As our wedding quickly approaches, people are always asking me if it’s been stressful? Have I finished planning everything? Has this time been exciting or extremely busy? Am I ready for the wedding to get here?
The answer to all of these questions is: Yes. Wedding planning is such a crazy, beautiful season of life, but if I had to pick one emotion to describe it all, I’d have to say “feeling loved.” Never before in my life have I felt so loved by all the people around us who have come together to prepare Alex and me for this new season of life. Whether it be through wedding showers, kind words and advice, or coveted prayers, our family and friends have reinforced the notion of community and the true meaning of fellowship.
One such moment of feeling immensely loved was my bachelorette trip to Savannah, Georgia. For four days, my bridesmaids showered me with love and surprises as we explored this historic city on the Atlantic coast.
Prior to this trip, I had never visited Savannah, but I had no doubt I would love the city because of its sights, history, culture, and – most importantly – food! My sisters and mom planned the entire trip, which meant each event on our schedule was a surprise to me until it happened. Thanks to their dedicated research, we had such a fantastic trip, and if you’re looking to plan a girls’ weekend to Savannah, hopefully you’ll plan to incorporate a few of these things into your schedule!
Thursday
After a long day’s drive, we finally reached Savannah and settled into our quaint loft in Downtown Savannah. We started our trip by eating at The Pirates’ House, a restaurant built in/around the oldest standing building in Georgia. Inside the restaurant, we were greeted by pirate tour guides and authentic escape tunnels from the building’s origin.
Entrée: Jumbo Lump Crab cake & Broiled Shrimp (served with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables)
Drink: Savannah Tea (Fruitland, GA peach tea vodka, peach schnapps, sour mix and Coca-Cola served in a souvenir Pirates’ House grog mason jar)
After an evening stroll through the city, we stopped for a dessert drink at Jen’s and Friends, where they are famous for making over 300 different types of martinis! In signature style, I chose the birthday cake martini – complete with a slice of birthday cake on the rim.
Friday
We started the morning with Mimosas at the loft, and then we set out on our first adventure. Much to my delight, we were going on a food tour! Savannah Taste Experience offers daily walking food tours, featuring six select restaurants all while learning about the city’s unique past. Although we only spent a few minutes at each location, I absolutely plan to go back for a full meal at each of these places next time I go to Savannah:
- 22 Square
- Pie Society
- Molly MacPherson’s Scottish Pub
- Prohibition
- The Ordinary Pub
- Savannah Bee Company
(As an added bonus, we stopped in Savannah’s Candy Kitchen to try their famous, melt-in-your-mouth pecan pralines!)
After finishing our tour on Broughton Street, we decided to shop. From Gap to Free People to J. Crew, Savannah has all the best stores (and plenty of great sales too!).
That night, we went to Belford’s Seafood and Steaks for dinner where the customer service was absolutely fantastic. The ambiance made for great conversation and a chance for my bridesmaids to either reconnect or get to know each other for the first time.
Entrée: 12 oz. 55-Day Aged USDA Prime NY Strip Steak
Drink: Honey Bee
Although I would consider my bridesmaids and myself to be a very chill group, we felt like we couldn’t not go out while we were in Savannah. After a pleasant hour overlooking the river on the rooftop bar of The Bohemian Hotel, we decided to make our way farther down river to the Savannah Smiles Dueling Pianos bar. Although there was a cover fee to get in, I would 10/10 recommend going there. It was super crowded and hard to find a seat initially, but the artists were extremely talented and able to play almost any crowd request.
Saturday
The next morning, we got a somewhat late start as we headed in search of brunch. Unfortunately, our first choice, Treylor Perk, did not have seating available for a large party – nor did they take reservations ahead of time. After securing a reservation at the iconic Olde Pink House, we decided to do some more shopping on River Street before making our way to lunch.
When researching Savannah, The Olde Pink House is sure to come up on iconic places to visit. Hear me now – DO NOT GO THERE. The restaurant was certainly pretty, but the service was horrible. After sitting at the table for nearly 30 minutes, a waitress finally came to take our order. It took another hour before we received our food – and that was only after I hunted down a manager to see what the problem was. When the food finally came out, several dishes were prepared incorrectly – and I promise we are not a difficult/needy group. It was just a bad experience all around. I so badly wanted to like this restaurant – especially given its history – but I do not plan to ever go back.
Entrée: Fried Shrimp Tacos
Another signature Savannah stop is Leopold’s Ice Cream. Although we waited in line for nearly 45 minutes, it was 100% worth it. This signature ice-cream shop is located in a vintage soda shop and features a wide variety of ice-cream flavors. I tried the coffee flavor in a waffle cone, but I’m certain you can’t go wrong with any of the delicious flavors they offer!
After the long lunch and long line for ice cream, we had very little time before needing to get ready for our evening plans. We did have just enough time to visit The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – an exquisite church that has lead people in worship for over 200 years.
After throwing a special bachelorette party complete with cake and cookies for me, my bridesmaids adorned my head with a veil and donned their own fascinators (in true Kate Middleton style!), and we set off for dinner at Vic’s on the River where we had a stunning view of the orange and pink sunset as it faded down the river.
Entrée: Pecan Crusted Flounder (flash fried, citrus honey butter sauce, & Savannah Sausage Co. Andouille hash)
Drink: Moscow Mule
After dinner, we went to McDonough’s Restaurant & Lounge where they are famous for karaoke. While it seemed like a good idea at first, the bar was more crowded than we originally anticipated and somehow being “in the next ten” to sing karaoke turned into about 25 groups in front of us. At the end of it all, we had a great time singing Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman” as a group and then headed home for the evening.
Sunday
After loading up our car on Sunday morning, we went to Huey’s on the River for brunch. While everyone else seemed to enjoy their food, the red beans and rice I ate was just okay. I would consider ordering more traditional brunch food next time.
As everyone said their goodbyes and headed to their cars, I was so overwhelmed with emotion at what a perfect weekend it had been. To have these eight ladies spend their time and money on a trip to celebrate me and my upcoming marriage meant more than words can truly ever describe. They each have made a special impact on my life and to see them all come together and mesh so well was a beautiful thing.
So yes, I’ve been stressed, I’m almost finished planning, I’ve been busy, I am excited and so ready for the wedding to get here, but above all I’ve felt loved – by Alex, by our family, and by our many wonderful friends. A special thank you to my bridesmaids who went above and beyond and showered me with this amazing girls’ weekend in Savannah. Let’s do it again!
Mack of All Trades 