The many forms of the bachelorette!

It’s known in parts of Europe and Australia as a ‘hen night’, in the U.S. as a ‘bachelorette party’, and here in Canada as a ‘stagette’; but what’s in a name when the idea of all three is to throw a party to honour the bride-to-be?

Initiated during the first waves of feminism in the 60s, stagettes were intended to reinforce gender equality and allow the group of celebratory females to express their social and sexual freedom. They were reputed for being an event marking a sodden farewell to your single days, expressed through an evening of debauchery.

Today’s bachelorettes, however, seem to be more about honouring the bride, than about doubledog-daring her to compromise her comfort zone. In fact, it’s all about her comfort zone and what ‘fits the norm’ in her social circle. So we turned to the real experts on the topic—brides in The Ring—to get a sneak peek into some of the fun, unique ways that brides can both celebrate their departure from singlehood and spend time with the girls.

Jen of JenandKev, “went bowling and dressed up in ridiculous outfits” for her stagette, which, when combined with the black lights of a cosmic bowling alley and cheap pitchers of beer is bound to be an entertaining time.

For those who are crafty Pencil me in says that her “friend had hers at a paint your own pottery place,” and Caity, of Caity+Eric suggested visiting a make your own jewellery place for some girly fun.

If you truly want to embrace your femininity, Alicja knows “some girls that each bought $45 in make-up from MAC, which means they got their make-up done for FREE that day.” Or, spend your time and money shopping at local outlets, like Aimee of Aimee&Paul did for her stagette. quirkycori suggests having “a girly-girl sleepover… do each others’ hair and stay up late watching movies.”

Of course, if you can afford to go a bit classier, do as gorgeous_rn wants to do and go out for dinner, then off to see a movie—like a traditional date, only with all your female friends instead.

Or, put on your old lady hats and pearls and head to a high class establishment for high tea, like AR did with her friends for her stagette.

StaseaC is “going on the cruise boat on the Toronto Harbour,” which is “like a night club but on a boat… and the packages include dinner.”

A day of pampering at the spa is always enjoyable amongst females, or, you could be like Luckygirl and plan a whole weekend out of it. She wants “to go up to Collingwood to Blue Mountain for [her] bachelorette” and soak up the spas, restaurants, and mountain village nightlife. If you get enough interested friends, a weekend getaway doesn’t have to be expensive when the cost is split many ways.

Of course, you could always go back to the roots of the bachelorette and incorporate displays of sexual freedom, asking strangers intimate questions, and indulging in some liquid courage to get you there.

On one hand, you could partake in watching the male revue, like erinselena who is attending a bachelorette where a male stripper is surprising the bride-to-be at a pole dancing class after the ladies have practiced their own stripper moves.

On the other hand, you could be part of the revue (but only for the entertainment of your friends, of course). Caity of Caity+Eric “went to pole dancing lessons for [her] friend’s bachelorette.” And poshbride3 attended a stagette where the pole came to the MOH’s house with a teacher; that way, you can have your liquid courage and drink it too.

Males don’t have to be completely non-existent from the evening, as forever.yours went to a stagette and played pin the you-know-what on the you-know-who.

You could also gear up for your honeymoon, like JuneDreams whose MOH is throwing her a Fantasia Party, or poshbride3 whose bachelorette is a ‘lingerie party’ where her friends bring her fun stuff from local sex shops to test out on her wedding night (complete with male anatomy themed drinks).

And speaking of male anatomy themes, martinigirl was thrown a “Sex and The City themed stagette with hand painted martini glasses… Cosmopolitans… and a gigantic [you fill in the blank] cake.” Her friends also bought her ‘The Rabbit’.

Themed stagettes can be tailored to suit the interests and personality of the bride-to-be and can include an astrological theme complete with fortune teller or palm reader, a sports theme where guests partake in a tournament or trot the trails on horseback, or any theme related to favourite TV shows, movies, music or eras that the bride loves.

So whether you choose to embrace the origins of the stagette and officially send the bride-to-be off into married life by surrounding her with naked men and drinks, or modernize the party with a classy farewell and a girly filled day, be sure to honour the bride by entertaining her with whatever female fun you think she would want to have with the women in her life.

Story by Carla White for TheWeddingRing.ca

Photo courtesy of Sarah Huton Photography