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Hosting a Denver Bachelorette: Themes, Activities, FAQs Answered, and More!
So you’re having a bachelorette party in Denver. What next? Someone is getting married; it’s time to celebrate! Whether you’re a Denver local or want to experience the city for the first time, hosting a bachelorette party in Denver is a fantastic choice. There are so many amazing restaurants and bars, unique experiences for group outings, and gorgeous views just along the horizon. But…it can be intimidating to know where to start – even if Denver is your hometown. If you want the bride to have the time of her life, look no further than this guide. Click here to learn more about Denver hotels Click here to plan a historical romance party Click here to learn more about planning a bachelorette partyLocation, Location, Location
Click here to learn more about Denver neighborhoods for rentalsThemes and Things to Do
Click here to plan a Mamma Mia party
Click here to plan a glamorous partyFAQs
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION:
You’ve already decided the bachelorette party will be in Denver, but are you looking for a hotel or rental home? Something downtown or in the surrounding area?
Here are some trendy hotel options in downtown Denver, which can be the best options for a quick weekend getaway. You’ll be close to the action downtown and won’t need rental cars to move throughout the area (rideshares are always an option when dinner reservations are far and the heels are high).
Of course, downtown Denver also has numerous budget-friendly options including several Mariott and Hilton locations.
Expand the menu below to learn more
Hotel Teatro - Located in the heart of LoDo, Hotel Teatro is a grand, historic hotel with modern amenities.
Pros: Hotel Teatro is close to the Arts District, Larimer Square, and more downtown highlights. There is also a restaurant and bar, The Nickel, onsite.
Cons: Hotel Teatro includes fewer onsite amenities than other hotels, with no spa, pool, or free self-parking.
The Curtis Hotel - Located across the street from the Denver Performing Arts Complex, The Curtis offers hyper- themed rooms in addition to their stylized standard rooms.
Pros: The hyper-themed rooms are a fun addition to a bachelorette party, but most only accommodate two guests. Several dining options are nearby, as well as the Arts Complex and more downtown highlights.
Cons: The Curtis includes fewer onsite amenities than other hotels, with no complimentary breakfast options, spa, pool, or free self-parking.
The Source Hotel - Off the beaten path is The Source Hotel, offering modern, minimalist accommodations in the RiNo area.
Pros: The Source offers several package options and upgrades, including free parking, credits to the onsite restaurant for room service, bubbles or wine upon arrival, access to the rooftop pool, and more. There is also a market hall onsite with several dining options.
Cons: A bit further from the action, you might need a rental car or rideshare to travel into downtown. However, there are lots of amenities onsite, and RiNo is within walking distance (though good walking shoes are recommended).
The Rally Hotel - This luxury hotel near Coors Field features penthouse suites and several indulgent amenities.
The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square website
Pros: In addition to the onsite amenities like a plunge pool, The Rally Hotel also offers discounts to several nearby museums and restaurants.
Cons: Luxury comes at a cost, as this is one of the most expensive options in the area listed here.
Populus - This new, carbon positive hotel near the Capitol is a natural escape surrounded by the urban landscape.
Pros: There is no other hotel like Populus in terms of design or eco-friendliness. There are also two in-house restaurants, including a cozy rooftop spot with live-fire cooking.
Cons: Populus offers fewer amenities than other hotels, and you may have to walk further to reach some downtown hotspots.
The Ramble Hotel - In the heart of RiNo, The Ramble embodies the artsy, urban grit of the area with glamorous style.
Pros: Location is everything for The Ramble, with the famed Death&Co bar onsite, plus several restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues in the immediate vicinity.
Cons: Availability can be limited, as the hotel contains 50 total rooms. Plus, The Ramble offers fewer amenities than other hotels.
The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa - A famous institution established in 1892, The Brown Palace offers everything you might need and more in an opulent setting.
The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa website
Pros: The Brown Palace features a plethora of amenities, including historic tours, afternoon tea, an onsite spa, several onsite restaurants and bars, champagne brunch, and immediate proximity to several downtown hotspots.
Cons: Experiences can add up if you take advantage of all the onsite amenities. Plus, the hotel is quite a tourist destination and can be swamped with foot traffic throughout the lobby and sidewalks outside.
If you’re more interested in a rental home, Airbnb and Vrbo have several listings throughout the Denver-metro area. Here’s a rundown of some key neighborhoods, depending on what you’re looking for. RiNo and Five Points: RiNo and Five Points are home to several breweries, restaurants, local shops, and entertainment venues, all within walking distance. Most accommodations offered here will be on the smaller side, like condos and apartments. Plus, expect the nightly costs to be on the higher side.
LoHi, Berkley, Sunnyside, and Highlands: On the other side of the river from downtown Denver are several cute neighborhoods. Expect to see some townhomes or guesthouses on this side of town, offered at a medium to low price. However, your group may want to consider a rental car or rideshares, as you will likely need to travel for outings.
Capitol Hill, Congress Park, and City Park: These neighborhoods are filled with historic houses, so full home rentals can cost much more than the smaller apartment offerings. However, these neighborhoods offer lots of local restaurants and are close to the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Denver Zoo.
THEMES AND THINGS TO DO
Many bachelorette parties center around a theme, which can impact the ‘dress code,’ goodie bags, décor, and group outings. Themes are certainly not a requirement but can make the event more fun, especially when the theme is based in something the bride loves.
We’ve listed some theme ideas below, along with activities, restaurants, and bars based in Denver to make planning your party a cinch.
The Diamond of the Season: A Historical Romance Bachelorette
If the bride is a historical romance fanatic and adores everything from “Bridgerton” to Jane Austen, hosting a period romance bachelorette party can bring her starry-eyed dreams to life.
Though no one is likely to own a historically accurate gown, you can encourage attendees to wear tea-length dresses, floral patterns or pastels, and plenty of lace or pearls. You can also put together goodie bags for all attendees, or just the bride, with items to prepare for the weekend ahead. You could include a pair of lace gloves, a teacup in each attendee’s favorite color or pattern, tea sachets, and a personalized handkerchief embroidered with the theme and date as a keepsake.
If your group decides to spend one evening staying in, it’s the perfect photo op. Set up a photo backdrop with pastel ribbons, balloons, and lots of flowers. Be sure to have a tripod on hand so you can get at least one great group photo.
When planning group outings, a historical romance fete requires an afternoon tea. Denver is filled with several options for afternoon tea, including the Brown Palace Hotel (especially convenient if your group is staying upstairs) and Babe’s Tea Room. Click here to read more about where to find the perfect afternoon tea in Denver.
For dinner reservations, check out The Bindery, an upscale, chic restaurant with beautiful plates and atmosphere; Wonderyard, a bar-forward restaurant with a whimsical patio garden; or Chez Maggy, a modern French restaurant with a new terrace opening soon.
Splurge on one big outing for the group, like walking through the Denver Botanic Gardens, seeing a concert with the Colorado Symphony, a ballet with the Colorado Ballet, or & Juliet at the Buell Theatre. All three are perfectly suited to the period theme, and & Juliet flips the script on a famous love story (and the music sets the tone for a fantastic bachelorette).
She Found Her Honey Honey: A Mamma Mia Bachelorette
If the bride is a huge ABBA stan, loves a good disco moment, or dreams of opening a hotel on a Greek island, the only option is a Mamma Mia themed bachelorette party.
A fun goodie bag/dress code option for this theme is to create custom ‘Bride’ and ‘Dynamo’ tees for the full group. There are lots of styles available on Etsy, or you can create your own at home. Alternatively, you can have one theme night where everyone dresses in blue with the bride in white, and another theme night where everyone dresses in full disco gear: bell bottoms, plenty of glitter, platform shoes, and big hair.
Other goodie bag options might be heart-shaped sunglasses, ABBA-themed vinyl stickers, a feather boa in each attendee’s favorite color, and matching anklets or bracelets, all together in a beachy crocheted tote bag.
If you’re spending an evening in, make sure to get tickets to the touring show if it’s in town or have both Mamma Mia films ready to watch for a cozy night in with the group. If you’re renting a house, you could set up an outdoor movie night with a projector, lots of blankets and pillows, and tons of popcorn and the bride’s favorite candy. Or, make sparkly champagne cocktails with edible glitter, blast some 70’s era music, and have a little dance party.
Lean into the Mediterranean vibes with dinners reservations at Safta, an upscale Israeli restaurant at The Source Hotel; Ash’Kara, an eclectic and creative space serving veggie-forward tapas; or Pete’s Kitchen, a family-owned diner whipping up Greek classics.
For a disco night, check out Milk Bar, which offers a labyrinth of rooms with different musical vibes; Beacon, an artist-driven dance club filled with photo ops; or Disco Pig, a true 70’s-style haven in Larimer Square.
Risqué and Rosé: A Glitz and Glamour Bachelorette
We all have that one friend who prefers staying out all night long to spending a girls’ night at home. If the bride is looking to dress up, dance all night, and enjoy the best cocktails, Denver is the perfect spot for you.
Tell the group to pack their best nightlife outfits for the trip. If you want to lean into the bridal theme, ask the group to wear one singular color, like black, while the bride wears white. The monochromatic look is very chic, especially if you choose a neutral tone.
You’ll be spending more time away from the rental than in it, so prep some goodie bags with every girl’s night-out essentials: lip gloss, mini cans of hairspray, clear nail polish for emergencies, travel tubes of Advil, makeup remover wipes and travel tissues, all wrapped up in a cute purse personalized to each attendee.
Set the tone for the evening with a dinner reservation at a restaurant specializing in shareable plates like Barcelona, a Spanish tapas place with an extensive wine list, or Linger, a mortuary-turned-restaurant in LoHi. Click here to read more about the best wine bars and tapas restaurants in the area.
The best neighborhoods for bar hopping are LoHi and RiNo, filled with cute cocktail bars and local breweries. Or, pick one place and spare your feet all the walking. Some local highlights are Room for Milly, The Welton Room, Lady Jane, and Wildflower.
Lastly, be sure to grab tickets to Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Buell Theatre. The glamour of the Moulin Rouge is sure to impress the bride, and the musical numbers are exactly what a bachelorette party needs.
BACHELORETTE PARTY FAQ
Have questions about planning the ultimate bachelorette party? Calm your fears with the FAQ below.
Who throws the bachelorette party?
Traditionally, the maid or matron of honor is tasked with planning the bachelorette party. Many brides want to be a part of the planning process, while others would prefer to be surprised.
When do you hold a bachelorette party?
As a good rule of thumb, the party should take place one to three months in advance of the wedding. Take seasonality into account as well, as a spring wedding date may mean a winter bachelorette party. If winter isn’t the vibe, an earlier bachelorette party is an option, too.
Plus, schedules fluctuate at different times of year including the holiday season and the height of summer, so find a time that works best for the entire group.
Alternatively, some brides prefer to have a traditional bachelorette party for one night ahead of the wedding ceremony. This might be a good option for a destination wedding.
When should you start planning a bachelorette party?
Six months ahead of the anticipated bachelorette party is ample time to book all the necessary elements, but you may not have the luxury of time on your side. If you expect a tighter turnaround, such as fewer than two months, you may encounter higher costs. Keep that in mind when determining your budget.
Who pays for the bachelorette party?
Generally, each bachelorette attendee pays for their own travel, food, and drink, and shared costs are split evenly among the group such as accommodations, decorations, group outings, and rideshares. Plus, each attendee usually chips in to cover the bride’s portion.
What is a reasonable amount to spend?
Many factors determine a realistic budget. Flight costs, luxury hotels, rental cars, and group outings can push your budget to the limit if you aren’t careful. All these expenses are also impacted by your choice of location and the length of the trip.
Costs can be as low as $100 per person or as high as $500 per person (or even higher). It’s important to determine your budget early on with the group, and make sure everyone is comfortable with the outcome.
When it comes to splitting costs, set up a Splitwise account early on to make sure everyone is sharing costs equally where necessary.
