Philadelphia is a great city to plan your best friend or sister an unforgettable prewedding bachelorette party. We have some ideas and suggestions to make it an experience to remember! Not all destination Bachelorette parties need to end up at the run of the mill locations such as Vegas, Miami, or Nashville. Planning a Bachelorette Party in Philadelphia can be just as fun, economical, and memorable as heading to one of the popular destinations. From inviting guests and all things in between, here’s how to pull of the ultimate celebration right here in the city of Brotherly love, Philadelphia.
Step 1. Consult with the Bride and Bridesmaids
Since this weekend is all about the bride, what better person to consult with than her? If she prefers pampering over clubbing that will help determine which avenue to start your process of planning. You can consult with your fellow bridesmaids to determine a reasonable budget that won’t wipe out everyone’s savings. A destination that is convenient to get to will be an easy way to keep the troop of Bachelorette party revelers happy. Luckily Philadelphia is a great location that is convenient for many people. International and domestic flights are easy to find and Philadelphia is accessible by train, car, and bus from cities all along the East Coast. Located only 2 hours from New York City, 90 minutes from Baltimore, 2.5 hours from Washington DC, make Philadelphia a very accessible location for group.
Step 2. Squad up with the Girls
The invitation list should come directly from the bride herself. Obviously additions to her guest list can be suggested to the bride but you don’t want to bear the burden of inviting someone that the bride does not like or someone that is a bad drunk and can ruin everyone’s experience. We all have that one friend that seems to take it a little too far and you don’t want to be the one inviting the girl that you are carrying out of the bar at midnight or looking for the disappearing single friend that is jealous that her friend is marrying the perfect man and she can’t find a match on Tinder.
Step 3: Communication is key
Once you nail down your exclusive guest list. It’s time to figure out a way to easily communicate with each other. Here are some common communication platforms that you can use to communicate with your fellow Bachelorettes.
- iMessage (if everyone has iPhones)
Our recommendation is WhatsAPP. This free application is available on both Android and iPhone. The reason we recommend WhatsApp over email is that it is a great way to communicate with the squad during the planning process and during the bachelorette party. You are easily able to share pictures and videos with each other, documenting the revelry that awaits. Everyone will also have access to each other’s phone numbers in case you need to communicate with some of the girls you may not know personally.
WhatsApp will also separate your communication for the Bachelorette party from other forms of communication. You know that one friend that has 3000+ emails in their inbox might lose the emails in the shuffle. You can also create side group messages so you can easily communicate with they girls with similar travel arrangements so you can coordinate with them separately from the entire group. Or maybe you want to be a little catty and complain about the ridiculous hoops the bride is making everyone jump through. Who doesn’t need a little vent session every now and then?
Step 4: Figuring out the Funds to not limit your Fun!
What is proper Bachelorette code of conduct?
Guests Financial Responsibilities
Well traditionally the guests are responsible for paying for the bride except for travel and lodging expense. That means that everyone should pay for the brides meals and activities for themselves and the bride. Even if you choose to abstain from an activity or a meal you should still contribute your fair share of the bride’s expense.
Maid of Honor Financial Responsibilites
As the Maid of honor, you will have additional financial responsibilities than the other guests. If you so choose to purchase decorations and swag for the bachelorette party that would the responsibility of the maid of honor and it would only be a nice gesture from the other guests if they offer to contribute their time and money but its not traditionally their responsibility to do so.
The Bride’s Financial Responsibilities
As stated above, it is the responsibility of the bride to cover her own travel expense and lodging. Outside of that, the guests and maid of honor should cover the expenses during the Bachelorette Party. If the bride wants to buy a round of shots for the Bachelorette party to show her gratitude, there nothing wrong with that. Afterall, planning a bachelorette party takes a lot of time, effort, and money. It’s all about having a good time and what better way to accomplish that with a few celebratory shots!
Paying Each other back
Obviously you don’t want to be that annoying group that puts down 15 different credit cards at dinner. It is usually best to designate a few people to pay for the bill on their credit card and have the other guests pay them back. Here are a few good ways to make sure everyone doesn’t argue about money and the good friend isn’t left paying for meals and activities the group should share in the expense.
- Cash: (Yes it still exists and people can pay for goods and services with it)
- Venmo: Send and request money for free and linked to the bank account of your choice
- Cash App: Send money instantly and free of charge
- Apple Pay: Send money to your friends through Apple Pay
Step 5. Bachelorette Party Hacks to Save Money
Get Creative About Cutting Costs
When looking at venues to celebrate, having a large group of girls often works in your favor. Most venues want your business! You are a large group of girls looking to have fun and that is a valuable asset to many venues. Most venues are willing to offer discount bottle service packages and open bars to large groups of girls looking to celebrate a Bachelorette party in Philadelphia. It’s no secret that bachelorette party expenses can really add up but if you are driving into Philly you can certainly make it an economical experience for those that have budget conscience guests. Here are some creative bachelorette hacks for hosting your Bachelorette Party in Philadelphia
- If you have a large group look at an AirBNB over staying at a hotel. Most AirBNB have a kitchen you can use to prepare some simple meals instead of eating out. It’s a great way to enjoy meals as group without worrying about a long wait for brunch or lunch. This will give you less meals to reserve in advance for a large party. Most Brunch places do not take reservations for large groups without engaging their private events department which usually means an upcharge and a limited menu to accommodate a large group.
- Pregame before heading the bars and clubs. If you live outside of Philadelphia, you can save 10% by purchasing your alcohol outside of the Philadelphia city limits. Do not purchase out of state as transporting liquor over state lines is illegal.
- Avoid Driving into the city where parking can cost upwards of $40 a day.
- Coming from South Jersey. Park your car near a PATCO station and take the high speed line directly into Center City. Uber, Lyft, or Taxis are readily available.
- Coming from the PA suburbs. SEPTA regional rails are available every hour from virtually every Philly suburb.
- Coming from NY or DC. Amtrak offers rail service directly to 30th Street Station. Boltbus, Megabus, and Greyhound offer another economical option to travel into the city. Most buses are equipped with wifi and reclining seats.
- Insisting on Driving? You can park in the following zip codes and find limited street parking. After 5pm your chances of finding a spot are slim to none. Be aware of the parking zones as they only give you a few hours of free parking. Some zip codes close to Center City with limited free street parking are 19146, 19130, & 19147.
Step 6: Have Fun!
Bachelorette parties are all about having fun! Don’t let the differing budgets, opinions, and personalities get in the way of a chance to celebrate a momentous life milestone. Most people only get one bachelorette party in their whole life, so make the most of it. If you get caught up in the little details then you won’t be able to see what a bachelorette party is really about. Look around and be thankful that you were chosen by someone to share one of the most important occasions in their life.
Our Recommendations: Brunch
Harp & Crown
($$)
address
1525 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Get Directions
Phone: 215-330-2800
Brunch Hours: 10:30am-2pm
Website: harpcrown.com
Atmosphere: Low Key
Cuisine: Modern American
Service Type: Buffet
Menu: Harp & Crown Brunch Menu
Price Range: $28 a person. Holiday brunches can reach up to $100 featuring a special buffet menu.
Reservations Needed: Yes
Party Size Restrictions: Up to 10 People. Larger groups must contact Harp & Crown directly.
Description:
Harp & Crown is beautifully designed space that infuses old-world touches of charm and luxury with modern sensibility. Harp & Crown executes their brunch as a high-end buffet with cocktails, mimosas, and bellinis served by the glass for an additional charge.
Parc
($$$)
address
227 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Get Directions
Phone: 215-545-2262
Brunch Hours: 10am-3pm
Website: parc-restaurant.com
Atmosphere: Low Key
Cuisine: French
Service Type: Ala Carte
Menu: Parc Brunch Menu
Price Range: $13-$150
Reservations Needed: Yes
Party Size Restrictions: Up to 5 People. Larger groups must contact Parc directly.
Description:
Parc is a upscale French restaurant located directly on Rittenhouse Square. This is great place for a relaxing brunch where you can have a conversation amongst friends. Typically large groups are sat inside the restaurant as outdoor seating accommodates groups of 2-4 people.
Party Time
Yakitori Boy
($$)
address
111 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Get Directions
Phone: 215-923-8088
Website: yakitoriboy.com
Vibe: Karaoke, Private Rooms
Karaoke is always a good time! If you’re a little bashful, Yakitori Boy has 8 private rooms that you can rent out and have some playtime with the girls. Once you take some some shots of liquid courage, show off your singing skills in the main room as you sing along to your favorite tunes.
Woody’s
($$)
address
111 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Get Directions
Phone: 215-545-1893
Website: woodysbar.com
The long time Philly LGBTQ hangout that features dancing, live DJs, and eclectic programming. One of Philly’s most consistently busy bars, Woody’s has been a staple in Midtown Village for nearly 4 decades.
Outside the Box Activities
The Rittenhouse Spa
($$$$)
address
210 West Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Get Directions
Phone: 215-790-2500
Website: therittenhousespaclub.com
Enjoy a spa day with your best friends.
Pamper all your friends and have a bachelorette party that includes a spa day. Spa services include massages, skin care treatments, body treatments, and body rituals. Don’t forget to head downstairs for afternoon tea service at Mary Cassatt Tea Room.
Wine School of Philadelphia
($$$)
address
109 South 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Get Directions
Website: vinology.com
If you’re looking for something a bit more sophisticated, consider trying a wine tasting class at the Wine School of Philadelphia. They have a wide array of classes for you and the bachelorette party but classes tend to fill up quick. They do not have special arrangements for bachelorette parties so you will need to book far in advance as many classes only have space for 20 or so people. They have a wide assortment of classes including cocktail and beer classes.
COOK
($$$$)
address
253 South 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Get Directions
Phone: 215-735-2665
Website: audreyclairecook.com
With only 16 seats, Cook tends to sell out classes months in advance. You will need make sure you plan this far enough in advance. What better way to bond with the girls than learning to cook from some of the top chefs in Philadelphia? Cook is Philadelphia’s state-of-the-art, fully equipped, sixteen-seat kitchen-classroom where guests come to enjoy chef tastings, culinary demonstrations and cooking classes in a beautiful, intimate setting. Cook is a great way to interactively experience Philadelphia’s robust dining scene.
