"Few things fuel the soul quite like a girls’ trip. But, as with many important things in life, special get-togethers with friends are often put on the back burner when life gets busy. One of the biggest life-altering time investments many of us go through? Having a baby! The fact is, many things change after we welcome a newborn, and we may even need to take a raincheck on those coveted girls’ trips. Social media is challenging this notion with a new, innovative idea many of us can get on board with: hatchelorette parties.
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Along the same lines of nesting parties, babymoons, and even grandma baby showers, something that’s been circling around social media is the idea of throwing a bachelorette-level party for a mom-to-be. The celebrations known as “hatchelorettes” are the practice of upping the ante of a traditional baby shower, giving you an excuse to take a trip or spend a weekend with your closest girlfriends before your due date. Creators like @kithecosmetologist and @carlaekiley share on TikTok their experiences of being thrown a hatchelorette party, and they’re sparking up a conversation.
Read on for everything you need to know about the hatchelorette trend. Plus, find some tips if you’re thinking of throwing one!
What is a Hatchelorette Party?
If a bachelorette party and a baby shower got together, they’d produce a hatchelorette party. Think of a night or weekend celebrating the mom-to-be with a group of friends at a fun location, exciting activities, and plenty of games. The term is credited to Laura Lane in a 2018 PureWow article, in which she iconically said, “Hatchelorettes are baby showers for people who hate baby showers.” It’s a simple math equation, “Bachelorette + hatching a baby = hatchelorette.” Lane further explained on her Instagram that she decided she wanted to go on a girls’ trip with her friends before having a baby, and the concept grew from there. Now, expecting moms are taking the idea and running with it in the most special ways possible.
Creators @kithecosmetologist and @carlaekiley shared their experiences in TikTok videos which each include a weekend at an Airbnb or hotel, trips to a spa, dinners out, and fun games with their closest friends.
Heartwarming Hatchelorettes
Just like a traditional bachelorette party, the hatchelorette can be as extravagant or as simple as the mom-to-be prefers. For @kithecosmetologist‘s party, her girl group booked an Airbnb rental in Chicago for the weekend. They decorated the space in shades of blue to celebrate her bringing a baby boy into the world. They had fun activities planned, like a mocktail-making contest, a scavenger shopping hunt, a spa day, and an extra special dinner. She even put together goodie baskets herself in the blue theme for attendees.
As for @carlaekiley, her party was extra meaningful as she didn’t have a traditional bachelorette party when she got married. Planning her nuptials in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic meant not being able to gather with her friends. Now, as she’s planning to welcome a newborn, her closest friends threw her a hatchelorette at a hotel. They spent their time relaxing at a spa and gathering for a nice dinner.
What People are Saying
At a time when it seems like people easily bash each other for doing “too much,” the response to the hatchelorette trend has been surprisingly warm. In a refreshing turn of events, there seems to be much more praise for going over the top than one might think. Perhaps that’s because, in a world where there are plenty of things to be stressed about, we’re all looking for some enjoyment.
Commenters on @kithecosmetologist‘s video share loving sentiments. @louisianagcountrygirl337 commented, “This is very creative! Love it!! 🥰” And @tinessa23 shared, “I love this for you! 😍 Everything looked so well planned with lots of thought and love. Enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy!” @carlaekiley‘s video received similar amounts of love with comments like, “Wait I LOVE this” from @alejandra_n_h, and “This is the best idea ever! Sure bring some presents for the baby, but let’s celebrate the mom! Well done! 🥰” from @hawaii972.
Perhaps the most apparent and important takeaway from all of the hatchelorette content out there? How happy the experience seems to make the mom-to-be. With that in mind, it may be something you consider for yourself or a loved one! That’s why we’ve got tips for making it a magical experience.
Tips for Planning a Hatchelorette Party
Prioritize Relaxation
A common activity in the hatchelorette party world is heading to a spa. This may be the perfect activity—or something like it—to incorporate because it urges the mama-to-be to indulge in some relaxation. Plus, no attendee is going to say no to a spa day! Get massages, facials, or manicures for a pampering experience everyone will appreciate.
Be Conscientious About Alcohol
Perhaps the biggest differentiator from the traditional bachelorette party is alcohol. While parties celebrating a marriage union typically opt for some sort of a drinking activity, a hatchelorette shouldn’t. Just because the mom-to-be can’t drink doesn’t mean no one else can at all. Still, it’s good to keep in mind that the festivities shouldn’t revolve around drinking. (Maybe save the bar crawl for the next bride-to-be!)
Give Mom Special Attention
What people tend to love most about the hatchelorette concept is how it puts the focus on moms. Baby showers tend to be filled with gifts geared toward baby—which is great and totally necessary! But this concept puts the attention back on the special lady in everyone’s life. Feel free to sprinkle in some gift-giving or wishes for baby type of activities. Be sure to keep the focus on mom this time, though.
How Long Should a Hatchelorette Party Be?
Well, that depends! Typically, a hatchelorette party will be a day and a night, a full weekend, or a long weekend. As with planning something like a bachelorette party, consider the schedules, time, and money investment of everyone involved. If it makes more sense for attendees to not take off of work, maybe one night or a Friday night to Sunday makes the most sense. Or, perhaps the occasion is the perfect opportunity for a much-needed girls’ trip. In that case, consider opting for a longer experience like a long weekend.
Celebrate Friendship
The best part that Lane pointed out about the hatchelorette concept is that it’s intentional time with friends and loved ones. While having a baby doesn’t mean life as you know it ceases, there certainly will be some changes. Laura pointed out that there’s plenty of talk about babymoons being an opportunity to bond with your partner before having a baby. She wanted to add to the conversation, explaining that a hatchelorette party can be used to spend quality time with other important people before the baby comes. That’s why it’s a great idea to use a hatchelorette experience to celebrate the friendships and other lovely support systems you have.
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!