Don’t let the lavish, destination bachelorette parties you see on social media get to you: Celebrating your bestie doesn’t have to cost you and the rest of your bridal party a small fortune.
Hosting an affordable bachelorette partyand having a damn good time can absolutely go hand-in-hand, whether you’re throwing a next-level, grownup sleepover for the bride-to-be or hosting a luxe backyard movie screening with all the accouterments.
Below, we’ve rounded up 11 relatively cheap bachelorette party ideas for money-savvy bridal parties.
1. Host a sleepover.
Imagine how Instagramable the slumber parties of your youth would have been if only you had the app back then. To recapture those glory days of your teen years ― and Instagram the whole thing in true millennial fashion ― load up on sheet masks and Syrah, cue up your favorite movies and stay up all night to celebrate your friend’s upcoming nuptials. In the AM, pool your talents in the kitchen and whip up some breakfast or head out to your favorite brunch spot. (You’re adults now. You can totally splurge on ricotta-stuffed French toast and mimosas.)
2. Volunteer as a group.
A good time and do-gooding aren’t mutually exclusive: Use an app like GiveGab to find volunteering opportunities nearby that you know the bridal party will be interested in. One suggestion? Celebrate with The Birthday Party Project, a nonprofit organization that hosts monthly birthday bashes for kids at homeless and transitional living facilities across the country.
3. Book a cooking class.
Into eating and getting a lot of bang for your buck? Grab your girls and sign up for a cooking class. Not only will you collectively improve your culinary skills, you’ll also get to eat whatever you make at the end of the class ― plus, many culinary classes serve wine or allow you to bring your favorite bottle.
4. Have Glamsquad prep you for a GNO.
Elevate a standard girls’ night out by having a team of professionals come do your hair and makeup before your night on the town. Services like Glamsquad offer blowouts, makeup services and on-demand manicures at your home. An added bonus? Your bride can use the glam sesh as an opportunity to test out hair and makeup ideas for the wedding.