TOP RATED: BIRTHDAY

Bachelorette parties are growing in popularity. In the 1950's and 60's, bachelor parties were the exclusive preserve of men, but now they are held by friends of both the bride and groom to celebrate their last days as singles. Here are some suggestions for a memorable party.

Get some cds of theme music by female artists, such as a Diva collection with songs like Aretha Franklin's Respect, or It's Raining Men. You can even pick up a chick flick or an adult movie.

Gifts with romantic and adult themes are perfect for bachelorette parties. Try lovers' collections of massage cream, scented oils and lingerie, or body decorating kits.

For those in a hurry, some novelty stores sell kits, a complete party in a box, complete with gifts and decor. Gag gifts abound for bachelorette parties, including items such as leis of condoms and anatomically-correct stir sticks and drinking straws. But before making preparations, the most important thing is to find out what the guest of honor likes! If she appreciates the adult humor so often displayed at bachelorette parties, by all means go out and buy a box of gag gifts. But if she is a shy person who values modesty, such items will just embarrass her. There are many other themes beside Adult for these parties, such as Hawaiian or Romantic. A theme party takes a little extra work but is usually worth the effort.

In preparation for the party, make sure that invitations go out at least a few months ahead of time to give out-of-town guests the opportunity to make travel arrangements. If the bride's friends live far away, consider having the bachelorette party at the same time as the bridal shower.

Don't hold the party the night before the wedding. Big weddings are exhausting in themselves, and the bride to be probably doesn't want to go out for a wild party the night before her wedding. Red eyes and vomiting from a hangover as the bride walks down the aisle are not what she hired the photographer to capture for posterity.

Just because the party is being held at one person's house, or hosted by one person, does not mean that individual should have to pay for it all. Calculate the expenses ahead of time and ask each guest to pay a share. It's wise to collect the money before the party to avoid excuses such as "Ooh, I forgot my wallet!" by guests walking in the door.

Write a short speech and present it as a toast to the Bride-To-Be to remind her of all the special events she has enjoyed with her friends. Make sure to take pictures of the event and present them to her afterwards in an album. Just make sure not to take pictures of anything extremely embarrassing since the guest of honor and her future husband probably won't enjoy them a few years later. This includes flirting with other men or excessive drinking if the party is held in a bar.

Actually, despite the reputation of these parties for last-fling debauchery, it is a good idea not to ply everyone with alcohol unless they ask for it to be served. Drunks become obnoxious and drunken parties degenerate into fights, verbal and otherwise, which is not the kind of memory you are trying to create for this event.

Make sure the party is something the bride to be remembers with a smile, not a sense of regret.