Bachelorette parties come with certain expectations. Movies like Bridesmaids and Rough Night promote stereotypes of women bar-hopping, wearing pink sashes and penis straws, and waving cash at male strippers. Bachelorette parties have become more and more extravagant over the years: The average cost to attend a bach party reached $1,500 in 2022.
But, bachelorette parties are starting to feel overhyped and over-priced. As a result, brides are hopping off the penis-straw train and starting a new trend: solo bachelorettes. Solo bachelorette celebration videos on TikTok alone have racked up more than 2.8 billion views.
“Bach parties are a time-honored tradition, but just like weddings, these have become hugely personalized,” Lauren Kay, the executive editor of The Knot, said in the New York Times. “Can you get married without one or by taking a solo trip? Absolutely.”
The History of The Bachelorette Party
Bachelor parties have been around for centuries, originating from the Spartans in the 5th century B.C. It wasn’t until the 1960s and the women’s liberation movement that bachelorettes for brides started becoming standard practice. Bridal showers have been around since the 16th century, but the first bachelorette party to appear in print was in 1981 in a New York Times article.
The 1990s cemented the bachelorette as a tradition for bridal parties, leading to the events that we know and love today. While many brides opt for laid-back nights with their closest friends, others go for wild, booze-fueled trips to Vegas, Nashville, New Orleans, or Miami. Data from Savings.com found that around two-thirds of bach party guests flew to the most recent party they attended.
Solo Bachelorettes On The Rise
The expense and hassle of planning and attending a bachelorette has caused many brides (and some grooms, too) to forgo the group experience.
“We see that about 7% of couples this year are actually opting for a solo bach trip,” Zola communications director Emily Forrest told ABC News. “People being more comfortable traveling by themselves and really wanting to travel with purpose makes them feel like they can take a solo bach trip if they want to.”
Solo bachelorettes offer a chance to unwind and relax before the big day. Many brides-to-be are opting for spa trips, yoga retreats, or a long weekend at a nice hotel. Saratoga Arms, a hotel in Saratoga Springs, offers a “Me, Myself and I” package targeted to solo female travelers that includes treatments at a local spa, a welcome basket of self-care goodies, and champagne.
Solo bachelorettes are just one way that many of today’s brides are putting self-care first and saving money at the same time. Read more: The 4 Mindsets For Stress-Free Wedding Planning.
