Where To Get Supplies

As I prepare for bachelorette parties, I'm always running around the city picking up supplies at different stores, or perusing the Internet looking for the best buys. People at the parties are always asking "where did you find this?" so I figured I would share the wealth.

All New Yorkers know that the back room of Ricky's NYC is a bachelorette party gold mine. As long as you can muster up the courage to venture past the door beads and the "Adults Only" sign- you can find all the ingredients you need to make a successful bachelorette party including name tags, goody bags, penis straws, veils, bachelorette t-shirts and napkins, etc. Ricky's is great, because almost every neighborhood has one, and it's a quick and easy stop. The only con is that Ricky's can be pretty pricey.

Enter Party City. There's only one in the city (14th street between 5th & 6th), but I used to live two blocks away, so that was quite convenient for me. Party City has a lot of the same things; they are just not as "X" rated as some of the things found at Ricky's. You can still find your name tags, veils, bachelorette napkins etc, as well as other necessary party supplies including glow sticks, boas, and Mardi Gras beads. If you need to set a table - Party City is great to pick up utensils, plates, napkins, balloons, crepe paper, table cloths etc in fun colors (which can also be a lot cheaper than the bachelorette napkins, or you can use them as accents). If you have time, you can even order from their website. If you sign up for their e-mail list, you can get coupons to help save you some extra dough. Here's a link to their bachelorette party merchandise, and below are a few of my favorites.

Bachelorette Party Balloons: An easy way to make the event space look festive!

Bachelorette Sash: So everyone knows who the bride to be is (perfect for your BFF who refuses to wear a veil)!

Scratch A Dare Cards: This way everyone can get in on the fun and the crazy activities!

Bride Martini Glass: Give her a special glass and make her a signature drink!

Another great resource for supplies (especially those not in NYC) is an oldie but goodie. Remember how growing up your mom ordered gifts for your birthday party goody bags from the Oriental Trading catalog? Well who knew it's now a great website to order your bachelorette party accessories from? SuperBridesmaid did! Just like Party Cirty, Oriental Trading is a great stop for items like plates, napkins, balloons etc- and is even cheaper. If you sign up for their e-mail list, they always have great offers going on including free shipping and other coupons. They always have great sales going on, and don't just look at the bachelorette items. Check out all areas on the site, I have ordered heart shaped lollypop rings before that were a big hit. Depending on the size of your party, this is a great place to order any candy for your girls' night out, as they have great deals on bulk quantities (since I know many of us don't want to schlep up to the new Costco at 116th st). Here are some of my favorites from Oriental Trading:

Bachelorette Party Pack: An easy set that has everything you need to make the party festive!

Shot glass rings: She’s got the bling, now give her a ring to hold her alcohol!

Mardi Gras beads: Make sure everyone knows you are part of the bachelorette party by giving everyone beads to wear!



What supplies and decorations are your favorites? Any good hiding spots in the city that you've found?
Happy Bridesmaiding!

(Comfortable) Dancing Shoes

Anyone who has been a BM before knows there's a 99% chance that you won't last all night in your heels throughout the wedding reception. I've had this conversation with my mom numerous times. (My mother thinks spending hours in four inch heels is a cinch). I remind her that as a BM- you spend a lot more time in the shoes than your typical wedding guest. First of all, you start way earlier and are in your shoes for pictures and running around doing errands for the bride (fetching water, finding the photographer, keeping early arriving guests far away, etc). Second, while all the other guests are comfortably sitting through the ceremony- you are literally standing up the entire time at the bride's side, rightfully performing your duty as a BM.

So if you were not blessed with my mother's ease in stilettos, like me- you always bring a change of shoes for the party. However, I am always plagued with what to do with my cumbersome flip flops? I've hidden them in the bridal suite, then gotten locked out. I've made mad dashes to the party room to hide them under the table before the ceremony even starts, or made my date carry them in a shopping bag. Not exactly the classiest of moves.

But that will all change for my next wedding, now that I've discovered Rolleez. Rolleez are the answer to a BM's achy feet prayers. They are adorable ballet flats, available in 7 different colors that you can roll up and easily stash in your clutch, since they don't take up a lot of room. No one even knows that you are "packin" an extra pair of shoes. They are absolutely adorable, comfortable and most of all - easy on your wallet! (Plus if it's winter- you don't necessarily want to wear flip flops. No pedicure is required!)

If you are a bride reading this, Rolleez also make an excellent bridesmaid's gift. They come packaged as a gift in a little box with a tote bag. This way you can make sure that all of your BFFs are comfortable and literally have their dancing shoes on. I highly recommend checking them out.

Happy Bridesmaiding!

New York Weddings Event

Any NY bride knows that one of her best resources for wedding planning is New York magazine's New York Weddings, so imagine what a great BM you will be when you give her scoop that they are hosting "the year's biggest bridal shower."

The Spring issue comes out on March 23 (hint, hint--this will make a great thing to pick up as an "OMG! You just got engaged gift!" and their annual New York Weddings Event is taking place Wednesday, April 7 at the Metropolitan Pavilion from 5 PM - 8 PM. This is your chance to help your bride with so much of her wedding planning all in a one-stop-shop. They'll have tons of vendors on hand including photographers, florists, jewelers, bridal gown designers, etc.

Hurry up and buy your tickets ASAP! (There is an incentive for a bride to bring her BMs, as the ticket price is $35 for one, but $50 for two. Plus, they are including a one year subscrption to New York mag!) Have fun and let me know what you thought of the event...

Happy Bridesmaiding!

It's Cookie Time

At the first bridal shower I ever attended, I was not a bridesmaid. I was 23 years old and new to the wedding circuit, but it was where my creativity started to flourish. It was a childhood friend getting married, and I was chipping in for the gift with three other childhood friends. We didn't really understand why someone would want tons of pots, pans and other kitchen goodies- so we wanted to do something a little more special and personal so that she would look at it and think of us.

This was a perfect opportunity to buy her some gifts off the registry- but then add some fun items as well. So we bought her everything she needed to bake off her registry, including cookie sheets, measuring cups, rolling pins, etc. She really appreciated that because it was a lot of little things that people tend to neglect (it's much easier to buy a $40 serving piece then 8 $5 items). Then, we added in some fun cookie cutters (not something you typically buy yourself) and a cookbook dedicated purely to making cookies. Our main gift was a really fun taxi cab cookie jar to keep on her counter.

Why a taxi cab, you ask? Well, the five of us had always taken dance classes together- and always had these crazy outlandish recital costumes. One of our most famous was when the recital's theme was "New York City" and our costume was taxi cab drivers. This way, we knew the bride would always think of her dance class friends when she saw the cookie jar. Having trouble finding a cookie jar in the shape of something that reminds the bride of you? Just try these personalized cookie jars that you can customize with the bride's new name. They make the perfect gift for the bride who loves to bake!

Just click on the pictures above to order the cookie jars.

Happy Bridesmaiding!