I'm Over the Boozy Bachelorette Party
Subbing clubs and hangovers for baking competitions, movie nights and Monikers under a blanket
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I’ve realized something recently — I don’t really have fun drinking anymore.
Twenty-one-year-old Emma would be appalled. But then again, she was 21 — not 32. Hangovers didn’t quite hit the same way back then.
Sure, I enjoy a dirty (~FILTHY~) gin martini with extra olives now and then. But more often than not, I’m choosing a cozy night in over shots and shooters at the club.
And apparently, I’m not alone.
A friend of mine, Brinley Hineman, senior editor at Travel Weekly, recently wrote a cover story on on the rising interest of alcohol-free (or “sober curious”) travel.
A few stand-out stats and excerpts from her story (which I recommend you read!):
Gallup Research shows that younger adults are drinking less than they did 20 years ago: A 2023 survey found that 62% of adults age 18 to 34 drink alcohol, down from 72% two decades ago. The percentage of “regular drinkers,” those who had an alcoholic beverage in the past week, dropped from 49% to 38% in that age group.
Research from NCSolutions, a data and consulting firm, found that nearly half of Americans want to drink less this year.
“This generational shift has led to the rise of the “sober-curious” movement that is not about abstaining from alcohol entirely, but encouraging a moderate and mindful approach to drinking,” she writes.
“This generational shift has led to the rise of the “sober-curious,” a movement that is not about abstaining from alcohol entirely but encouraging a moderate and mindful approach to drinking.”
All of this has made me reflect on my own shifting relationship with alcohol. It’s also why I’ve developed a love-hate relationship with Bachelorette parties, which often involve multiple nights of drinking, expensive cocktails and late-night outings.
But last weekend’s Bachelorette — which I co-planned for my dear friend, Rekha — was different.
It left me feeling energized.
Rekha and I have grown and evolved together over our decade of friendship. In our early-to-mid-20s, we spent weekends out on the town, danced at clubs and — depending on who you ask — made a few questionable decisions involving alcohol.
Now squarely in our 30s, we’ve both shifted into a new era. It’s not quite “sober curious,” but it’s not, not sober curious, either?
Because I’m still riding the high from Rekha’s bachelorette in Vancouver, I’d thought I’d share some of the alcohol-free (and fun!) things our group of six did during the weekend that’s now fondly referred to as “The Great Canadian Rekh-off” (an ode to one of Rekha’s favorite shows, “The Great British Bake-off.”) **
**Note to add: I need to send a big thank you to co-planner, Karuna, for helping me build this itinerary, and to Rekha for being the complete opposite of a Bridezilla, and for embracing this non-traditional Bachelorette party with open arms."
We kicked off the party with a “Great British Bake-Off” competition.
We donned aprons and chef’s hats, split up into teams of two and baked cookies from scratch in our Airbnb (Pro tip: Send two people out for a grocery run while the remainder of the group decorates the Airbnb. Get recipes ahead of time to stay organized). The cookie line-up: brown sugar buttery chocolate chip, gooey caramel turtle, and gluten-free PB&J. The winning team received a matching set of dish towels. What makes this activity even better? You’ll have a stockpile of cookies for the weekend.
Then came the “Technical Challenge.”
In true “Bake-Off” fashion, we created a “technical challenge:” making spring rolls and homemade peanut sauce (if you need a recipe, I wrote about one awhile back — check it out here). Set a time limit so it becomes a fast-paced activity, and laugh through the chaos.
The fixings for our spring roll “technical” challenge We booked activities that allowed us to explore the host destination.
Find something that your destination is known for, and go explore. We ventured out to the Vancouver Aquarium for a couple of hours to spend time with the fish, poison dart frogs, spotted sting rays, jelly fish (below) and one elusive Pacific Octopus.
We stayed within walking distance of where we wanted to be.
Before heading to Vancouver, we knew we wanted to meander down Main Street, head to Gas Town and make a stop at the VanDusen Botanical Gardens. Our Airbnb’s location allowed us to either walk or take a quick Uber to all of these spots, and we also made good use of the Vancouver Metro.
We saved games for the final night of the trip, when energy levels were low.
One word: Monikers. If you haven’t played, bring it on your next group trip — it is insanely fun. What made it even better was adding a fourth round after “charades” where you act out your card while under a blanket. Again…hilarity ensued.
We also played a game called “What Did the Groom Say?” where Rekha’s fiance, Eric, responded to a set of questions in video form. First, we asked Rekha the questions — then revealed Eric’s answers. By the end of the game, most of us were in tears (and it made us even more excited for next month’s wedding).
We scheduled in rest. Princess Diaries showing? Check. Re-watching bad MTV reality shows (Anyone remember Baggage and Parental Control?) Check. After all, everyone needs a good dose of nostalgia. What I’ve learned after attending many, many Bachelorette parties? Downtime is sacred, and critical.
And yes, we had one night out (and a cocktail or two). Remember when I said this was a “mostly sober” bachelorette? We did go out one night (and I did get my dirty gin martini with extra olives). We sang karaoke, took a shot at a Ukrainian bar (see below) and made sure to drink extra water. Hangover? Never heard of her.
If you’ve made it to the end, thank you. 💛 Drop me a line if you’d like cookie recipes, a Vancouver travel guide or just want to let me know where you are on your sober curious journey. I’d love to hear from you.
Have a wonderful rest of your week!
Best,
Emma Stern
This is so perfectly 30s! Sounds actually relaxing hahaha.