Bachelorette parties are becoming as predictable as wedding showers. They are common sights in the New Jersey club scene—an intoxicated bride-to-be wearing white tulle on her head trying to get strange men to buy her shots of tequila with her gaggle of girlfriends in tow. So, why not separate yourself from this pack and get creative with your send-off from singlehood.

The need for unique bachelorette parties is so in demand that there are even event planners who specialize in them. “To have a good, well-planned, fun, stress-free night, plan the party at least a month in advance,” advises Blaire Alison, Metro Events bachelorette party specialist. “That means gathering the girls together and asking them what they want to do and how much they want to spend. Also, ask the bride what she wants to do and stick with it. Remember, this is the bride’s last night of freedom, so go along with what she wants.”

While I might not be a professional event planner, I am a seasoned bridesmaid. For every chiffon gown hanging in my closet, I have some sage advice on bachelorette party planning and a cautionary tale of what not to do. For example, my first bachelorette experience was tame by most standards. Bride One loves the theater and asked to see a Saturday matinee of Rent. She was so helpful that she even got discounted tickets for everyone. We went for Mexican food and margaritas after the play, and her mother hosted post-nacho cake and coffee. The party was easy for the bridesmaids to plan because we knew exactly what she expected, and the day was a success.

The bride’s only mistake was in her delegation of responsibilities. She trusted a fairly young and recently dumped bridesmaid to pick up the cake. This bridesmaid (okay, it was me) decided to dance her breakup blues away until 4 a.m. the night before. Instead of a lovely floral confection, Bride One had to cut into a two-foot sheet cake decorated with an American flag from Costco. The party was in October.

Before delegating responsibilities, recognize your bridesmaids’ flaws, and assign duties accordingly. Despite my dessert mishap, this celebration was still a hit due to the fact that the matinee was early in the day, the entertainment did not revolve around alcohol, and with the exception of her mother and sister, all the guests were friends.