I LOVE a good bachelorette party. Celebrating self is important, especially when entering an institution that can send a person into a full-on identity crisis. It's also an opportunity to celebrate your friend, exclusively, as the wonderful person they are. Here are some bachelorette party tips on how to make sure the party you're throwing is a fabulous send-off from singlehood.

Invite the right people

Nothing can kill a bachelorette party faster than a buzzkill, who complains, refuses to do anything that might make them look silly, or makes everything about them. A good bachelorette party will be filled with people who are game for anything and supportive of the bride. Remind your bride that just because a person is invited to the wedding, doesn't give them an automatic invite to bachelorette party. Likewise, just because a person isn't invited to the wedding, doesn't mean they can't be invited to the bachelorette party! It will make them feel included, and give them an excuse to connect. Finally, consider to whom the bride is really close. If mom is her bestie, let her tag along, or make things co-ed if that makes more sense. You want people surrounding the bride with whom she feels comfortable.

Consider a theme

It's always nice to have a unifying theme tying the party together, and it can be great for inspiration. For the die-hard punk, think about tickets to her favorite band, and get the whole crew to dress up in full punk regalia. Go completely nautical for the ocean-lover. Time to get everyone to strap on those cowboy boots and get ready to ride a mechanical bull, if she's a country girl. A theme, while certainly not mandatory, will help focus ideas and get creative juices flowing.

Give useful party favors

You don't have to go the standard route of lollipops in the shape of the anatomy. Give partygoers something they will actually need during their night of debauchery. Personalized Mason jar tumblers prevent drinks from spilling on a party bus. Matching shirts or sashes draw attention to your squad during a night out at the bar. Coozies will keep your beers cold throughout the night. Mini bottles of sunscreen or bug spray protect your skin during an outdoor adventure. Don't forget to tie it all together in a fun bag.

Push the bride outside of her comfort zone... a little

A good bachelorette party will take the bride to a place of exhilaration when she steps outside of what she'd do on a normal night out. But, push her too far and she might start feeling overly uncomfortable. Don't force shots on the bride who doesn't normally drink, or the night might end early. But, if the bride is totally uninhibited, she may need a bevy of strippers to get her push her over the edge. Try to consider what she'd enjoy but might be too shy to do normally, and encourage her to let her freak flag fly on her big night out.

Use games to break the ice and involve everyone

If you're going with games, they can help the crowd get to know each other and focus attention on the bride-to-be. Here are just a few suggestions:

• Cads About Matrimony: This marriage-themed spin on Cards Against Humanity can be a great way to break the ice and help the girls feeling uninhibited.
• How Well Does the Bride Know Her Partner: Put together a list of questions, and have her partner answer all of them. Ask the bride the same questions - if she can guess her partner's answer, the rest of the party has to drink, but if she's wrong, she has to drink. It's a fun way for the bride to share some stories about her sweetie.
• The Panty Drop: Ask all the guests to buy the bride a pair of underwear. Put them into a gift bag anonymously, and have the bride try to guess who bought what. It's a fun way to give gifts and introduce everyone.
• Scavenger Hunt: Put together a fun scavenger hunt list for the group to complete throughout the night. It will give everyone an excuse to socialize with people outside of your party and draw attention to the bride. Customize it to maximize the bride's fun (e.g. if she's got a thing for motorcycles, add "Take a picture on a motorcycle" to the list).

Think Outside the Box for Fun Activities

Don't limit yourself to the glitter-filled, pink explosion template. Friend loves baseball? Take everyone to a game! Is she an outdoor nut? Plan a camping trip! Loves cooking? Attend a cooking class or cocktail-making lesson! Spice the night up beyond simple bar-going. Vavoom Pinups offers vintage-style photo shoots and will let the rest of the party hang out as the bride gets her hair and makeup done. You can find pole dancing classes at many gyms, or, try a burlesque class like the one offered at Studio L'amour. The options are endless, so plan something fun and memorable.

Budget Appropriately

Be sure to consider how much the invitees may be able to spend over the course of the night, and backtrack from there. Nobody wants to be left out because they couldn't afford a $50 limousine buy-in. Be upfront about how much you expect the night to cost, so invitees can save ahead of time. And, have a plan for the bride's expenses. Consider having a "kitty" for her drinks, which everyone chips into at the start of the night.

Be Safe

A designated sober person helps keep track of everyone throughout the night. Sadly, there are a lot of creeps out there who target bachelorette party-goers. Your sober friend can double as the official creep-blocker. If alcohol is in play, you also need transportation to avoid drunk driving. With a little planning, you can make sure debauchery doesn't turn into disaster.

What unconventional bachelorette party fun are YOU planning?!