When my girlfriend Caroline decided she was getting married in Mexico, my little party heart fluttered. Not only was I excited for sun, margaritas and beach, I couldn’t wait to plan a killer Bachelorette party: Mexico style!

As a native Californian, I have been spoiled my whole life with AWESOME Mexican food. And, as any good California girl will tell you, nothing makes your heart tick like chips, salsa and a tequila shot. So as I prepared for Caroline’s final night as a single woman, I thought to myself: what's the best way to send my girlfriend off into wifehood? The only way I knew how: Caroline’s Final Fiesta.

Here are some of my favorite details and advice for a successful Fiesta: 

Break the ice! 

Have an assortment of beverages to offer your guests the second they walk in the door. This sets the tone for a fun evening and makes it clear to your guests they should feel comfortable. Remember to be mindful that not everyone is a drinker, so you should be able to offer a non-alcoholic drink. Don’t forget to take pride in your drink station; this is one of the best areas to decorate!

Stay Hydrated

I also kept in mind we were in for a long night. It's so important to stay hydrated when you are consuming alcohol (especially in a warm place like Mexico). But a boring bottle of water just wasn’t enough. I offered a fun alternative to the bottle by customizing labels that matched the other printed materials. Tossed a little sombrero on each of those bad boys and they looked like they came to party!

Mix-It-Up!

For our sit down dinner, intermixing the guests was the best way to go. But how does one ensure guests sit with a stranger while sending a strong party message to all…..Tequila shot placecards baby! Not only does this serve as your place card for dinner, it sends a strong message to your guests. We came to CELEBRATE this girl’s last night with out a husband!!! And the best part is, this doubles as your party favor. This isn’t your mother’s party favor hunny. No one is throwing this out…only throwing it back!

Clever Serveware

I knew the food was going to be easy. A tasty Mexican spread was the way to go. But making minor adjustments to the standard buffet set up was a fun way to get conversations started. For instance, don’t just serve your tortilla soup in a bowl, put it in a shot glass. It’s a reminder we came to party!

Goodies

Of course there are always the games at a Bachelorette party. So put a fiesta spin on em! Have a piñata!! You’re never too old! (I’ve left the photo out of our piñata as it wasn’t the most.. shall we say.. appropriate) But what good is a piñata if you don’t have bags for all your goodies? For these I made labels with the same design as the water bottle labels and prize bags. A simple copy and paste, just a different template.

Don't Forget the Keepsakes! 

I also wanted to be sure our bride walked away with a good reminder of the fun night we had. So I had all the girls kiss a photo matte and sign their name next to it. We took a group photo for our bride to place in her frame. Kiss that maiden name goodbye!

So get creative with your decorations for your fiesta! Send a message to your guests that a good time is in order and tie it through out your theme. Then let the margaritas flow, tequila will take care of the rest! 

Contributed by estCA staff, Megan Araujo

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