Who Should You Invite to Your Bachelorette Party?

Planning a wedding might come with a side of stress, but planning your bachelorette party? Now, that's the fun part. Before you figure out where to go and what you want to do, we recommend creating a guest list. Similar to your wedding, the number of people on the list might inform the kind of bachelorette party you want to have. A smaller, more intimate group might lend itself to a weekend-long destination, whereas a big blowout with all of your friends might work better a little closer to home.

Whatever you decide, it's important to think about who you want — and don't want — at your celebration. There's no hard-and-fast rule about who you can and can't invite to your party (although, if you're having bridesmaids, they're pretty much guaranteed an invite). Remember, you're the bride so it's up to you who makes the cut. Read below for more advice on deciding who to invite to your bachelorette party.

In this article:

• Who Do You Invite to Your Bachelorette Party?
• How Many People Do You Invite to Your Bachelorette Party?
• Who Do You Not Invite to Your Bachelorette Party?
• How to Tell Someone They Aren't Invited to Your Bachelorette Party

Who Do You Invite to Your Bachelorette Party?

When it comes to bachelorette party invites, there are a few people who should absolutely receive one. Your bridal party, and any other close friends and family members you want there to celebrate with you. Aside from that, there's no real etiquette rule. You just want to make sure that anyone invited to your last single bash is also invited to your wedding. "Your bachelorette party should be filled with people who truly care about you, want the best for you, and ensure that you personally have the time of your life on the trip," explains Raquel Bickford, founder and executive producer of ROQUE Events.

Can You Invite Anyone to Your Bachelorette Party?

The short answer is: yes. Think about the people in your life who bring you joy and would help you celebrate one of the most exciting times. Whoever comes to mind should definitely get an invite. Some brides choose to invite their mom, coworkers, cousins, the list goes on. There's no wrong person to invite. However, you might want to think about the kind of bachelorette party you want. If your guest list is lengthy, a local night on the town might be better than a destination weekend—especially if you want everyone to come. If you want a smaller, more intimate group, it's totally OK to keep the guest list to just the bridal party.

How Many People Do You Invite to Your Bachelorette Party?

Again, there's no hard and fast answer to this question, as it really depends on the vibe you're going for (although it should be noted that according to company data, the average bachelorette party has 10 attendees). If you want a long weekend in Las Vegas filled with pool parties and fancy restaurants, your guest list may be a little bit smaller. However, a night bar hopping or a local spa day will open up the opportunity to invite more guests. Another thing to think about? How will the group mesh together? "Ask yourself, will everyone get along? Do I absolutely love and adore everyone who is coming? This will help ensure you have the best time and that everyone will get along," advises Bickford. If they're your true friends, they'll set aside any differences they may have with other guests and focus on you.

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Who Do You Not Invite to Your Bachelorette Party?

This is going to differ for everyone. But the biggest thing to think about when it comes to who should not be invited to your bachelorette party is if they're ready and willing to celebrate you. "Keep your invite list to people who are positive and uplifting," says Bickford. "If you have a friend or family member that doesn't jive with a lot of different personalities, make every gathering mostly about them and their needs, or people who cannot go with the flow." If there's a friend of yours in life that tends to make things about themselves or is high maintenance, you might want to consider leaving them off the list. Some brides may even consider inviting their mom or mother-in-law along, so if you have that kind of relationship with them, there's no reason not to include them!

How to Tell Someone They Aren't Invited to Your Bachelorette Party

There are going to be some people in your life you most likely won't invite to your bachelorette party. If it comes to a point where you have to let them know they can't attend, be sure to approach the situation gently. "Try to keep your approach with the person with compassion and care," recommends Bickford.

Tell them it's an intimate affair.

If you're just inviting the bridal party, let them know that you're keeping things small. "You can simply say that you are keeping your bachelorette party intimate, or to friends and family that are closest to you," says Bickford.

Plan something else with them.

"Make them feel included in another way," recommends Bickford. "Maybe you offer to have a one-on-one lunch date or go to another event together to celebrate your wedding and relationship with them."

Have two parties.

While this may not be an option for everyone, it's worth considering if you're worried about people getting along. "A few of my brides have hosted two bachelorette party weekends," says Bickford. "They thoroughly thought about the guest list and if they will get along, what part of their life were they most involved in, and separating family from friends. Both trips will now have a better chance at being fun because they separated people that may not have gelled well together. And it is a bonus for you as you get to have two fun events before your wedding!"