Hello, Lovelies!
With wedding season upon us, I wanted to share with you all some of the details from my bachelorette party in Charleston! Charleston is one of my favorite places, so when my matron of honor asked me where I would like to celebrate my transition from Miss to Mrs., I knew it would be Charleston. I wanted a fun, long weekend with my besties, which is exactly what I got! My matron of honor booked us a HomeAway in downtown Charleston right around the corner from King Street (where all of the restaurants, bars and shops are), which was the perfect size for five girls. If you have a larger bachelorette group, I would recommend finding a different place unless you want to pull out the air mattresses!
Charleston Bachelorette Shirts are from The Couture Kitten
Thursday morning, I met up with two of my girls, Emmy and Lauren, to head to Charleston! Two bathroom and Chick-Fil-A stops later we finally made it to our HomeAway and met up with the other girls who flew in from Texas! We were all pretty tired from traveling that day, so we just walked down the street to the closest restaurant to grab a bite to eat, and enjoyed some girl time at the house after.
The next morning, Lauren and I headed to a coffee shop to grab some coffee, and when we returned my matron of honor, Emmy, set up the table with all of the cute bridal goodies for me to wear all weekend!
All of these items are from Icing
We then proceeded to get ready and headed over to 82 Queen for brunch. If you are looking for a beautiful outdoor garden for brunch this is it! It was such a beautiful and whimsical setting with flowers, palm trees, gazebos, and butterfly chairs! There is something for everyone on this menu, from sandwiches to classic southern, Charleston style dishes.
Charleston Bachelorette Shirts are from The Couture Kitten
Don't forget to get a pink cocktail! ;)
We then proceeded to walk down King Street, which has all of the best shops, bars and restaurants. After browsing some of the shops, the girls decided it was time to step it up a notch for the bachelorette weekend and head for the bars! There are so many bars in Charleston, but the ones I would recommend are Stars (for the rooftop view) and The Rarebit for the best, fresh Moscow Mules you will ever taste!
After stopping at one of the bars, we went home and got ready to go to Félix for tapas and cocktails. After dinner, we got a table at Deco Nightclub for a night of dancing and fun. Initially, this was not supposed to be our "night out", so I wasn't even wearing my white dress, but I suppose you sometimes have to go with the flow and see where the night takes you - haha!
Pink Jumpsuit (sold out, similar here)
Saturday morning we were pretty exhausted from the previous night out, so we hung out at the house and had some delicious biscuits from Callie's Hot Little Biscuit. I got a pimento cheese and a cinnamon butter biscuit, and let me tell you - they were delicous!
Charleston Tote Bags from Sprinkled With Pink
Saturday evening we got dolled up (I finally got to wear my little white dress - hehe!) for dinner at Élevé at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charleston. I would definitely recommend eating dinner here! The spice rubbed salmon may have been my favorite meal the entire trip, and the decor and live music were the cherry on top! They also have a nice rooftop bar where the pictures below were taken.
Sunday morning we got brunch at Butcher and Bee, which is a popular brunch spot in Charleston, and for good reason! It was tasty!
After brunch at Butcher and Bee, we walked along the popular Charleston City Market, which is a must-see in Charleston, and the perfect place to pick up a souvenir. I purchased Charleston ornaments for each girl, thanking them for making my bachelorette party so memorable and special.
We ended our trip with a carriage tour from Classic Carriage Works. For those of you who have never been to Charleston, a carriage tour is the perfect way to see the city and learn about some of its history, which there is a lot of in Charleston! I would recommend doing this on your first day rather than your last if you have never been to Charleston, but it was certainly a fun way for us to end our trip.
More Bachelorette Party Activities in Charleston:
- Go to the beach- Downtown Charleston is only a 20 minute drive from Folly Beach, so if you are looking to kick back and relax with your girls with your toes in the sand, be sure to take a trip to the beach.
-Visit a Plantation- There are several beautiful and historic Plantations in Charleston, such as Boone Hall Plantation and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. If you are looking for historic sites and beautiful scenery, this one is for you!
-Get dolled up- visit the drybar to get blowouts and look fabulous for your big night out!
- Do something crafty - Try a candle making class at Candlefish, or have a flower crown party at Fetes de Fleurs to create cute flower crowns to wear around town and on your night out!
I hope you all found some inspiration for planning your upcoming bachelorette party in Charleston! If you have any questions or want more recommendations, feel free to leave a comment down below, or send me a message on my Instagram page (@looklovelyliving).
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xoxo
Rachel
I hope you all found some inspiration for planning your upcoming bachelorette party in Charleston! If you have any questions or want more recommendations, feel free to leave a comment down below, or send me a message on my Instagram page (@looklovelyliving).
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xoxo
Rachel
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Happy Thursday, Everyone!
With all of these warm summer days still upon us, I figured now is the perfect time to give you a little travel inspo featuring our trip to the Bahamas. Our trip last month to the Bahamas was nothing less than perfect. Each day was spent with a piña colada in hand and a view of the most stunning turquoise water, and for that reason I am convinced that it is impossible for anyone to be anything but happy while lounging on these tropical islands. I wanted to share a few snippets of our trip to Nassau with you and provide you with travel advice on what to do (outside of lounging on the beach, of course) and where to stay while in the Bahamas.
Black Swimsuit // Sarong (sold out), similar Here // Sunglasses, similar Here // Rattan Bag // Sandals // Jewelry
Tropical Top (Use code 'RACHEL15' for 15% off of your order) // Rattan Bag // Shorts // Straw Hat // Raffia Mules // Jewelry
Tropical Top (Use code 'RACHEL15' for 15% off of your order) // Rattan Bag // Shorts // Straw Hat // Raffia Mules // Sunglasses // Jewelry
Where To Stay:
The SLS Baha Mar is a new, trendy hotel in Nassau, Bahamas, and let me tell you, it is quite possibly the most Instagrammable place I have ever been. Everything, and I mean everything, is picturesque, luxurious and stylish, so for all of you bloggers and Instagram lovers out there this one is for you. The majority of my photos shown above are taken on the hotel property. The hotel itself is pink and is surrounded by palm trees and is filled with modern decor. There are several pools with cabanas and even an aquarium tank.
Where To Eat:
There are several fine dining options on the property. They are actually quite pricy, so I would be prepared to save up for this one. The mediterranean restaurant, Cleo, was my favorite, so be sure to try it when you go! If you are looking for a more affordable option, I would be sure to check out Cafe Madelaine for breakfast and brunch. They have several breakfast and lunch options as well as pastries, crepes and coffee. Another affordable option is to head to the food trucks and the huts down by the beach. The food trucks are just as cute as the resort, and you get to enjoy your meal with a view of the crystal clear waters. Nachos with a view - it doesn't get much better than that!
If you are wanting to go off of the property, I would highly recommend giving Dune a try. The food is superb, and the atmosphere is relaxing.
What to do:
Relax - First off, for a vacation in the tropics I highly recommend spending as much time as you can relaxing on the beach and just taking in the sound and color of the water. Our mundane and busy day to day lives with the never ending to-do list can leave even the most resilient of people exhausted and burnt out. Turn off that phone, close your laptop, and just enjoy a moment of doing nothing. Trust me, we all need it. The resort has a beautiful pier and a long stretch of beach with chairs and umbrellas, which is perfect for those of you like me who prefer to relax in the shade. There is even a station set up on the beach where you can buy a coconut to sip on some fresh coconut water, and then go back to have a bahama mama or piña colada made in your coconut. The water is calm along the shore, so you can relax and work on that summer tan on the large mats and floats fixed to the ocean floor!
Have a Cabana Day - One of the days we stayed at the hotel, we decided to have a cabana day! Naturally, the cabanas are adorable with black and white stripes, and credit for food and drinks is included, as well as a gorgeous (and delicious) fruit bowl for snacking. However, If you are looking for more of a vegas pool scene, the "Privilege Pool" is the place for you. DJ Diesel (aka Shaq) performed at the pool while we were there, and naturally you have to pay money and be eighteen years or order to attend. We decided that we would rather rent a cabana than join the party scene, and the pool we hung out at was literally right next to the privilege pool so we could hear all of the music just as if we were there. For those of you traveling with families, there is a family friendly pool that also has a fish tank in it, which makes it fun for the kiddos!
Casino & Shopping - For all of you gamblers out there, there is a really nice casino in hotel where you can spend your evenings (or days - I'm not judging!) having a grand time. There are also a few shops, including a Tiffany's, near the casinos if you feel the need to do a bit of shopping. Go ahead, you deserve it.
Visit The Straw Market - Don't be afraid to venture into downtown Nassau to explore and pick up some souvenirs (I would recommend the rum cake) for all of your loved ones back home. While you're there, be sure to stop by the straw market to pick out a cute summer bag while also supporting some of the locals. I picked up the most gorgeous straw tote I have ever seen (dramatic, but true), and I know I will have to go back for more if we make a trip back to the Bahamas one day.
Go On An Excurstion - Last, but not least, make an excursion to the Exuma islands. This was without a doubt my favorite day while in the Bahamas. You have the opportunity to feed iguanas and stingrays, swim with pigs, and go snorkeling all on the same day. They also provide you a lunch of freshly caught seafood, and make a conch salad (a Bahamian favorite) in front of you in the ocean. In order to get to the islands, you will take a boat with all of the other tourists, and I warn you - for those of you who get motion sick or have back problems, I would not recommend riding in the front of the boat to get there. They will warn you ahead of time, so you can stake your claim in the back of the boat, but I did not realize how rough it was actually going to be. My bum was airborne a couple of times, and I left feeling a little sore, but I must admit that it was actually quite fun - haha!
Bikini // Sunglasses
I hope you all enjoyed my travel diaries on our trip to the Bahamas last month. Nassau was kind to us, and our stay at the SLS Baha Mar was a dream. If any of you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the comments down below!
Have a lovely week!
xoxo
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Pom Pom Beanie (available in multiple colors) // Purse (sold out) similar here //
Pom Pom Keychain // Lipstick
Pom Pom Keychain // Lipstick
Hello everyone! Today, I have a special treat to share with you from my travels over the past couple of months, and as you can see it is from the beautiful real-life fairytale town of Hallstatt, Austria! It is hard to believe that a place such as this one actually exists in real life and not only in Disney movies. My inner child was screaming and my adult self was marveling at the beauty of this place. The trees on the mountains surrounding the town and lake were filled with green and autumnal colors, and the buildings in the town truly look like they stepped out of a fairytale book. I love unique architecture, and it is even better when there are flowers draping down from every windowsill. I wish I could say that the pictures do it justice, but they simply do not! To truly experience the magnificence of Hallstatt, you have to journey there yourself. Breathing in the crisp mountain air, feeling the breeze while cruising the lake, and just wandering through the narrow alleyways and hills is worth more than the images captured. Although, I must say I quite like those too. ;) If you're not already heading to the nearest airport, I am going to share with you my little travel diary from our 24 hours spent in Hallstatt, Austria.
Jay and I only spent 24 hours in Hallstatt, and while you can easily see everything within the 24 hours, we wished we could have spent one more day just to relax, drink lattes and spend time together exploring the beauty of this place. We stayed at the Aichbergersche Haus (Airbnb), an adorable pink wooden cabin, which was so cozy and cute! There were a lot of windows and a little outdoor balcony with views of the surrounding homes and mountains.
We started out our day wandering around the narrow streets and alleyways in the Old Town, admiring the unique homes that fill the mountainside. Be sure to take a walk through the Central Square Marktplatz, which is the perfect place to get a few Instagram shots. Unfortunately, there was a bit of construction in the square while we were there, but we still got to see it and took several Instagram worthy images on every street and corner! After wandering around for a bit we grabbed a melange (basically an Austrian cappuccino) and a bite to eat along the water where we tried an Austrian soup that has strips of pancakes in it! Yep, pancakes! One of my favorite things about traveling is experiencing and trying new things - especially when it comes to food!
After eating, we wandered around the gift shops and bought your typical souvenirs (mugs and ornaments), but also brought home some natural soaps and specialty salts made in Austria. Austria is known for its salt mine, so feel free to ride the funicular up the mountain to visit, but Jay and I decided to skip the salt mine. Instead, we visited the skywalk and a restaurant, where we enjoyed a melange and cheese curd strudel (another Austrian favorite) with a view overlooking Hallstatt, the Hallstatter See and the Salzkammergut mountains.
After our descent down the mountain, we then rented a boat for a half hour to cruise along the Hallstatter See. This was without a doubt our favorite part of the trip! There was only one other boat on the lake, so we were able to really enjoy our time together and enjoy the views surrounding us. Also, for those of you who love taking scenic photos, I got all of my best shots of Hallstatt while on the lake.
After our boat ride we finished off with a candlelit dinner overlooking the lake at the Seehotel Gruner Baum, where I indulged in schnitzel (a classic Austrian dish) and Jay enjoyed a seafood dish!
Hallstatt, Austria is truly a fairytale, and I highly recommend for anyone to travel there. I hope that this travel diary gives you an idea of what you can see/do in 24 hours, but like I said before, I could definitely spend more time here just to enjoy the scenic beauty of Hallstatt!
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