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Reinventing the Bachelorette Party

From adventurous to glam, five new approaches to planning the bride’s last night as a single woman

Embarrassing costumes and trashy bar games are passé for today’s bride-to-be. Instead, she and her BFFs are finding other, more sophisticated ways to celebrate the final days of singlehood. From
beauty soirées to boudoir photo sessions, today’s bachelorette party is creative and fulfilling — giving bridal best friends a chance to catch up while building physical, spiritual and mental wholeness. Here are our picks for an unconventional bachelorette party.

Beauty Soirée

You don’t have to wait until the wedding day to get beautiful — especially when you can make a day of it for the bridal party.

“A beauty soirée is a socialized way to get your manicures, pedicures, brows, hair and everything else done,” says Juliana Rodrigues, co-founder of Be Beauty. “Usually parties come the day before the wedding with groups between four and 13 people. It’s a great way for the bride to make sure everyone feels beautiful.”

At this chic cottage in Little Italy, services range from brow shaping and waxing to natural manicures and pedicures. Brides can customize their soirées with themes, catering and live music, then hire a photographer to capture it all. For more ideas on customizing your beauty soirée, contact Rodrigues and her partner Tara Manna at 621 West Fir Street, Little Italy, 619.795.4585; bebeautifully.com.

A Different Kind of Groove

Dance lessons are one in a million these days, so it may seem quite ordinary to plan the bachelorette party around dancing. Not so, however, when a pole is involved. San Diego Pole Parties specializes in in-home lessons that leave women empowered, confident — and addicted.

“It was entertaining, and we got a little bit of exercise,” says former bride Noelle Wojdowski of her pole-dancing lesson. “Plus, the best parties are ones planned with an activity to get to know each other before the night on the town.”

Kitty, the founder of San Diego Pole Parties, is a certified pole-dance instructor. She brings a portable pole, music and fun lighting to the party, then she leads the group of five to 12 participants through basic pole-dance moves including poses, transitions and spins.

“Kitty is really professional and fun all at the same time,” Wojdowski adds. To book your pole party, call Kitty at 619.886.1997 or visit sdpoleparties.com.

Pin-Up Parties

Girls, of course, just want to have fun. And sometimes that requiresgetting a bit out of character. At a Pin-Up Party™ by The Boudoir Divas, you not only shake off your inhibitions, but you and your girlfriends can release your inner supermodel as well!

“The session can be as sexy or as covered up as the client feelscomfortable with,” says photographer Marissa Boucher, founder of The Boudoir Divas, where the number one priority is making women feel glamorous. The studio’s 4,500-square-foot lobby is welcoming and stylish, the perfect environment to unwind over champagne. The bride and her party are given plenty of time to get glamorous and catch up on the gossip, then each is taken to the studio for an individual coaching and photography session complete with music and lighting.

“We put the same quality lighting, processing time and high-end equipment that would go into a shoot for Victoria’s Secret,” Boucher says. “Yes, you will be nervous, but it is our job to coach you through fantastic poses that are tailored to your particular body type.” What’s more, she adds, “the bride can give her groom his album the morning of the wedding. Imagine his excitement as he views sexy, gorgeous images of his bride just hours before he says, ‘I do.’ ” 

Your Pin-Up Party™ should be scheduled one month before the wedding day. The Boudoir Divas, Sorrento Valley, 858.485.0443; www.theboudoirdivas.com; sdstudio@theboudoirdivas.com.

Circus Act

If wedding jitters have you feeling like a yo-yo, we suggest you take a lesson in flying — on a trapeze that is. After all, once you can do this with the greatest of ease, even the toughest marital challenges will seem minor. To get started, head to Trapeze High in Escondido, where they have taken this 150-year-old sport and transformed it into a fear-busting, limit-pushing exercise for even the most modest of Janes. Carrie on Sex and the City was early to join the craze, and now bridal parties are among the many groups that have caught trapeze fever.

“The bachelorettes who come out for parties are people who like adventure sports — rock climbers, bungee jumpers, etc.,” says David Ayers, owner of Trapeze High. “But in reality, this sport caters to everyone. And it’s a great way to conquer your fears.”

Ayers opened the school 15 years ago and taught only a handful of students. Today, however, he has seen a resurgence in interest — to the point that weekends are booked and weekdays are getting busier.

Firefly Group Events can set up your group flying lesson: 858.353.5015; fireflygroupevents.com. To see it for yourself, check out Trapeze High at 2470 Melru Lane, Escondido, 619.318.0833, trapezehigh.com; with additional locations set to open in Escondido and Del Mar.

Surf’s Up

Divas aren’t just for the stage. Offering a variety of packages and prices, Surf Diva entices even the most glamorous of brides to hit the waves. In fact, the Bride-to-Be is the most popular package on their menu.

Groups of five to 15 girlfriends can spend two hours learning to surf from trained professionals, and the package also includes a board, wetsuit and rash guard equipment for each surfer.

“This kind of party is especially fun when people come in from out of town,” says Natalie Leung of Surf Diva. “It’s something that most women have never done before. Whereas most of us have gone to Vegas, this experience is unique.”

In addition to the lesson, Surf Diva can also provide a catered lunch on the beach, a framed Surf Diva Graduate certificate for each member of the bachelorette party and even a surf photographer to capture the best moments of the day. Reserve your party at 858.454.8273; surfdiva.com.

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