Planning a Bachelorette Party: The Checklist for the Maid of Honor

Planning a bachelorette party comes down to five decisions made in order: the date, the guest list, the budget, where everyone sleeps and what you'll actually do. Lock those in about three months out and everything after is details. If the bride wants sun, a pool and the whole group under one roof, start with a Palm Springs bachelorette party on a full hotel buyout. Here's the checklist, week by week.

How do you plan a bachelorette party, step by step?

• Get three possible weekends from the bride. Then poll the group.

• Get the guest list from the bride. Her list. Not yours, not her mom's.

• Agree on a per-person budget before anyone books anything.

• Pick the destination and book lodging that fits everyone in one place.

• Plan one or two anchor activities a day and leave the rest loose.

• Sort food, rides and decor four to six weeks out.

• Send the final itinerary one week before.

That's the whole job. The rest of this post is how to do each step without 400 unread messages.

Three months out: the date, the list and the money

Ask the bride for three weekends that work for her, then send the group a scheduling poll instead of asking in the chat. Most bachelorette parties land a month or two before the wedding. Skip the final two weeks, when she'll be busy with fittings and seating charts.

The guest list is the bride's call, and it decides almost everything else. Six people can book a few suites. Sixteen need a plan for staying together.

Then have the money talk, early and plainly. An anonymous budget poll gets honest answers. Most groups split the bride's share of lodging and meals, so say that in the invite. Pick one payment app and one spreadsheet, owned by one person. (That person is you. Congratulations.)

Where should you have a bachelorette party?

Match the place to the bride. A pool person wants sun and a float. A night owl wants a good bar street. A planner wants everything booked by Friday at noon. The best spots give you all three in one weekend.

Palm Springs does that well. Palm Springs International Airport is minutes from The Muse, and Los Angeles and San Diego are about two hours by car without traffic. October through May brings warm days and cool nights. Evenings mean dinner on Palm Canyon Drive and drinks on Arenas Road. Comparing cities? Our bachelorette destinations guide lays out the options.

Book where you sleep before anything else

Lodging for big groups books first, so reserve it right after the date is set. Ask four questions: Does everyone fit under one roof? How many bathrooms are there? Is there a shared space to hang out? Can you play music?

The whole hotel. Just your group. A Muse buyout gives you all nine suites and nine bathrooms for up to 22 overnight guests, across 10 beds plus two rollaways. Every overnight guest counts toward the 22. You also get the courtyard pool, a six-person hot tub, the outdoor fireplace, pergola swings, a BBQ grill and a lobby with a big table for the morning recap. Music is welcome at reasonable volumes until 10PM. Grab-and-go breakfast from Aspen Mills, parking and Wi-Fi are included.

Smaller group? Book a few suites around the same pool instead. Our buyout vs. individual rooms breakdown helps you decide.

TAKE OVER THE MUSE

Eight to four weeks out: activities, food and rides

Pick one big thing per day and protect the downtime around it. A pool party Saturday afternoon. Dinner out Saturday night. A slow Sunday. Groups that schedule every hour end up napping through the expensive part.

• Glam: book hair and makeup at the hotel with Glam Squad Services. Book early for spring weekends.

• A slow morning: in-room massages run 60 or 90 minutes per person and book at least 48 hours ahead. Private yoga is $150 for the whole group with three days' notice.

• Food: plan one big dinner out and one night in. Collect allergies and dietary needs in the RSVP form, not the night before. Our bachelorette food ideas cover both.

• Rides: name one transportation captain. Buyout groups can book Party on Wheels. Browse every add-on in Muse Experiences.

• Outdoors: if the bride hikes, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Indian Canyons are both early-morning plays. Check Indian Canyons hours first, since summer days are limited.

One to two weeks out: confirm and pack

• Final headcount and the suite list. The bride picks her suite first. Everyone else draws names.

• Confirm every reservation by phone or email.

• Collect the last payments before you leave, not after.

• Send the itinerary with addresses and a dress code for each night.

• Shop the decor, the sash, the floats, the sunscreen and more water than seems reasonable.

A sample Palm Springs bachelorette itinerary

• Friday afternoon: Check in, hang the balloons, and get the welcome photo by the pool.

• Friday night: Dinner at the hotel or downtown, then the hot tub. Music off at 10PM, stories on all night.

• Saturday morning: Yoga in the courtyard or an early hike, then breakfast from Aspen Mills.

• Saturday afternoon: The pool party. Theme, floats, playlist.

• Saturday night: Glam at home, then dinner and dancing downtown.

• Sunday: Brunch, one last swim and a group photo you'll actually frame.

Bachelorette planning FAQ

When should you start planning a bachelorette party?

About three months out for a destination weekend, earlier for spring dates. Book lodging right after the date is set, since group space fills first.

Who plans the bachelorette party?

Traditionally the maid of honor, with help from the bridesmaids. The bride chooses the dates and the guest list.

Who pays for the bride?

Usually the group splits her share of lodging, meals and activities. Put it in the invite so nobody is surprised.

How many people can stay at The Muse for a bachelorette party?

Up to 22 overnight guests on a full hotel buyout, across nine suites with nine bathrooms.

Checklist done, spreadsheet color-coded. Send us your dates and we'll hold the courtyard.