How to Include Young Bridesmaids in Your Bachelorette Party

If you have younger siblings or relatives in your bridal party (you might call them Jr. Bridesmaids), including them into the bachelorette activities may seem like a sticky subject. On one hand, you want them to be there to celebrate with you, but on the other, some (or all) of the bachelorette activities may not be age appropriate. Here’s a few ways you can include them, and still have a fun time with your older friends.

Set Expectations

When you ask your younger family members to be a part of your bridal party, set expectations from the start of what their responsibilities are, and what might be different because they are young. Be kind, and remember that they are really excited to be in a wedding, and that they want to feel grown up and a part of the group. Your younger siblings may not know a lot of your other bridesmaids, so try to gauge what the social dynamic of the group will be beforehand. If your younger relatives will be uncomfortable in groups of your friends, try making alternative plans so that they still feel included.

Plan Half a Day of Mellow Activities

Before heading out to the bars (or wherever else 21-and-unders aren’t allowed), consider having a brunch and an activity  that your Jr. Bridesmaids are invited to. Depending on your bachelorette plans, this could be a hike, go-carts, a mocktail making party, roller skating — really, the possibilities are endless! You (most likely) won’t be doing wild things for the entire weekend, so if you can schedule the more mellow activities into one time block, the younger members of your bachelorette party can be included before you leave for the night. 

Give Them a Gift Card to their Favorite Place

Offer to treat your younger bridesmaid to her own fun activity with her friends. Maybe you pay for a pizza night with her besties, or for them to go to their favorite teen hangout (yes, I realize that statement makes me sound like a grandma). If you can, still include her in a bachelorette brunch, but then treat her to something else so that she doesn’t feel like she’s missing out on the older girls’ activities.

Have a Slumber Party

Depending on your bachelorette party plans, you can invite your Jr. Bridesmaids to be a part of one of the nights of your bachelorette. Maybe you watch movies, talk about boys, and eat junk food. Relive your teenage crushes. Secretly, every teen girl wants to get the advice of much wiser young women, so planning an evening of slumber-party-style fun could end up being a blast for everyone at the bachelorette.

Spa Day

If having your younger bridesmaids at your actual bachelorette party isn’t an option (maybe you are traveling, or there aren’t any activities that they would be comfortable attending), consider setting aside a separate spa day just for them. They will feel extra special because they’re getting pampered, and because they get you all to themselves!

Have an After Party to Your Bridal Shower

After your bridal shower, invite some of your family members who may feel left out of your bachelorette, including your Jr. Bridesmaids, to a fun dinner with drinks and maybe a game. While your bridal shower may be more formal, this after party can be a laidback time to pass advice from older generations to younger, have some drinks, and joke around. You probably have that fun aunt who would have had a blast at your bachelorette, so she’ll also love this. Because this is more of a family event, your younger relatives will most likely feel more comfortable in this group.

Hopefully you use one of these ideas as you try to include everyone in your pre-wedding celebrations. It can be so hard trying to make sure everyone is included, but remember that they all just want to be a part of celebrating the bride! Let us know in the comments if you have any other ideas of how to include younger bridesmaids in bachelorette celebrations!