Leave it to Simone Biles to reimagine the bachelorette party. Last week the legendary gymnast—who is engaged to NFL player Jonathan Owens—flew to Belize for a luxurious bachelorette weekend with her closest friends. But Biles wasn’t the only bride-to-be celebrating her upcoming nuptials during the resort getaway. The vacation was a joint bash for one of her bridesmaids, interior designer Kayla Simone.
Biles explained the reasoning behind her “double bachelorette” in an Instagram comment beneath one of several photos and Reels the star athlete shared from the weekend. After a curious follower asked why, in a clip taken at the beginning of the trip, two women were wearing shirts that read “Bride and Bougee” instead of Biles alone, the Olympian replied to clear up the confusion. “Because we did a double bachelorette since we’re in the same friend group & have almost the exact same bridesmaids,” she wrote. “Made it easy!!!”
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For what it’s worth, I think a combined bachelorette party is nothing short of genius. Being a bridesmaid is an honor, not to mention a load of fun. But it can also be a major expense. According to a 2017 WeddingWire study, the average cost of being a bridesmaid is $1,200. And presumably that expense has only risen in the five years since the study was conducted. In addition to buying and tailoring a dress, bridesmaids are often expected to cover the cost of their travel, accommodations, hair, and makeup for the ceremony, not to mention additional celebrations before and after the wedding, such as the bridal shower and bachelorette party. In other words, the spending can really add up. And it can be a huge relief, for the bride and her bridesmaids, to consolidate wherever possible.