Blake Julian and His Bride-to-be Holly Durst Modeling a Sash From The House of Bachelorette

It’s been a pretty great couple of months for reality TV star Holly Durst. Not only did she meet her hunky new finance Blake Julian and get engaged in front of millions of people, but she also won $125,000 on the Bachelor Pad finale. The House of Bachelorette caught up with Holly last week at a benefit for Water of Life, a non-profit digging wells in Third World countries.

Of course since we knew we were going to be meeting up with one of the hottest couples in reality TV right now, we wanted to give Holly a little engagement gift. We packed one of our popular bride totes full of fun stuff including a feather boa, the Perfect Bride To Be Tiara and a white Bride Tank.  She loved her Super Bling Sash so much she even modeled it for us! These are a brand new item for The House of Bachelorette and we were excited Holly was one of the first to wear this fun accessory!

Holly and her fiance Blake Julian are now calling Greenville, South Carolina home. Blake is opening up a new dental practice this week and Holly is putting the finishing touches on her children’s book Chocolate Socks. They haven’t announced a wedding date yet but we wish them the best! And we bet Holly’s bachelorette party will be a night to remember!

Kim Kardashian walked down the aisle earlier this month and said “I do” to Kris Humphries. People magazine paid big bucks for the exclusive wedding photos, but it turned out they weren’t that interested in the happy couple– they were mainly focused on Kim K. The magazine left the groom off the cover and some sources say Kim is upset about having the spotlight to herself.

Reports say that Kim is worried the snub will offend her in-laws. And every bride knows that can be a big concern with a new marriage. People paid $1.5 million for the pictures, according to sources, so maybe they deserve to do whatever they want with the photos. But maybe stories saying that Kim was upset were blown out of proportion. The NYPost reported that Kim’s rep explained: “Kim of course wanted Kris to be on the cover, but it was People’s decision…everyone, including Kris understood…No one is upset.”

Spa days and dance parties are great ways to spend your bachelorette party. But what about brides who long for more adventure and thrill? There are many ways to have an adventurous bachelorette party. Need some crazy ideas? Here are a few:

Pile the Girls Into a Whitewater Raft

Whitewater Rafting

When you celebrate the end of the single life with a whitewater rafting trip you’ll have all of the adventure with none of the regrets. (And no hangover in the morning either!) Check out River Runners, a Colorado whitewater rafting company offering a variety of packages perfect for bachelorettes. You can head out on the water for a few hours or an entire weekend. River Runners offers special rates for bachelorette parties. “We have seen an increase in bookings for bachelor parties the past few seasons and our Riverside Rafting Resort is an excellent place to host a party,” said Eileen Peterson, general manager at River Runners. “These are just two of the many reasons why we have decided to offer special packages that cater to bachelor and bachelorette parties. Colorado whitewater rafting is a unique alternative for those looking for an active way to celebrate the end of bachelorhood that is both memorable and offers no regrets.”

Swim With Dolphins

Most women love the idea of getting in the water with a dolphin. Grabbing that fin and holding on tight for a swim around a pool sounds like quite the thrill. Make this adventure part of your bachelorette party with the help of Dolphin World. They have dolphin swimming experiences available at a variety of Florida locations so you can choose the best one for your bachelorette party.

Drive a Race Car

With the Richard Petty Driving Experience you can feel what it’s like to cruise around a NASCAR track. You and your bachelorette party girls will have fun suiting up and getting behind the wheel (or sitting in the passenger seat) during your race car experience. This is definitely a bachelorette party to remember– and one the groom will likely be a bit jealous of!

Bungee Jump with the Girls (photo courtesy of mat79)

Bungee Jumping

After jumping off a bridge walking down the aisle will seem like a piece of cake! Grab the girls and head to one of several bungee jumping locations in the US for a bachelorette party like no other. We found this list of US bungee jumping locations to get your party planning started. Now all you have to do is convince the rest of the girls to sign up.

You Can Feel Like a Princess Too

Millions are expected to tune in to watch the event of the century– the Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. There are viewing parties all over the world and YouTube will be streaming the wedding live as well. If you’re planning a viewing party to celebrate the nuptials of Wills and Kate you’ll definitely want to do it up right. And The House of Bachelorette is here to help!

Put On Your Crown

Part of the allure of the Royal Wedding is the fact that Kate Middleton was once a commoner. Her family became millionaires through their party supply website (sound familiar?). But overnight Kate will go from an ordinary girl to a member of royalty. And we can all feel like princesses when we watch her walk down the aisle while wearing a princess bride tiara, just $3.99.

Serve Up Something Special

Unless you’re watching the Royal Wedding on Tivo, you’re probably up pretty early in the morning. Make sure you serve up some special early morning treats (mimosas perhaps?) and give guests these lovely tiara napkins, perfect for princesses in the making.

Set the Scene

Pretend you’re not thousands of miles away from Buckingham Palace. Set the scene as if you were a part of the Royal Wedding party. That includes fun decorations, flowers and even some Love Birds Bridal balloons. That way you’ll always have a fun story to tell when the conversation turns to the 2011 Royal Wedding of Kate and William.

In exactly one month Kate Middleton and Prince William will become husband and wife in the royal wedding of the century. Kate is becoming a pro at keeping things secret surrounding the wedding. If you like the idea of keeping your bachelorette party hush hush, just take a cue from bride-to-be Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa.

According to UK’s Daily Mail the bride’s younger sister and maid of honor Pippa Middleton is in charge of planning the “hen party” which is the UK version of a bachelorette party. She’s planning one party in London and another “Dirty Dancing” themed party at the Middleton home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

In order to keep the London party under wraps, Pippa has booked four different venues. That way no one will know where the party is until the actual night of the event. “None of the girls know where they will be going – and won’t until the actual day,” a source tells the paper.

Mocktails Can be Fun!

Perhaps the bride-to-be has a bun in the oven or maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with a massive hangover and embarrassing Facebook photos. Whatever her reason for wanting to have an alcohol-free bachelorette party, there are plenty of ways to make this a fun night without the booze. Here are some tips for having a fun and “dry” bachelorette bash.

Let Guests Know

Most bachelorette party guests expect the bash to have booze. So it’s best to let them know ahead of time so they know what to expect. Open communication will help nip any potentially awkward moments so everyone can focus on having fun.

Create Some Mocktails

You can still have fun with a virgin drink. In case the only booze-less drink you know is the Shirley Temple keep in mind there are  many great mocktail recipes available online. Check out this top ten list from FabulousFoods.com and this extensive list from DrinkAlternatives.com.

Pick a Theme

Bachelorette parties without themes are likely to fall back on alcohol as the centerpiece for the evening. Pick a theme like tropical, spa, or western so that guests can get into the event without the help of booze.

Play Fun Non-Drinking Games

Even if you’re not drinking you can still have fun playing games. There are lots of free games at TheHouseofBachelorette.com including Crazy Bachelorette Bowling. In fact the bowling alley can be a great place to host your alcohol-free bachelorette party, especially when you download this free game and take it with you.

Image courtesy of Betssssy

Reese Witherspoon and her fiance Jim Toth are supposedly getting married in just a few days– March 26th to be exact. It’s a southern-themed wedding according to Hollywood insiders. There will be about 100 guests showing up to Reese’s estate in Ojai Valley, California. We thought it would be fun to plan Reese’s bachelorette party. So here are some of our suggestions for this beautiful, sweet starlet.

We can’t help but think of Reese as a delicate, girly girl. So that’s why we think this Engaged Headband/Veil from The House of Bachelorette’s classy bride collection would be ideal for her bachelorette bash. It’s currently on sale for $9.99.

And because whoever said orange was the new pink is seriously disturbed, we’ve got the classic pink marabou boa. It’s just $1.99 and perfect for a fun night in LA with the girls.

Reese really can’t go wrong with feathers, so we think she should add a few more to her bachelorette ensemble with the feather bracelet, just $1.99.

This bride tote seems to have a little touch of southern charm. It’s springy, sweet and practical, just like Reese herself. Pick one up for the bride-to-be in your life for just $24.99.

We wish Reese the best and hope her bachelorette party is a night to remember!

Looking for a Wet and Wild Bachelorette Party?

According to some entertainment news sources, Prince William has decided to have a bachelor party at sea. That way he can have fun and privacy without worrying about paparazzi. While most brides-to-be don’t have to worry about the paps crashing their bash, the idea of celebrating the single life at sea does sound fun! A bachelorette party can get crazy, so why not take a cue from the Prince himself and have a wet and wild bachelorette party?

If you want to have a bachelorette party at sea you’ll definitely want to hit up TheHouseofBachelorette.com first for some supplies. No need for the tight black dress and uncomfortable pumps– look the part with this tropical Hawaiian bra top. Grab some pink beach balls, just $1.99, to play with and pose with for great bachelorette party pictures. Give each girl their own flower hair clip, $.99, to wear during the party and as a momento for remembering your fun party at sea.

According to reports, Prince Harry will be at this bachelor party along with 20 of William’s closest friends. We’re still waiting to hear what his bride Kate Middleton will be up to for her bachelorette party. Any guesses?

Photo courtesy of jemingway

Add Spice to Your Valentine's Day

Want to make your Valentine’s Day a little spicier this year? The House of Bachelorette can help! Here are five affordable ways to heat up your February 14!

French Maid Costume Kit: This will add a lot of spice for your buck! Our French Maid Costume Kit is on clearance at The House of Bachelorette and currently marked down to just $5.98! The kit comes with a ruffle trim collar, lace tiara, satin apron, lace cuffs and a garter. Oh la la!

Naughty Vouchers: Here’s a gift that keeps giving– 20 times! This book of Vouchers for Naughty Lovers will definitely make this a Valentine’s Day to remember. It’s just $5.99 at The House of Bachelorette.

Fluffy Pink Boa: The Fluffy Pink Boa is a Valentine’s must-have for any couple looking for romance. You can do much more than simply wear this around your shoulders. And it’s currently on sale for $3.99.

I Dare You Game: Sexpert Susie Bright will make your Valentine’s Day hot,  hot, hot with the I Dare You Game. Each dare is hidden inside an envelope. There will be no need to leave the house when you’ve got this game to help keep you entertained. It’s on sale for $14.95 at The House of Bachelorette.

Forever Breath Spray: No matter what you have for dinner at that fancy restaurant, you can still have fresh, sexy breath with the Forever Breath Spray, on sale now for $4.99. The cinnamon flavor will definitely get the fun kicked off in a spicy way.

Photo courtesy of JustinLowery.com

Have a Hangover Bachelorette Party

We were totally inspired by the completely creative “Hangover” themed anniversary party we saw on Hostess with the Mostess. We think this could make a truly epic bachelorette party theme! The party hosts got creative giving guests props like cutouts of Hangover characters, hospital bracelets and even blow up dice.

The great news is, pulling this off for your bachelorette party will be super easy with the help of The House of Bachelorette! Here are some must-haves for throwing the hottest Hangover-themed bachelorette party:

• Aviators for everyone! This would make a great party favor for $8.99 each.
• Casino Night in a Box– you’ll get cards, poker chips, dice, a game mat and more to set the scene.
• A fluffy feather boa, because that’s just so Vegas!
• A diamond ring, just like the one Heather Graham (Jade) received.
• A set of shot glasses so you can start the night with a Jager toast, just like in the movie.

Photo courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess