How To Throw a Classy & Sexy Bachelorette Party

My best friend is getting married in 12 days (!!!!), so a few weeks ago I hosted her “Non-Bachelorette Party” with a couple of her close lady friends. This is my friend’s second marriage. The first time around we organized your typical bachelorette party complete with tiaras, embarrassing costumes and lots of phallic shaped items – including an exploding penis cake. Minus hiring a stripper, you could say we pulled out all the stops. If you’re curious, you can see some of the physical evidence here. It’s not pretty. We were young, wide eyed and had less qualms about drinking cocktails out of things shaped like dicks. After all, a party ain’t a party unless an erotic cake is squirting out white icing across the room, right?

As much as I’m always down for crowd-surfing an inflatable man doll and all things reminiscent of penises, I’m relieved that my friend wanted to do something completely different this time around. In fact, I had to convince her to have any kind of party whatsoever. After some cajoling, we agreed that  “a small, classy night out with a couple of ladies” might be nice. (FYI, I’m so glad that she agreed to some kind of shindig because she and her fiancee are wonderful people, and that deserves to be celebrated!)

So, I booked a table at North 48 – a stylish and cozy local restaurant that reminds me of my BFF and set about making the cute little goodie bags/boxes you see below. Originally the plan was to fill them with naughty adult items – condoms, lube samplers – all the fun things I have lying around in excess as a sex and relationship blogger. However, here’s the thing: although I know my friend’s other girlfriends, I don’t know them that well. Plus, there was going to be 1 or 2 new faces there and the last thing I wanted was their first impression of me to be, “Hey, I don’t know you very well, but please have some lube.” (I mean, it wouldn’t be the first time, but still..)

Instead I opted to fill the goodie bags with nail-polishes that match the wedding colours and cute ring-pops. The funny thing –  I think people were more surprised that they weren’t filled with lube & other sassy items than if they were, ha! Oh well, you have to keep people guessing 😉

Either way, the goodie bags were a success, the night went well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves! We had lots of delicious drinks and some insanely good gourmet chicken and waffles, curtesy of the chefs of North 48. As you can tell by our smiling faces, good times were had by all!

What I learned from this experience:

Bachelorette parties can be totally cheesy, but they don’t have to be.  Also, planning a good bachelorette party in your 30’s feels totally different than when you’re in your 20’s. However, just because you’re older and wiser, it doesn’t mean that your night can’t be fun & sexy. 

Coincidentally, shortly after we celebrated my best friend’s “Non-Bachelorette Party” here on the West Coast, one of my favourite companies, Ohhh Canada, hosted their own exclusive “bachelorette” party in Toronto. The idea was to showcase what a bachelorette party SHOULD look like for a classic, sophisticated, stylish city girl. On the agenda for the night:

(If you’re not familiar with Ohhh Canada, they’ve been featured in NOW Magazine as PRIDE’s Store of the Week , Best of Toronto, ELLE Canada and numerous times on Skinny Dip (here & here & here & here to name a few!) I love that they are a female owned, sex positive company that is also 100% Canadian. I met the CEO Katrina McKay at a party a few years ago & the rest is history (BTW, Katrina totally rocks.))

I wasn’t able to attend the party in Toronto, so I sent my lovely friend Cristina from Shoe Tease (you may remember her from the photos she took of my shoe closet a few years ago) in my place to capture the evening. Below you’ll find some tips from Katrina on how to throw a sophisticated & sexy bachelorette party, as well as some photos from the night. I hope you enjoy!

Delicious treats, sexy wares (I spy my favourite Jimmyjane toy!) + Meghan MacLean, Store Manager at Ohhh Canada and my lovely friend Cristina eyeing up the array of sexy gadgets. FYI, Cristina and I have matching polka dot shirts. (Photography credit: Nicole Frances Photography)

Katrina getting ready to do a mini-version of her “Talking Dirty” workshop + Champagne. Bachelorette party musts. (Photography credit: Nicole Frances Photography)

Ohhh Canada’s Meghan talking shop & demonstrating the Leaf Vitality vibrator, signature Ohhh cocktails and what appears to be shrimp. Seriously, this is a party after my own heart. (Photography credit: Nicole Frances Photography)

The gorgeous Ohhh Canada lingerie models Laura Desiree & Ruckus showing off some leg, sass & cute butt action. Laura Desiree is wearing the Teeze Cheetah Platform Shoes I reviewed recently and they look fabulous. (Photographer credit: Cristina Maritano) Laura Desiree is also wearing the pin-up cherry bikini and Ruckus is rocking the “fierce” peplum bustier, leopard booty shorts by Hollywood Curves and striped thigh-highs.

I’m sad that I missed what looks like was a really fun night but am very happy that Cristina was able to represent Skinny Dip on my behalf! Thanks to Ohhh Canada and the Charming Media team for the invite. Pssst, if you’d like to book Katrina to speak at your bachelorette party, you can get in touch here:  bookings@ohhhcanada.ca.

xox

Have you ever hosted a bachelorette party? What are some of your tips? Share in the comments below!