Bachelorette party

A bachelorette party, hen party, hen do, or hen night, is a party held for a woman who is about to be married. The term hen party or hen night is more common in the UK, Ireland, and Australia, while the term bachelorette party is more common in the United States. The term stagette is used in Canada. It may also be referred to as a girls’ night out or kitchen tea (South Africa in particular) or other terms in other English-speaking countries.

The bachelorette party is modeled after the bachelor party, which is itself historically a dinner given by the bridegroom to his friends shortly before his wedding.^[3] Despite its inaccurate reputation as “a sodden farewell to bachelor days” or “an evening of debauchery”, a bachelorette’s party is a normal party, given in honor of the bride-to-be, in the style that is common to that social circle.

Organization

Participants are usually all women. Bridesmaids (if any) are typically invited, but any of the bride‘s close women friends may be included. Generally, people who are not invited to the wedding are not invited.

This party is typically hosted, and therefore organized, by one or more members of the wedding party, although it is possible for any friend to host a party in honor of the bride-to-be. Formally, a party in honor of the bride-to-be is never hosted by the bride-to-be,^[4] although she may participate in its planning. While it is normally the duty of a hostess to pay for the entertainment she gives her guests, it is common in most English-speaking countries for participants to share the costs of this event. Whether the bride-to-be pays her share, or whether her share is divided between other participants is something to be determined by the organizers and the bride-to-be during the early stages of the planning process.

Participating in a bachelorette party is always optional, and many brides decline these parties altogether. Neither bridesmaids nor other friends can be required either to attend or to pay for any part of this party.

Since it is derived from a formal dinner, a bachelorette party is properly held in the evening,^[3] usually about a week (or at least a few days) before the wedding,^[2] and usually includes dinner, although alternative approaches are not uncommon.

Entertainment

Many different kinds of entertainment are selected, depending on what the organizers think will best please their guest of honor. While notions of a bachelorette party as a night of drunken debauchery persist in some social circles, it is now becoming widely seen in America as an opportunity for female bonding.  According to etiquette expert Peggy Post, “Whatever entertainment is planned, it should not embarrass, humiliate, or endanger the honoree or any of the guests.”

When held in a private venue, such as the hostess’s home, the party may take any form that pleases the hostesses and honors the bride-to-be. Dinners and cocktail parties, which provide comfortable opportunities for participants to talk or to give intimate advice to the bride-to-be, are common. Other hostesses choose a themed party, such as a “pamper party”, with guests indulging in spa treatments, or a cooking class.^[7] While proposing a toast to the bride-to-be is common at most bachelorette parties, a few center on drinking games. There may, at some parties, be male entertainment, such as a male stripper.

Some parties take place in public venues, such as a restaurant or bar. Some parties are bar tours. On occasion, some bachelorette parties are organized as holidays to destinations such as Las Vegas or other party cities.

Sometimes a daytime picnic or other outing is organized in preference to the more common dinner party.

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