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Who needs bachelorette tiaras and sashes when you can strut down the sidewalks of Manhattan wearing Sex and the City-worthy heels?<\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019m Chelsea, the Blog & Content Manager at The Blonde Abroad, and my friends joined me in NYC for the most glamorous bachelorette party!<\/p>\n
From a photoshoot with a private driver to a food tour to getting permanent bracelets and having drinks at the iconic Campbell Bar \u2014 it was definitely an NYC itinerary for the books.<\/em><\/p>\nAs someone who absolutely loves to plan trips and figure out all the details, I figured I\u2019d share the wealth and share my NYC bachelorette party ideas so you can navigate the concrete jungle with ease.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how to plan a legendary bachelorette f\u00eate with your friends in NYC!<\/h4>\n
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Gather Essential Details<\/h2>\n The main things: when is everyone available and what budget are we working with?<\/em><\/p>\nStart Planning Early<\/h3>\n My friends and I started talking about this trip about 6 months in advance; this gave us time to figure out a date that would work for everyone in the group and set a budget.<\/p>\n
Talk to your girlfriends and make sure everyone has an idea of what to expect in terms of what activities you\u2019re looking at booking, along with pricing. Things add up quickly and you don\u2019t want to have any violation of expectations or hard feelings.<\/p>\n
Figure Out the Date<\/strong><\/h3>\nI took a poll across three weekend dates to see which one would work the best for my girlfriends and had them rate in preference order. From that, we decided on the last weekend of April \u2014 and the weather was pretty good (aside from some serious wind and cold gusts, it was all sunshine \u2014 but I think we got a little lucky with no rain!)<\/p>\n
The best times for NYC are typically in the spring (April-May) and fall (September-November).<\/em><\/p>\nBook the Big Stuff<\/h3>\n From there, book the hotel, flights, and activities (tours, Broadway tickets, etc).<\/strong><\/p>\nI\u2019ll chat more about our hotel down below but definitely take into consideration how many people are in your group and how much space you\u2019ll need. Most NYC hotels are notorious for being small.<\/p>\n
Other Things to Consider<\/h3>\n This is a great time to ask each of your friends their size and any color preferences if you\u2019re putting together gifts. Also, take note if anyone has any food allergies!<\/p>\n
Create an Aesthetic on Pinterest<\/h2>\n I\u2019ll be the first to tell you that I am a planner and I love to style things. As a branding photographer, styling events is my jam and I don\u2019t think any of my girlfriends were surprised when I sent them a mood board of what I was thinking!<\/p>\n
While you don\u2019t need an *aesthetic,* my philosophy is it\u2019s so much more fun to get dressed up, and when else would you?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe vibe for this trip: a bit of classic New York meets splashes of color.<\/em><\/p>\n
Map Out & Plan Your Itinerary<\/h2>\n Figure out the key things you\u2019d like to do, for me those were: a photoshoot, food tour, drinks at a swanky cocktail club, and seeing a show on Broadway (Moulin Rouge, in particular).<\/p>\n
One thing to note as you plan out days and activities \u2014 pay attention to where things are located and what kind of transport is needed (subway, time to walk, Uber, etc.).<\/p>\n
Make sure to account for transportation time when making the schedule!<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Helpful Tip<\/h3>\n The subway system in NYC has upgraded to contactless payment, which is SUPER convenient! It\u2019s no longer necessary to buy a metro pass and load it with funds, rather if you\u2019ve got a Tap and Go Card, Apple Pay, or your card on your smart device \u2014 you can scan it and it will automatically deduct the fare for your trip.<\/p>\n
And, as an added bonus \u2014 if you\u2019re continually taking the subway and worried that you might miss out on reduced fare pricing, you can take unlimited rides per week for no more than $33 (it\u2019s like a 7-Day Unlimited Ride Pass, only you don\u2019t have to buy it upfront).<\/p>\n
I\u2019m looking forward to this being adopted in more cities as it was super convenient!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Here\u2019s a quick look at the itinerary we created:<\/strong><\/p>\n\nThursday: Casual Day \u2013 Brunch & Themed Y2K Night<\/li>\n Friday: Photoshoot with Driver, Permanent Bracelets, and Dinner in Little Italy<\/li>\n Saturday: Food Tour, Drinks at The Campbell Bar, Moulin Rouge<\/li>\n Sunday: Free Day to Explore<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nOne of my girlfriends took our final itinerary and printed it out for everyone (these were placed on the beds upon arrival).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Unique Bridesmaid Gifts<\/h2>\n My love language is gift-giving, along with quality time \u2014 so I had a lot of fun putting together unique bridesmaid gift boxes for my girlfriends to open once they arrived in the city.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what I included in the gift boxes to give you some ideas:<\/strong><\/p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Helpful Tip<\/h3>\n Because the Fujifulm Disposable Cameras contain undeveloped film, I kept them separate from the boxes (in my carry-on luggage) and had them inspected at airport security, so as not to ruin the film with the X-ray.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a bit of a hassle, but I had other film that needed to be checked, too. Ultimately, you paid for the film and you don\u2019t want it to get ruined.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Where to Stay<\/h2>\n Where to stay in NYC for Bachelorette Party was one of the biggest questions we had \u2014 especially with a group of 8 girls.<\/strong><\/p>\nI would highly recommend The Gardens ES Suites New York in the Upper East Side! While there are definitely more charming boutique hotels around the city, you cannot beat the size or price of The Garden ES Suites.<\/p>\n
We were able to get a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom suite for 8 girls, and it was plenty of space. I\u2019m sure you can imagine how easy it is for things to be cramped and confined in NYC, so finding this hotel was a breath of fresh air.<\/strong><\/p>\nThis also included a large dining\/living room, and a full kitchen. Seriously impressed!<\/h4>\n It\u2019s about 10-blocks from Central Park and just a few minutes from several subway entrances. Definitely a fantastic NYC hotel pick for a big group!<\/p>\n
Book your stay at The Gardens ES Suites New York here!<\/h4>\n
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Thursday: Arrival & Y2K Night<\/h2>\n Thursday was our \u201ccasual day,\u201d as everyone was arriving to NYC from various places.<\/p>\n
Ladur\u00e9e Brunch<\/h3>\n Start festivities off early with brunch at Ladur\u00e9e. There are a few locations in the city, so take your pick. This was also an ideal spot to hang out as their SoHo location has a gorgeous garden (and our hotel room wasn\u2019t ready quite yet).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Y2K Night in Greenwich<\/h3>\n When it comes to bachelorette party themes, pick a theme you love and go for it! As a \u201890s baby whose childhood was dominated by Lizzie McGuire, my friends were THRILLED with the idea of a Y2K-themed night.<\/p>\n
Reservations were made at Tacombi for (the best) fish tacos and pitchers of margaritas. Dinner was followed by more drinks and classic NYC pizza.<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Friday: Photoshoot & Little Italy<\/h2>\nMorning: Photoshoot Around NYC<\/h3>\n \u00a0<\/strong>My fianc\u00e9 and I did our engagement shoot in New York City and it was such a memorable experience that I wanted to do something similar with my girlfriends.<\/p>\nIn high school, we were absolutely obsessed with the show, Gossip Girl (to be honest, we still are), so I thought it would be fun to have a Gossip Girl meets Sex and the City-inspired photoshoot.<\/p>\n
While I clued all my friends into our itinerary and they knew we were doing a photoshoot\u2026they didn\u2019t know what we were wearing \u2014 and this was such a fun surprise!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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What You\u2019ll Need:<\/h3>\n\nHire a Photographer<\/li>\n Coordinate Outfits<\/li>\n Hire a Driver<\/li>\n Plan Out Locations<\/li>\n Have Food Beforehand\/Bring Snacks (we had Bagels & Coffee delivered to the hotel early in the morning)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
To pull this off, I sent them a sizing chart and they let me know which size would fit them best. (Just in case, I brought clothing clips should anyone\u2019s garment be too big).<\/strong><\/p>\nI purchased custom labels from Lucy March Studio on Etsy with each gal\u2019s name so they could find their dress on the clothing rack.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nMy mom (who also happens to be my best friend) is a professional photographer and was already going to be in NYC for all of the festivities\u2026so that part was taken care of.<\/p>\n
Obviously, this will take a bit more work if you don\u2019t have a built-in photographer. That said, Google searching \u201cNYC Photographers,\u201d looking for an Airbnb Photographer Experience, or scouting on Instagram may be great resources to find your photog.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nWhile you can Uber around, it makes it a lot easier to hire a driver to take you to certain destinations throughout the city \u2014 and honestly a lot more fun. Instead of waiting 5-10 minutes for an Uber pick-up, our car was right there when we finished at a location, we could leave bags with lipgloss and brushes in the car, and blast throwbacks through the speakers.<\/p>\n
The colorful tulle dresses are custom-picked colors from Needle Meets Threads on Etsy, with a couple of them from Amazon. My white dress is by Ava Gowns.<\/h4>\n\n
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Great Photo Locations in NYC<\/h3>\n\nDUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass on Washington Street)<\/li>\n Brooklyn Bridge<\/li>\n Central Park<\/li>\n Washington Square<\/li>\n Met Steps\/Food Carts in Front of Museum<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
Evening: Permanent Bracelets & Dinner in Little Italy<\/h3>\n Once we had rested from all the chaos of the morning, we got cleaned up and out of the fluffy tulle for a night in Little Italy.<\/p>\n
Several of us had appointments to *get zapped* at Catbird\u2014aka getting permanent bracelets.<\/strong><\/p>\nThis was such a cool momento!<\/h4>\n You can take your pick from a number of chains they have, from delicate gold ones to those that sparkle with a diamond; the chain is sized to fit you perfectly and welded on to last forever. Talk about the ultimate friendship bracelet!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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We had dinner at Il Cortile in Little Italy and it was *chef\u2019s kiss.* Delicious Italian food in a darling restaurant with an indoor garden patio.<\/p>\n
My fianc\u00e9 surprised us by coordinating with one of my girlfriends and having several bottles of wine sent to our table, along with the sweetest note.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Late Evening: Cookies and Champagne<\/h3>\n We had custom cookies created for the Bachelorette Party by The Sweet Shack (local to Southern California).<\/strong><\/p>\nAs a nightcap, we had cookies, champagne (or tequila, depending on each gal\u2019s preference!), and watched a movie (The Princess Diaries<\/em>!). We also had these darling white chocolate ombre pretzel sticks to snack on (from Treats by Taryn via Etsy).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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Saturday: Food Tour & a Swanky Evening<\/h2>\nMorning: Food Tour<\/h3>\n Food tours are one of my favorite things in the world as they combine my love of history with food, and I take pride in introducing my friends to them.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve taken the Heart & Soul Greenwich Village Food Tour with Foods of NY before, and I loved it so much \u2014\u00a0however, I wanted to see a different part of the city, so we headed to the Meatpacking District to explore Chelsea Market & The Highline with Foods of NY!<\/p>\n
Originally the NABISCO Factory, the Chelsea Market is now a converted food hall and indoor market. It\u2019s lined with so many cool eateries (all of which have to be invited to have a shop in Chelsea Market \u2014 you won\u2019t find any fast-food chains here).<\/strong><\/p>\nWe sampled artisanal NY hot dogs, Sicilian Pizza, a delicious Italian Crostata, a buttermilk biscuit and homemade jam, gelato, and more!<\/h4>\n One thing to note \u2014 take into account if any of your friends have food allergies and let the tour company know well in advance!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
Cocktails at The Campbell Bar <\/strong><\/h3>\nSince we spent all morning walking around The Chelsea Market, naps were in order before getting glammed up for the evening.<\/p>\n
Definitely allocate more time than you think you need to get ready \u2014 especially for a large group! Remember you\u2019ll likely be limited on bathrooms\/showers and mirror space\u2026and generally, large groups take ample time to get ready. So just a heads up!<\/em><\/p>\nBeing a diehard Gossip Girl fan, we had reservations at The Campbell Bar located in Grand Central Station (this is the iconic bar where Nate and Serena are seen hooking up in the first episode).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Reservations open up two weeks in advance and you absolutely need them.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d highly recommend trying their Lychee Martini and\/or their Espresso Martini \u2014\u00a0so delish! While they don\u2019t serve proper meals at The Campbell, you can order lite snacks like Pretzel Bites, Chips & Guac, or a Cheese & Charcuterie Board.<\/strong><\/p>\nLooking for something heartier? Head down to the Grand Central Dining Concourse and have your pick from a number of different eateries!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Moulin Rouge on Broadway<\/strong><\/h3>\nThis was my second time seeing Moulin Rouge on Broadway\u2026and I\u2019d see it again! It\u2019s *THAT* good.<\/em><\/p>\nBut if Moulin Rouge is not your thing, there are so many shows to pick from that are on Broadway. Definitely get tickets well in advance if there\u2019s a particular show you have your heart set on!<\/p>\n
After the show we grabbed food down the street, you could definitely get dinner before (and we had planned to, but the Campbell Bar ended up being too cool to want to leave!).<\/p>\n
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Sunday: Free Day<\/h2>\n Because my friends and I had differing flight times as we were all heading back to different parts of the country, Sunday didn\u2019t have a set itinerary.<\/p>\n
This allowed us time to get our luggage sorted, pack up the room, have a leisurely brunch, and do some last-minute shopping in Soho.<\/p>\n
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Overall<\/h2>\n And there you have it \u2014 my ultimate New York City bachelorette party! Truly one of the coolest trips and I\u2019m so thankful I got to share it with my best girlfriends\u2026and now you! I hope as you (or your friends) plan the bachelorette party of a lifetime, you create memories just as beautiful as I now have.<\/p>\n
Having those special people in your life is truly something to celebrate in a big way.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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As a Note<\/h3>\n The only thing I would have done differently is added in more \u201cdowntime\u201d to relax at the hotel. When you\u2019re traveling with a bigger group of friends, you should ALWAYS count on it taking longer to get out the door than you think. Definitely add a buffer time for reservations (or call the place to let them know you\u2019re running late).<\/p>\n
Additionally, it would have been helpful to have designated one person to pay for all the Ubers\/meals\/everything and split the costs after, instead of doing a spreadsheet and calculating who owes who what.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Any planning questions? Feel free to leave them in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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