The Ultimate Bachelorette Party Itinerary—Plus a Free Template

Organizing a bachelorette party can be overwhelming, especially if 1) it's your first time doing so and 2) you're unsure where to start. Creating a bachelorette itinerary is probably the biggest must-do of the whole process to make sure everyone is on the same page. To ensure the party planning runs as smoothly as possible, we tapped several expert bachelorette experts to provide tips, tricks and insights. Even better? We've gone ahead and included a free bachelorette party itinerary template that's easily customizable. Keep reading to learn more, and happy planning!

In this article:

• How to Make a Bachelorette Itinerary
• Free Bachelorette Itinerary Template
• Bachelorette Itinerary Tips

How to Make a Bachelorette Itinerary

According to Allison Odhner, CEO & Bach Boss of Bach to Basic, planning the entire bachelorette weekend itinerary is "like solving a puzzle." What's more, she says, each of the pieces need[s] to come together to ensure the weekend as a whole is successful!" With that in mind, we've rounded up a step-by-step guide to crafting the perfect bachelorette party itinerary.

Send a survey.

According to Avery Singer and Jolie Lauren, co-founders of BachBoss, the best way to collect information—i.e., date options, budget, allergies, location preferences and more—from the entire group is to send a survey. Per the pros, "It is easiest to track all the information" compared to one large group text.

Set a budget

According to Odhner, establishing a budget ahead of time is crucial to putting together an itinerary for your bachelorette weekend. "It takes a lot of time and effort to create the perfect bachelorette itinerary, and if you do not take into account budgetary restrictions, you can waste a lot of time and create disappointment and stress within the group."

Choose a date.

It goes without saying, but be sure to choose a date most attendees can attend. For example, says Sarah Chianese, owner, planner and executive chef at Mangia and Enjoy!, "There may be better times to plan for those with school-aged children than the week before school starts in their respective states." Additionally, "It would help if you also considered weather conditions and local attractions in the chosen location." (Think: Visiting wine country during harvest season, going skiing when the slopes are at their peak or traveling to a beach destination outside of hurricane or monsoon season.)

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

Select a location.

"Often," says Chianese, "bachelorette parties include friends and family from many different regions, so chatting with the person getting married in an ideal location should be held." For example, "If the bachelorette loves fall foliage and lives within two hours of the Hudson Valley region of NY or loves hiking and is near Yosemite or the Rockies, choose a location that will make [her] heart soar." Of course, it's also important to consider the aforementioned survey results, which will provide more context into everyone's budget, interests and availability.

Free Bachelorette Itinerary Template

To take the hassle out of bachelorette party planning, check out our free bachelorette itinerary template below, which you can easily customize. Feel free to get extra creative by adding in outfit ideas, themes and more!

Design: Tiana Crispino

Bachelorette Itinerary Tips

Now that you know how to make a bachelorette itinerary, check out these expert bachelorette itinerary tips to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Consider your accommodations.

"When building a bachelor or bachelorette itinerary, we almost always recommend starting with accommodations," says Odhner. "Determining if you will be staying in a house rental or hotel and where exactly it will be located will heavily impact the rest of the itinerary." Once accommodations are booked, she says, you can then "begin to piece together the activities and meals for the trip."

Don't forget downtime.

As you make the bachelorette itinerary, be sure to include downtime. Besides, says Singer and Lauren, "No one likes an overpacked itinerary." Mallory Strange, CEO and owner at Bach Babes, echoes these sentiments, telling The Knot, that it's "very easy to jam-pack your weekend with activity after activity." With this in mind, "It's important to keep in mind sleeping in, time to get ready, and most importantly time to really sit and enjoy your time with your best friends at each activity rather than rushing off to the next."

Leave a buffer.

"Once you confirm the itinerary, double-check the reality of timing," says Chianese. " For example, if one of the activities is half an hour's drive away, leave a 15-minute buffer for unexpected situations." Additionally, "Traffic conditions are another factor to keep in mind, [as is] possible inclement weather," which will, of course, impact transportation time.

Add a packing list.

Go the extra mile and add a packing list to the bachelorette itinerary to ensure everyone has what they need for a fun-filled weekend. Also, "If someone else is responsible for bringing something, send out checklists for those involved in the planning to review and confirm they have it packed and ready to go," says Chianese.

Delegate tasks.

"Whoever is involved as a wedding party member should be assigned specific tasks, depending on their level of interest and expertise," says Chianese. " If one person is best at reaching out to the various activity vendors, put that person to task." Alternatively, "If someone else is best at creating clever swag bags, signage and games, assign that person those tasks."

Get granular.

According to Odhner, it's important to be as detail-oriented as possible when making a bachelorette itinerary. For example, she says, "List out the timing of each event and location/distance from where you will be so the group can plan accordingly and make sure to be on time." Additionally, be sure to also include "notes around downtime and getting ready."