a little bit different that wasn't local. NYC is one of my favourite places and it's a quick flight [less than 90 minutes from Toronto] so it seemed like a doable option for a fun weekend.”
Who did most of the planning for it? (perhaps yourself, Maid of Honour, someone else) “One of my bridesmaids took the reins and organized it with the other girls. I knew we were going to NYC, but I didn't know what we were doing until we got there. I loved the surprise of it!”
You arrived at NYC as your place of choice, what about that city was most appealing to you for this event? What did you love most about NYC as a place to visit? “I love the vibe of NYC, and there is so much to do there! We went to a broadway show, comedy club, wine and cheese bar, make your own lipstick bar where we also got our makeup done, and even a "Law and Order" walking tour! It really was a combination of a bunch of my favourite things. There are so many things to do there and lots to explore. My husband also has family in NYC, so it was great that I could include our cousins there in on the fun.”
If you had to plan another destination bachelorette again, what would you do differently or change? “I absolutely loved it! I would say however, doing a destination bachelorette, not everyone can make it for a variety of reasons, but I was ok with that. I was lucky enough that the girls who couldn't go, did something in Toronto for me.”
Did your partner do a destination event similar too? What was their experience like? “My husband and his friends went to Montreal. He also wanted to go somewhere, and like NYC, Montreal has so many different things to offer. They rented an Air BnB house, so it was definitely a different vibe from mine as we did a hotel.”
Scroll through the gallery below to see some of Candace’s wonderful NYC Bachelorette photos she gave me permission to share.
