You’re getting married! Or maybe you’re invited to a bachelorette party, here’s how to keep it on the healthier side.
Chances are you’re a great friend or family member planning the night of festivities for the bride to be, and if you’re the bride, then all the more reason to read these ideas for suggesting a healthier bachelorette party to your bridal party.
Do you remember this article on the Best Wedding Diet? I was inspired to write that from personal experience of being a bride to be (we’re getting married in January 2019!), along with the large number of emails, DM’s, and Instagram comments I’ve had over the years from fellow brides to be about their diet plans. Hint, hint that article shares what our society demands of us when it comes to the wedding industry, which is a $ 53.4 billion as of 2013 dollar industry by the way.
A Spin On The Typical Bachelorette Party
If you haven’t read that article yet, then I highly recommend opening a new tab and reading that one (and sharing it with your friends and bride to be) after you read this one. But, let’s move on to the festivities, the fun, the parties, the gifts, the food, and let’s touch on the point of drinking which is often an activity associated with bachelorette parties.
First things first, I technically live in what’s known as the bachelor and bachelorette party city of the US—Nashville! Nashville has quickly become one of the most popular destinations for pre-wedding parties and it takes any local to tell you that they see at least 20 a weekend during the months of March-September. But, I also have to say, not many of these parties are on the path of “healthy” gatherings, most include bar hopping and binge drinking.
So are there ways to still enjoy alcohol, feel great, and engage in activities that might be up your alley with like-minded people?
Bachelorette parties definitely have a stereotype, but break away from it, if those activities don’t serve you or speak to your uniqueness! Try something new or outside of the box when it comes to celebrating this new upcoming chapter for you as an individual and as a soon to be a partner. Just a personal note, I plan to have my bachelorette party in December with a small group of close girlfriends doing so many of these activities on the list!
6 Things To Do For A Healthier Bachelorette Party
1. Retreats
This obviously is a bit of a fancier and more expensive route, but if you have access to this, it could be a beautiful getaway for the bride to be and you (the group!). Think of destinations that are the brides favorite, that can include group activities like hiking or spending time outdoors, are relaxing, exploring the city around you, etc. The list goes on, but one of my favorites is Blackberry Farm just outside of Nashville.
2. Yoga
Talk about setting up your girl with some support for her mental health! Yoga or even a meditation class can be a beautiful way to give the gift of stress management and relaxation. It may sound simple, but this act can help nourish you and the bride to be with a couple of strategies to learn deep breathing, finding gratitude, and calm amongst a busy season.
If yoga isn’t your jam or the brides’ jam, then try something else like a deep breathing class, kundalini class, meditation workshop, etc. Think of it as a fun activity for everyone to explore and try out—no one has to be an expert here, just enjoy!
Nashville specific idea: if you’re in the mood for dancing while doing yoga, try Inner Light Yoga. Otherwise, try Liberation or Shakti Yoga.
3. Outdoor activities
If you live or are visiting somewhere (like Nashville) for the bachelorette party, then check out some outdoor activities to do during the day. Some examples could be going on a hike, paddle boarding on a lake or ocean, going out for a run, taking an outdoor boot camp class, archery (little Hunger Games action anyone?), rowing, and the list goes on.
Nashville specific idea: hike at Radnor Lake followed by Centennial Park to view the Parthenon (photo opp), then grab a healthy snack or juice from Franklin Juice in 12th South.
4. Pampering
This is such a treat, and if it’s accessible to you, then booking a spa day filled with massages, getting your nails done, and facials can be elaborate but a real treat! If you’re on a budget, try another amazing option which is to throw a party at your hotel/Air Bnb and make it a spa day at your place! The latter is more engaging with everyone involved, and it can be fun to delegate a task for everyone to do—someone in charge of the nail polishes, others in charge of getting the facial care products you need, etc.
Nashville specific idea: check out Escape day spa, Cured nails or Poppy and Monroe (if your party is small), or Vetiver for a quick massage. Also, Lemon Laine for an oil bar appointment (mention Nutrition Stripped and you’ll get a special surprise). Pure Sweat and Float is also a great place to try sensory deprivation float tank.
5. Cooking class
This is truly a class and a gift that keeps on giving—what a better way to sharpen everyone’s skills involved with a cooking class? Better yet, if you can hire a private chef to come to your home or the Air BnB, then you can make it for your dinner right afterward.
One incredible part of my job is being hired for private workshops, I organized a healthy bachelorette brunch for a group of women from Canada who came to Nashville to celebrate. I started with a demo and made food for the group. Our menu was Turmeric Milk, mimosas, hot tea, Coffee Elevated, Almond Butter Waffles, Veggie Frittata, fruit tray, and a local greens salad with homemade dressing. It was such a hit! If you know someone who can offer than in your area, reach out to them, otherwise, I host workshops and private events such as these.
Nashville specific idea: check out Eat Placemat for all your cooking and private catering needs with a healthy spin.
6. Art class
Thinking outside the box of a fun activity, try looking up local art classes from painting, sculpture, drawing, mixed media, the list goes on! This is such a fun group activity no matter how artsy you are. There are so many art classes, paint by number classes, etc. that a good google search can help you out with when planning.
Recipes For A Healthy Bachelorette Party
If you have a weekend to celebrate and ideally if you’re staying in an Airbnb or a friends house, then it would be great to incorporate homemade meals. You can make healthy recipes to snack on, to have for breakfast before your busy days start, and to unwind with a nice dinner.
Obviously, many people will opt for going out to dinner to celebrate and enjoy(and if you do, here’s a list of my favorite healthy spots in Nashville), which you can totally incorporate as well, but also try out some of these crowd pleaser recipes that’ll last you the whole weekend with simple prep and cooking. Not to mention, cooking together is such a fun activity!
- Veggie Frittata (great leftovers)
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie (classic most people will love)
- Hot tea, coffee, Turmeric Milk or Matcha Latte if you’re feeling fancy
- Fresh fruit trays
- Fresh fruit juices (try organic, cold pressed green juices to give you a little boost of nutrition)
- Almond Butter Energy Balls or basic trail mix (on the go snack)
- Massaged Kale Salad (great for a salad base, quick!)
- Popcorn, Four Ways
- Blueberry Chocolate Bars
- Cracker Bites with Lemon Cashew Cheese Dip
5 Tips For Feeling Your Best While Partying
- Remember to take pictures, but not too many. It’s great to capture the memories, but also implement a no-phone rule for some of the day/evening so you all can be fully present with each other to enjoy and celebrate.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. No matter what you’re up to, what you’re eating or what you’re drinking, staying hydrated is key especially if you’re incorporating some of the fitness activities earlier. Try carrying around a reusable water bottle if you’re on the go all day.
- Don’t skip meals. Bring some of those recipes you made at the Air BnB or wherever you’re staying with you for a quick snack to stay fueled.
- Maintain a healthy relationship with food. Unfortunately, I often see clients who are engaging in weekend activities like parties or bachelorettes and leading up to the weekend are either cutting XYZ food group to “look” a certain way, or to plan ahead by eating less so everything “evens out” on the weekend when there’s excess (eating and drinking). I urge you to check out this article where I talk a little bit about having a healthy relationship with food and what that may look like. If you ever need help, make an appointment with a dietitian or email me.
- Sleep in if you can, it’s okay to rest up! Especially if you’re traveling to and from the bachelorette party weekend, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re taking care of yourself by sleeping enough or at least finding the time to catch up on sleep.
- Delegate tasks to each member of the party—unless you’re an organization wizard and feel great about planning the whole weekend for everyone, then call on help! A more traditional option is to not let the bride have a hand in any of the planning!
- Schedule activities for mid to late in the day so everyone can join with ease, not everyone is an early riser!
- Make it a slumber party vibe! Remember those days where everyone slept in the same room with sleeping bags and stayed up late swapping stories, this is a great way to make new memories with everyone.
- At the end of the day, think about how you can help support and create an experience the bride to be will remember forever? It can be easy to let big groups with lots of personalities come together and forget the North Star of the weekend—celebrating the bride!
Contribute
I would love to hear your thoughts on having a more health-positive/focused bachelorette party! Have you thrown or planned a party for a bride to be, how did it go? Please share your thoughts so the rest of our community and all the brides to be and friends who are planning these parties can read this with appreciation!
Enjoy and have fun!