Charleston Bachelorette Party

SHOP THE POST:

POST DETAILS:

Sweatshirt Decals: The Couture Kitten / Koozies: Dawlens c/o / Wine Glasses: Dawlens c/o / Gift Tags: Southern Hospitality Company c/o / Luggage Tags: Southern Hospitality Company c/o / Water Bottles: Dawlens c/o / Donut Inflatables: Etsy / Tassel Garland: Etsy / Skirt: Target

I can’t believe my bachelorette party has come and past so quickly. So while I avoid finalizing the details of my wedding, I wanted to relive the weekend and share all the details with y’all. We spent Thursday through Sunday in Charleston and we (accidentally) selected one of the city’s busiest weekends, The Cooper River Bridge Run. So the city had even more than it’s ordinary hustle and bustle. Regardless, we were able to see and do many things on my wish list so I wanted to take y’all through it in case you’re considering having your bach bash here. My verdict? Do it!

Where We Stayed:

My two best friends from college, Kathleen and Nicole, were able to come down a day early so the three of us splurged on one of my favorite hotels in Charleston before the crowds came on Friday.

Market Pavilion Hotel: This hotel is smack dab in the middle of Charleston’s historic district, across the street from the U.S. Customs House and next to The Market. The staff and rooms were amazing (the toiletries were actually Hermes!), but my favorite part was the rooftop pool and restaurant. Not only are the views gorgeous, but the pizza was delicious.

Hyatt House on King Street: On Friday, we were joined by the rest of my bridesmaids and checked in to the Hyatt House on King Street. Whereas the Market Pavilion Hotel is in the middle of the more touristy area of Charleston, the Hyatt House was in the middle of the shopping and bar scene. This was super convenient after our few nights out drinking 😉 The hotel rooms were huge (kitchenette, living room, bedroom) and were adjoining so all of the bridesmaids were able to mix and mingle together throughout the weekend.

Although it was sold out this weekend, another hotel I LOVE is the Fulton Lane Inn. It is walking distance to everything and features a wine and cheese reception in the courtyard for an hour each day 🙂

Restaurants:

If you have ever been to Charleston, you know they are famous for their low country cuisine. And although I am having to step up my diet and exercise routine now, I have to say it is so worth it.

Poogan’s Porch: This is actually a renovated colonial home and features a twist on southern cuisine. I got the scallops which come on top of pimento cheese ravioli, which comes on top of creamed corn. It sounds crazy but trust me, order it. Another perk of Poogan’s Porch is that bottles of wine are really reasonably priced with many options around $25.

Magnolia’s: You do not want to miss brunch at Magnolia’s! It is what this restaurant is famous for. I would highly recommend the peach fritters and low country benedict (crab cake, friend green tomato, grits). Plus, you’re just a short walk from The Battery, so you can burn off those extra calories post-brunch.

Élevé atop the Grand Bohemian Hotel: This bar and restaurant is half indoor penthouse, half outdoor rooftop. I love the decor – think Hollywood regency – and the food was great too. I actually saw Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler here the last time I visited!

Obstinate Daughter: The Obstinate Daughter could honestly have the worst food ever and I would still want to go because the decor is so beautiful. Luckily, their food is amazing too! I had a shrimp roll, which was perfect after a day at the beach. Did I mention it is only a five minute walk to Sullivan’s Island beach?!

Pavilion Bar at the Market Pavilion Hotel: The rooftop of the Market Pavilion Hotel is drop-dead gorgeous and I would suggest visiting it, if only for a cocktail. A bottle of wine and a quattro formaggi pizza was the perfect pairing, all while hanging out poolside.

Fleet Landing: If you want to enjoy a meal on the water (and maybe even see a dolphin or two!), Fleet Landing is the restaurant for you. There’s an outdoor bar overlooking the bay, perfect for enjoying a bloody mary while waiting to be seated. I enjoyed the crab cake sandwich, but I hear they’re known for their she-crab soup. Plus, it’s one of the only restaurants downtown with a parking lot.

Some other notables we weren’t able to visit: 167 Raw, Husk, The Ordinary, The Darling, Poe’s, Brown Dog Deli

What To Do:

Although just spending quality time with my best friends was all I cared about this past weekend, we were able to see and do quite a bit (in spite of the hangovers).

Take a Trip to Sullivan’s Island: There are quite a few beaches only minutes from downtown Charleston, but Sullivan’s Island is my favorite. It is just so pristine and untouched by commercial condos/hotels, unlike the crowded beaches of Florida. Plus there a handful of renowned restaurants and a lighthouse. Although we weren’t able to, I would suggest renting a bike to see the whole island!

Explore The Battery/Rainbow Row: I love gawking at the gorgeous homes of The Battery! I honestly don’t think you can leave Charleston without strolling its southern tip and seeing some of the most gorgeous antebellum homes in the country – talk about a fashion blogger’s dream!

Party on King Street: I normally come to Charleston for a relaxing weekend, but since it was my bachelorette party of course we went out a night or two (or three). Charleston has quite a few rooftop bars and a live music scene, definitely not the poised, sleepy town many believe it to be.

Haunted Jail Tour: This is so fun to do with all of your bridesmaids because it’s half spooky, half totally silly – especially after a few glasses of wine. Our guide took us through Charleston’s oldest jail and proceeded to cut the lights off in each of the rooms to tell us stories of the inmates. It was just fun to kid around trying to scare one another!

Visit Boone Hall Plantation: I HAD to live out a moment from The Notebook. Minutes from downtown Charleston, you can step back in time at Boone Hall Plantation. It is know as the most photographed plantation in America because so many weddings and events take place here. Plus, it was Allie’s parents’ summer home in The Notebook.

Shop The Market: This always takes me back to visiting Charleston as a kid. Though most of the products are kitschy, there are some fun artisan goods and quite a bit to ogle at. Plus, Caviar and Bananas is smack dab in the middle and delicious!

Additional recommendations: There is so much to do in Charleston, that you’d need longer than a couple days to see everything. But I did want to mention a few things I love to do – stroll the pier at Folly Beach, rent jet skis at Isle of Palms Marina, tour the U.S.S. Yorktown, visit Magnolia Plantation, take a horse-drawn carriage tour.

I had to share these fun bachelorette goodies, as well! The girls at Dawlens and Southern Hospitality Company hooked my bridesmaids up and I had so much fun co-designing them. I went with a donut theme and loved incorporating it throughout the sweatshirts, wine glasses, and koozies. Also, I followed this easy tutorial to actually include real donuts in the gifts as a fun little addition. With all the wedding decor being so proper, it was fun to decorate and gift with bright colors and cute touches.

I hope y’all enjoyed the guide! As a southern girl at heart, I love the city of Charleston and will take any excuse to visit. You can make any weekend there as slow or fast-paced as you like and there is really something for everyone. Now that I have properly distracted myself with this trip down memory lane, it’s time to switch gears and finish up planning this wedding! Wish me luck 😉