How to Stay Safe at a Bachelorette Party

We want to touch on a topic that should be given more thought while planning your best friend's last hurrah - safety! If you are traveling out of town for a bachelorette weekend, it only takes a few extra minutes to think about and plan how to have a safe outing. With social media, it’s easy to become desensitized to the dangers that lurk in the shadows. And while Nashville certainly isn't the most dangerous city in the United States (or even close to it), you should never let your guard down in any city, especially if you plan on drinking and are unfamiliar with the area.

Bachelorette Party Safety Tips

Staying safe at a bachelorette party involves a combination of planning, communication, and being mindful of your surroundings. Here are some tips to help ensure everyone has a fun and safe time:

Find My Friends / Buddy up with Locating Sharing

Even when you plan on sticking together the whole time you’re in town, things happen and sometimes you get separated. Pair together at the beginning and make sure every person is sharing location (via phone) with at least one other person in the group. Large groups such as bachelorette groups are targets since they're often drinking and distracted.

Always Carry a Portable Battery Charger

Bring a small portable battery charger, such as an Anker, with you and charge it each evening. If you can squeeze it in your purse when you go out, it can save you from a dead cell phone and getting lost from the group.

Book a hotel/Airbnb in a safe location

Researching the area before booking a hotel or Airbnb is crucial for safety. Understanding the neighborhood’s safety profile helps you avoid undesirable areas. By reading reviews and doing some extra due diligence, you can ensure that your accommodations are in a decent area and less likely to be a target of a burglary or worse. Areas we recommend avoiding are Madison, Bordeaux, Talbot’s Corner, Salemtown, Glencliff, Buena Vista, Mckissack Park, Elizabeth Park, Cleveland Park, Shepherd Hills Donelson Pike and parts of Germantown.

According to CrimeMapping the safest neighborhoods in the Nashville area are: Hillsboro Village, West End, Belmont, Historic Edgefield, Five Points and Inglewood. The center of downtown is also very safe, as long as you don't wander into dark alleys by yourself after 2 am. As with most cities, you’ll find safe parts and undesirable pockets in nearly every neighborhood. This list serves as a general guide.

Use Airtags

Put Apple Airtags on items that you misplace often or in your purse or luggage. Apple AirTags can enhance security by providing a reliable way to keep track of your belongings. These small, coin-sized devices can be attached to keys, bags, or any item you want to monitor. Through the Find My app on an iPhone, you can easily locate your tagged items if they are misplaced or stolen. AirTags use Bluetooth technology to communicate their location to nearby Apple devices, which then relay this information back to you, ensuring you have a real-time update on the whereabouts of your possessions. With features like Precision Finding and Lost Mode, AirTags offer a layer of security and peace of mind by making it easier to find and recover lost or stolen items quickly. Be sure to tell your friends though in case they get a notification about an Airtag following them.

Create a Meeting Spot

Figure out where you’ll be going for the day and find a central point to regroup if someone goes missing. That way, if you do end up separated from the rest of the group, everyone knows what to do and where to go. Phone batteries can die unexpectedly fast when you're using GPS, taking group photos and posting to social media so it’s essential to have a backup plan.

Don't Overdrink

Overdrinking is the fastest way to end up in the drunk tank and get your mugshot featured on Scoop Nashville (they LOVE posting the drunk female mugshots). Overdrinking also opens you up to other vulnerabilities, such as losing your belongings, getting into the wrong vehicle, getting lost, getting taken advantage of or worse. Everyone has heard about the case of Riley Strain, a college student who partied hard in Nashville and ended up drowning in the Cumberland River. These kinds of things can be prevented by knowing your limits and setting them in advance.

Watch your Drinks Closely

Roofies really happen! Watch the bartender make your drinks and don't accept any drinks from strangers unless it's unopened or you see the bartender make it. Don't set your drink down too.

Depending on the drug, a roofie can take anywhere from a couple of minutes to 30 minutes to kick in. They can also make your drink taste bitter or give it a blue hue. If you suddenly feel ill, intoxicated or have difficulty speaking and you haven't had much to drink, tell a friend immediately.

Tip - don't let your guard down at 'gay bars'. Women have been targeted at them specifically because they think they are safer therefore pay less attention.

Don't Do Foolish Things

Hanging with a group and drinking can make you do things you probably wouldn't do while alone and/or sober, such as darting across traffic, crossing the street without looking, trying to do a cartwheel in the middle of Broadway, throwing things out of the party bus at cars or trying to surf down the stairs of your AirBnb on a mattress (yes, these all actually happened). The Nashville Emergency Rooms are full of folks like this every weekend! And it's a real bummer to sit in the hospital when you could be having fun.

Bring Personal Safety Devices

It's always a good idea to have extra protection when leaving the house at night or traveling. With compact jewel-covered pepper sprays, rose gold lipstick sprays, and even spray pens, there’s a personal safety device to match any bachelorette party theme. These personal safety devices are small enough to fit in your purse to carry from activity to activity and day into night.

Trust Your Instinct & Pay Attention

If something doesn’t feel right, let the rest of the group know. Stay alert and trust your gut. Make sure you pay attention to your stuff; purses, jackets or anything in your pockets are targets for those looking to make a quick getaway. Don't set your things down when taking photos or heading to the dance floor - take them with you. I personally learned this the hard way after getting several jackets stolen in downtown Nashville.

Bachelorette party safety is essential to ensure everyone has a fun and memorable experience. Start by planning ahead and setting clear boundaries for the evening, including knowing your limits with alcohol and arranging reliable transportation. Stick together as a group, especially in unfamiliar areas, and have a plan in place for emergencies. Communicate openly with your friends about any concerns and look out for one another throughout the night. By prioritizing safety, you can focus on celebrating and enjoying the special occasion. Before going out, take a couple minutes to remember the safety information and tips above. Nashville is a super fun place to party - party safe baches!!