In recent years, “hatchelorette” parties have emerged as a unique alternative to the traditional (read: often stuffy and outdated) baby shower, combining the celebratory spirit of bachelorette parties with the excitement and anticipation of pending parenthood.
The day-long, or weekend-long, trips with friends have become a rising trend among pregnant people, offering a blend of travel, relaxation, and pregnancy-friendly activities. And while hatchelorettes are gaining popularity among soon-to-be moms, the concept is also bringing in the enthusiastic support of the travel industry.
Experts Featured in This Article
Rui de Sousa Lopes is the director of food and beverage at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole.
Victoria Ott is the wellness coordinator at The Lodge at Bodega Bay in California.
What Is a Hatchelorette Party?
A hatchelorette party is essentially a getaway or day-long celebration that’s tailored to expectant mothers and their close friends or family. The concept is designed to celebrate the upcoming arrival of a baby in a fun and memorable way, without the performative pressure that often comes with a baby shower. Instead of expected games and the formulaic nature of a shower, hatchelorette parties provide moms-to-be an opportunity for relaxation and activities that cater to pregnancy.
Most commonly, hatchelorette parties combine the basic elements of a bachelorette party – gathering your friends for a weekend away – with activities that are geared towards a pampering and energizing experience, whether that’s a day at the spa, relaxing by the pool, or hanging out by the fireplace and making S’mores.
Unlike traditional baby showers, which are often held at a home or local venue, hatchelorette parties center around unique, pregnancy-friendly travel destinations. It’s a refreshing shift in tradition, and the concept is a natural fit for millennials, a generation that is increasingly willing and eager to spend their money on travel and experiences.
And when it comes to looking at the rising trend, the influence of social media cannot be overlooked: platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are brimming with opportunities for creative brainstorming, which undoubtedly inspires more women to embrace the idea of a hatchelorette party.
For Mandy Rheuport, a mom-to-be based in Kansas City, MO, social media inspired her decision. “I’d seen the term used on Instagram before,” she tells PS. “It’s different from a bachelorette party,” she adds. “Obviously you’re not drinking and you’re not partying as much, but I’d definitely recommend it to anyone, whether it’s in your city or a city you’re traveling to.”
Planning a Hatchelorette Party
It’s essential to consider the needs and preferences of the mom-to-be when you’re planning a hatchelorette party, and in many cases, the expecting mom will plan the trip herself in an effort to make sure that she’s comfortable and her needs are met. Some key factors to keep in mind while planning a hatchelorette party include:
- Destination: Choose a location that offers relaxation and comfort, with easy access to medical facilities if needed. It might sound scary and unnecessary to think about, but it’s an important factor to keep in mind.
- Activities: It’s important to plan for a mix of activities that allow for both relaxation and fun. This might include spa treatments, special meals, gentle yoga sessions and low-key scenic tours.
- Accommodations: Opt for accommodations that provide amenities and services tailored to pregnant women, such as prenatal massage services and healthy dining options.
- Travel: Make sure that the travel arrangements for the bachelorette party are comfortable and safe, making an effort to avoid long flights or more involved travel plans that include several forms of transportation.
The Travel Industry’s Role
The travel industry, which is already actively leaning into wellness and alcohol-free options for travelers, has quickly adapted to this new trend, offering tailored packages and services that cater to the concept of hatchelorette parties.
From mocktail and zero-proof menus to massages for moms-to-be, hotels around the world are ready to take on this increasingly popular trend. At the Four Seasons in Jackson Hole, WY, for example, non-alcoholic wine and mocktails are available on all of the menus at every restaurant on the property. “We want expecting moms to have the opportunity to enjoy a zero-proof cocktail and have the same experience in a bar setting as all our other guests,” Rui de Sousa Lopes, the hotel’s director of food and beverage, says.
But hotel offerings for moms-to-be and bachelorette parties go far beyond non-alcoholic drink options on menus: the Jackson Hole resort also offers a prenatal massage for moms-to-be to enjoy after their first trimester, and The Thompson Hotel in San Antonio offers a Baby-Moon Escape treatment, which features a pregnancy-safe belly mask and a soothing lotion to relieve aching legs and feet.
The Lodge at Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast in California is also offering mom-to-be massages. Victoria Ott, the hotel’s wellness coordinator, says the offering is particularly popular. “The gentle and soothing techniques our therapist uses in the Mom-To-Be Massage can help improve circulation, reduce stress levels, and promote relaxation for both the mother and baby,” she adds.
This is just a small glimpse into the wide range of hotels that are considering expecting moms and their needs.
Picking a Hatchelorette Destination
When it comes to choosing a destination for a hatchelorette party, there are plenty of options depending on what the guest of honor is comfortable with and what kind of experience they’re looking for.
Because relaxation is often the name of the game – and super important when you’re pregnant – popular spots for hatchelorette parties often include beach resorts, mountain retreats, and wellness spas. These destinations offer variety, letting expectant mothers unwind while still enjoying activities with their friends.
That said, some expecting moms prefer to stay local and may focus on finding a location that’s within driving distance of home. It’s important to note that if you are flying for your hatchelorette party, it’s best to do so in the second trimester of pregnancy between 14 and 28 weeks, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Why Pregnant People Are Choosing Hatchelorettes
Katie Kopach, a 33-year-old mom of two who lives in Scottsdale, AZ, opted for hatchelorette parties before both of her pregnancies. For her first, she opted for a more intimate celebration, and traveled to Santa Barbara, CA with her best friend. She says, “We took the weekend to relax and spend some quality time together before our lives got really busy, and it was the most fun weekend.”
For baby number two, however, Kopach decided to do something closer to home, and hosted a pool party at her mom’s house in Scottsdale. “I wanted to keep it casual and not make everyone drop everything to do something,” she says. “It was a great call for everyone to be able to relax and enjoy a pool day instead of having to host and throw a full on traditional shower with a bunch of people they don’t necessarily know.” Her focus was on quality time with friends before life got even busier.
For Rheuport, going to New York City with five of her friends felt ideal for a hatchelorette party. “I wanted to go back to New York City where I lived for many years and experience the city one more time before my baby girl arrived,” she says. The weekend she planned included brunch with friends and seeing live music.
Hatchelorette parties are revolutionizing the way expectant mothers celebrate the upcoming arrival of their babies, giving them more freedom to be flexible and choose their own adventure. And with the travel industry fully embracing this trend, hatchelorette parties are set to become even more of a staple in modern baby celebrations.
Alexis Benveniste is a writer, editor and content strategist who loves all things travel, wellness, beauty, and food. Along with contributing to PS, she has written for outlets like The New York Times, The Cut, Vanity Fair, ELLE, Allure, and Bloomberg, among other publications.
