Bachelor vs. Bachelorette Parties: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve seen movies like Bridesmaids and The Hangover, you probably think that bachelor and bachelorette parties are pretty similar to each other: trip to Vegas, exotic dancers, lots of alcohol, and so on. Turns out that there are a lot of similarities between bachelor and bachelorette parties—but there are also quite a few differences. According to a new WeddingWire study, bachelor vs. bachelorette parties have similar event lengths (about one or two days), involve similar activities (dinner, dancing, and drinking), and go to similar destinations (Los Angeles, Miami, and Vegas are particularly popular!). However, you might be surprised at how these events differ (and remember, male/female couples don't have to have separate bachelor and bachelorette parties at all—one in ten couples have joint bachelor/bachelorette parties!). 

Here, we’re outlining the differences between bachelor vs. bachelorette parties, from the guest list to how much they cost—and beyond!

Men tend to spend more than women.  

Whether you’re planning or attending a bachelor or bachelorette party, you’ve probably already realized that they can be pretty expensive! But it turns out that there’s a big difference between bachelor vs. bachelorette parties in terms of cost. According to the WeddingWire study, male bachelor party attendees spent significantly more than female bachelorette party attendees. On average, male attendees spent $550 on a bachelor party, while female attendees spent $350.

Fewer people are invited to bachelor parties.

So why do men spend so much more money than women? Turns out that females invite more people to bachelorette parties than men do for bachelor parties. According to the study, bachelorette parties have an average of 10 attendees while men usually invite about eight. And as any bachelor or bachelorette party attendee can tell you, the more guests you invite, the more people to divide the cost with, meaning everyone spends less. So if you’re planning a bachelor or bachelorette party, remember that the old saying “the more, the merrier” might actually be true—especially for your wallet!

Bachelorette parties tend to occur closer to home.

If you’ve scrolled through Instagram lately, you may have seen bachelor or bachelorette parties in far-flung locations both in the U.S. and even abroad. Turns out that wedding parties are hosting these destination bachelor and bachelorette parties—but men are traveling longer distances. According to the WeddingWire study, men are five percent more likely to fly to their bachelor party destination, while female attendees are more likely to drive. This might be another reason why male attendees tend to spend more money than female attendees. And, another fun finding—men are more likely to go to Vegas to celebrate than women!

Bachelor parties are more likely to take place in the summertime.

When it comes to planning a bachelor or bachelorette party, the toughest decision may be when to host the event. How close to the wedding is too close to the wedding? Well, it turns out that most bachelor and bachelorette parties take place within a month of the wedding—so while we don’t recommend hosting a bachelor or bachelorette party the day before the big day, a few weeks before is totally okay. However, the most popular time of year for bachelor vs. bachelorette parties does differ. According to the study, more bachelor parties take place in the summer, while spring is the most popular season for bachelorettes.  

Women are more likely to give the guest of honor naughty gifts.   

Bachelor or bachelorette parties frequently give the guest of honor gifts. These gifts can be thoughtful, funny, or even naughty. And it turns out that bachelorette party attendees are more likely to give those naughtier gifts. According to the WeddingWire study, brides are more likely to receive lingerie, sex toys, funny gifts, and money or gift cards, while men are more likely to get alcohol, home items, and clothes. This is definitely interesting to keep in mind as you’re shopping for those bachelor or bachelorette party favors and gifts.

Women are more likely to incorporate décor and attire into the celebration than men.

So obviously, you don’t need to totally deck out your hotel room or wear matching t-shirts or bathing suits to have an amazing bachelor or bachelorette party. However, according to the study, women are much more likely to incorporate décor and special attire into their bachelorette party than men. In fact, over one in three bachelorette parties had custom gear created specifically for the event (as opposed to one in four bachelor parties), and one in five bachelorette party guests had specific attire guidelines to follow, such as all wearing black dresses, etc. So if time and budget allow, cute customized items or easy-to-follow dress codes can be fun additions to a celebration—and certainly make for excellent Instagram photos!