How Much Should a Bachelorette Party Cost? [2023 Budget Spreadsheet Included]
The average cost of a bachelorette party in 2023 is about $537 per person. On average, women spend about $250 per day on a bachelorette party, with one-day bachelorettes starting on the low end of around $150, and five-day bachelorettes reaching around $1900 on the higher end. When calculating the cost of a bachelorette party, you should account for travel, location, accommodations, food, drinks, decor, swag, and activities.
You might be see those numbers and think “yikes!”, but really, a bachelorette party is all about having fun, and celebrating the bride-to-be! Keep in mind that those numbers are also averages, and that you can plan a bachelorette with just about any budget. When planning out the costs, it’s a good idea to have a list of priorities, so that you can still have fun with the most important things, while not breaking the bank. (We even made a free budget template to help you calculate all of this!) For example, opt for a really fun night out at local bars and clubs, instead of flying to another city, paying for travel and stay, and then feeling strapped for cash on your night out.
Bachelorette Party Cost Breakdown
Here’s what you should include when starting to budget for a bachelorette party:
| Expense | Examples | Individual Expense | Group Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | Gas, rental cars, flights Uber, boats, bike bar | ✔️ | |
| Accommodations | AirBnB, hotel, vacation home, cabin | ✔️ (if not sharing a hotel room) | ✔️ |
| Food | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for each day, plus snacks. | ✔️ | |
| Drink | Anything purchased to make drinks at home, to drinks at the bar | ✔️ | |
| Decor | Balloons, confetti, banner, etc. | ✔️ | |
| Swag | Shirts, sashes, swimsuits, hats, cups, etc. | ✔️ | |
| Activities | Any outing for the weekend: cover fee, wine tasting reservations, shows, games, pool parties | ✔️ | |
| Gift | A small gift for the bride, or a gift that the group splits | ✔️ | ✔️ (if pooling money for a larger gift) |
| Other Expenses | Typically, the attendees split the cost of the bride’s expenses for the weekend | ✔️ |
*Group Expenses are split evenly at the end of the trip, while individual expenses are expected to be covered outside of the group tracking
Keep in mind that your location will also affect the total cost of the party. (i.e. a destination bachelorette to Vegas will be more expensive than a girls’ weekend in the mountains.) Remember that the most important thing is celebrating the bride, and having fun with friends. Most people never wear their matching tank tops again, and who really likes sipping out of a phallic-shaped cup, anyways? (But, if that’s your thing, then go for it!)
With the idea of creating memories that last, you can find some really fun alternatives to traditional one-use bach party decor and swag! Because all of these costs can vary, we made a Bachelorette Budget Template just for you, Maid of Honor!
Who Pays for a bachelorette party?
Typically, the attendees of the bachelorette split the cost of the bachelorette party, and cover the bride’s expenses. For longer trips or destination parties, however, the bride will typically cover expenses like travel and accommodations, and instead the attendees will treat her to a night out, and/or cover her food for the weekend.
Splitting costs and budgeting for the weekend can be a somewhat touchy subject, so it is best to plan ahead and consult the group (including the bride!) to get a total that is comfortable for everyone. From there, keep track of totals for the weekend, and even consider making some of the high-ticket events optional (if there are multiple expensive activities), and add in some low-cost — or no-cost — activities like games, movies, or hikes.
How to split the cost of a bachelorette party
At the end of the bachelorette weekend, total up the cost of all of the group activities, meals, and accommodations, and then divide that amount by the number of attendees minus the bride. Use Venmo or some other check splitting app to make transferring money super easy. (Our Bach Budget Template does this math for you!) Make sure to keep track of everything that is spent for the weekend, and be able to show the final cost breakdown. This is usually easiest if everything is on a card so that you can go back and check the bank statement. You don’t have to split individual costs like meals or snacks that were purchased individually, gifts that each person bought, or individual travel expenses.
As long as the cost for everything was communicated beforehand, there shouldn’t be any surprises or hurt feelings. Try having one to three people pay for the shared purchases like meals, decor, groceries, and group lodging because it’s easier to split up later if there are only a couple people to reimburse. If someone has a card that gets them cash back or miles, then it could be worth it to them to cover all the expenses, and then have all the guests reimburse that person’s card.
Bachelorette Budget Template
If this still sounds a little overwhelming, don’t worry! We got your bach! We put together a simple and easy bachelorette party budgeting template so that planning your bachelorette party is a breeze. It breaks down every bachelorette cost, and even helps you split the check at the end of it all. Happy planning!!
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