Today, a bachelorette party is a carefree, fun night out with the girls, celebrating their best friend’s engagement and her transition into becoming a bride. But it hasn’t always been like this—in fact, in earlier times, bachelorette parties were far from entertaining, especially considering that in the old world, particularly among the wealthy, marriages were often prearranged. Let’s take a look at how the tradition of farewelling brides-to-be evolved throughout history.
The bachelorette party did not originate at the same time as the bachelor party. According to history, the foundations for what would become the modern bachelorette party were already being laid in the 1300s. However, in those times, women’s rights were virtually nonexistent, making it difficult to organize any kind of social event for women. It wasn’t until after the 1890s, around the time of World War I, that women gained the right to participate in independent social gatherings. Meanwhile, bachelor parties were already held by Spartan soldiers—though, of course, not in the way we know them today.
Nowadays, a bachelorette party is less about saying goodbye to one’s family, since in most cases, the couple has already been living separately from their families for quite some time. Engagements often come after years of cohabitation, well captured by the Hungarian saying: “You only truly get to know someone by living with them.”
In the old days, money and social status dictated marriage. Deals were made between families over the heads of young maidens. A bride-to-be was expected to move into an entirely unfamiliar environment, joining her husband’s family. Most of the time, she hardly knew her new husband—sometimes not at all. Her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and husband all held authority over her. Unless the family was very wealthy, housework fell to the new wife, along with raising the children. Knowing this, the bachelorette party of the past was more like a mourning ceremony.
The bride-to-be would say goodbye to everything that had once offered her safety and security, stepping into a new life with someone she might not even know—or worse, never love.
A traditional Hungarian bachelorette party—then called a “bride’s farewell” (lánysirató)—also involved the bride’s closest female relatives and friends, much like today. However, the gathering was strictly held at the bride’s home. During these evenings, the women would cook, drink, and talk together. The older women would share their knowledge and experience with the young bride-to-be to help her be as prepared as possible for married life. Symbolically, the bride’s youthful self was "mourned" by the other girls, as it was believed that a chapter of her life was ending.
Bachelorette parties have changed a lot over the years, and today there are no strict rules to follow. These parties are about having fun—dancing, drinking, and enjoying each other's company. The focus is usually on creating joyful memories rather than playing pranks on the bride-to-be, unlike bachelor parties. Elegant dinners, limousine city tours, pole dancing classes, and, in some cases, sexy male dancers are all part of the modern experience. A well-organized bachelorette party is an unforgettable memory for everyone involved and a fitting way to bid farewell to the single life.
