Everything you Need to Plan a Sparkly Bash in the Big Easy
Caroline Rosa Marketing is comprised of dancers, drag queens, comedians, actors, visual artists, and costume designers and we know a thing or two about how (and where) to keep the party going. We're here to help ensure your pre-wedding festivities, in our favorite city, are an absolute blast. Grab your crew (or krewe) and get ready to unleash your celebration on the Big Easy. In New Orleans we believe in debauchery with a side of dazzle (and we've got the wardrobe to prove it.) So here’s what to do in NOLA plus all the best spots to eat & drink for bachelorette groups and of course, what to wear!
Themes:
This is New Orleans. We throw themed costume affairs year-round. So a themeless bachelorette party is kind of blasphemous. No shade if that’s not your jam, but at least consider one night out with some coordinating attire that will make the evening unforgettable! Of course, decor always helps, but the sparkle fashion is what really brings together a themed bachelorette party. So, here are some suggestions that will keep the bride-to-be and her squad talking about it for years to come.
Wig Out: Let your hair down and channel your inner diva by rocking colorful wigs. A shake and go always looks fun in bright hues, but getting a custom-styled one (hello, Fifi Mahoney’s!) for the bride really stands out. Get ready to dance the night away and capture some hilarious photos that will make for unforgettable memories.
Pin-up: Step into a time machine and transport yourselves to the glamorous era of pin-up girls. Embrace the vintage vibes with red lipstick, victory rolls, and retro-inspired outfits. Our high-waisted sequin pants are a perfect play on this era with a touch of modern sparkle. Get ready for a night filled with timeless elegance, fun poses, and perhaps a burlesque dance class to spice things up!
Disco: It looks like you have a fever, baby…a disco fever! Get groovy on the dance floor in a caftan, platform shoes, and throw in some 70’s accessories to really sell it. A sequin duster with some high waisted denim shorts also gives Disco Party fantasy.
Witch/Coven: Witch, please. It’s time to embrace your inner mystic and tap into the world of magic and enchantment; you are in New Orleans afterall. Dress up in witchy attire, but skip the pointed hats and flowing capes. Opt for a black outfits, heavy smokey eyeliner and a dark lip. Gather your coven for a night of tarot card readings in Jackson Square and visit Crescent City Conjure or Esoterica.
Saints & Sinners: Embrace the duality within and throw a party that explores the contrast between naughty and nice. Dress up as angels and demons, or saints and sinners, and let the bride-to-be decide which path to follow for the night. Split your krewe and have some wear black & red while others opt for white & pink iridescence.
Sparkly: If you love all things shiny, like we do, this theme is for you. Don a sequined caftan or duster from Fringe & Co. and top it off with some cosmetic glitter as you celebrate the bride-to-be in style. Whether you opt for a glitzy rooftop party or a night out at a classy cocktail bar, this theme will ensure that you shine bright like a diamond throughout the evening.
Last Hurrah: Throw it back to the bride's favorite decade or a nostalgic era by hosting a "last hurrah" party. Whether it's the '80s, '90s, or any other memorable time, encourage guests to dress up accordingly and relive the glory days. Grab a party tee with a band from that decade and celebrate the bachelorette with nostalgia.
Barbie Core: Even though the Barbie buzz has come & gone, we think pink will be “in” for a while. From rose-colored cocktails and decorations to everyone donning pink ‘fits, this theme is all about creating the bride’s fantasy dreamland for the weekend.
Remember, the most important thing is to have fun and create lasting memories for the bride-to-be. So, choose a theme that resonates with her personality, get creative, and let the celebration begin!
Things to do in New Orleans:
There’s nothing like a bachelorette pool party! Coinciding swimsuits, matching koozies, and super cute floaties: is there anything better!? If you aren’t staying at a hotel or an air bnb that has a pool, we have the recs of the best spots in town, depending on your preferences. And if you are celebrating the bride-to-be in NOLA during the summer consider a pool day a requirement.
The Country Club is the best bet for amenities with a party vibe. For $20 you get access to the pool, hot tub & sauna all day plus the food and drink options are pretty stellar. If you can get reservations, you can see their much applauded drag brunch and stay for a swim.
For a slightly more upscale experience, head uptown to the pool at the Chloe Hotel. For $30-$40 a day you can get a pool pass for the day (plus a turkish linen). This oasis is nestled away from historic St. Charles Ave. behind lush topiaries. Though chaises are for guests only, you can enjoy the pool and tables with adorable umbrellas while sipping some unique cocktails and snacking on some delicious bites.
If your crew has more of a downtown vibe, the pool at the Drifter Hotel might be more your speed. Located in a refurbished old motel on Tulane Avenue in Mid-City, this laidback swimming hole has more of an “anything goes” vibe. After a $10 entry fee you can get two hours of swim time, grab a drink, and even go “topless optional” if that’s your group’s cup of tea. The space has a retro vibe and the pink painted concrete offers some good selfie spots.https://www.trixieminx.com/
After a day of swimming you’ll want to get showered and ready for a fun night out, New Orleans style. And one thing the Big Easy is historically known for is our burlesque shows. No shade to the Chippendale Dancers around the world, but burlesque & drag shows are the way to go for a bachelorette party.
The Allways Lounge has amazing burlesque shows nearly every night of the week. Make sure to check their calendar to see that you’re into the theme and get tickets in advance. You can also check what Trixie Minx, the unofficial queen of New Orleans burlesque, is up to. She performs and produces shows multiple times a week around town. She also owns Trixie’s Burlesque Boutique in the Quarter and teaches classes for bachelorette groups!
New Orleans has a great drag community with a variety of different styles depending where you go. For a bachelorette group drag brunch is a surefire win. The Country Club drag brunch is a stop all on its own, even if you forgo the pool oasis outback. The dining room and bathrooms are gorgeous and insta worthy and the food is high quality. To cross off two New Orleans experiences in one you can step aboard the Creole Queen paddlewheeler for a drag brunch river cruise. If a nighttime drag show is more your speed check the websites to see what’s going on at Oz (more traditional) & Allways Lounge (more indie/avant garde). And don’t forget to check Katrina Waters’ schedule: our favorite drag queen in all of New Orleans!
For a drag show, wearing sequins is the way to go. Why? Sparkles get attention! And you want the drag performers to notice you and your group. While they shower you with attention and an awesome performance, you shower them with singles! Oh right, sparkles and dollars get you attention. Make sure you bring both to the drag show.
If your friends want to see some New Orleans art & culture without having to brave a (possibly boring) museum trip, you definitely want to hit up Jam NOLA. It’s the city’s first experiential pop-up that takes visitors through a twelve room Crescent City-themed cultural experience. It’s 17 colorful, eye-popping exhibits celebrating the iconic art, music, food and theatrics of New Orleans. Get your camera ready, there are endless photo ops in this place and you’re certain to go on a selfie spree.
A bachelorette party is the perfect time to wig out. Fifi Mahoney’s is a wig and costume shop in the heart of the French Quarter that does wig parties for bachelorette groups. You can pay to try on a few wigs during business hours or schedule something more official. They also do actual hair at their salon in the back and sell super cute accessories and makeup up front. The group wig pose pic in front of Fifi’s is a New Orleans bachelorette tradition!
If your group has their sea legs, go for a booze cruise on a pedal boat or party barge. NOLA Booze Cruise offers a variety of boats that cruise on a bayou river near New Orleans. It’s only $59 a head or you can rent out the entire boat if you want to ensure no randos end up on your cruise. The boats come equipped with ice chests and cup holders, just BYOB and don’t forget snacks too.
New Orleans is a live music mecca and there’s only one place to go if you want to see some of the best Jazz, Blues, Zydeco & more in the world: Frenchmen Street. Frenchmen is like the local’s Bourbon Street. Sure, you will still find tourists and big groups over there, but locals love it too.
I’m going to give you the local’s trick to finding the best music on Frenchmen Street. Simply walk the couple blocks where music venues and bars make up nearly every business and pick one. Which venue has the best music? Out front you can hear the music spilling into the street; circle the block and choose the beat that speaks to you! And each night is different. Thursdays through Sundays are the busiest but most nights the cover charges are free or cheap pretty much everywhere.
If you’re an American Horror Story fan or a lover of all things spooky, you have to do a ghost tour in the French Quarter. Nighttime is clearly the best time to book one of these tours. You can pay for a private tour or just bring your krewe on whichever themed-tour you want (the city limits groups to 28 people). There are a plethora of different ghost tour companies in New Orleans but Haunted History is the oldest and arguably most well-known. They have ghost, cemetery, bus, vampire, or the “5 in 1,” tours. For bachelorette parties? We suggest the pub-crawl. It gives you more opportunities to socialize and you get to tour haunted bars you might not stop at otherwise. The pub crawl also gives your group more chances to socialize at the bar; don’t be the jerk talking during the tour guide’s stories or too drunk to walk the pot-hole riddled streets of the Quarter.
If street art and hip areas of town are more your scene, then head to the Bywater & Marigny for the New Orleans Street Art & Mural Walk. You can experience murals and hidden street art while learning about the city's underground art scene (and passing plenty of great photo ops along the way!). Explore the largest concentration of street art, murals, and graffiti in New Orleans, painted by world-famous and local artists alike (um, hello Banksy!?).
A good daytime excursion is to shop the historic French Market, open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. A flea market, farmers market, and food court wrapped into one, the French Market is a great casual spot to stroll with a group. Honestly, it’s a good place to kill some time and walk off whatever giant meal you undoubtedly just ate. If you do show up hungry though, there are some genuinely great food kiosks and a couple of really tasty restaurants right across the street too. This is a good last day stop if you put off buying souvenirs for your family back home.
What happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans. That is unless you commemorate your wild and crazy trip with a tattoo or piercing. Hey, why not! A few warnings to heed before going the tattoo or piercing route while in NOLA: drinking excessively before or after a tattoo can cause some healing issues. Also, after getting a facial piercing you shouldn’t open-mouth kiss for six weeks (there’s always that one bridesmaid). And finally, you don’t want to plan that pool party after getting either done, otherwise you’ll be stuck sitting poolside. Still down to make a (semi-) permanent mark!? There are two reputable & talent-filled tattoo parlors right smack dab in the middle of the Frenchmen Street action, namely Downtown Tattoos.
Non-Drinking Activities:
New Orleans is definitely a drinking town. Afterall, we’re the only city in the U.S. where you can legally drink anywhere on the street (as long as it’s in a plastic cup!). That being said, there is so much to New Orleans besides alcohol. For the sober crews, or the groups that just want to really remember the bachelorette festivities, here are some suggestions for booze-free frivolity.
To the boho beauties, do you want to inspire a natural and timeless photoshoot with your gals while having fun and learning a skill in the meantime? Cue the Doris Ione flower cart! This local florist has a super cute setup and will teach private workshops for groups, including how to create your own gorgeous flower crown. All supplies are included so you can walk in sans headpiece and walk out with a fabulous new floral accessory.
No bachelorette party is complete without some wardrobe and accessories courtesy of Fringe & Co.. This local small business creates sparkly “wearable” fun and if you want to find exclusive pieces while you’re in town, you can actually book a private shopping experience at the Haus of Fringe, their headquarters. See their stock and actually try on their signature caftans, headwraps, and tinsel jackets while twirling around their warehouse (AKA adorable photo studio).
Opting to go alcohol free for the bachelorette weekend lends itself toward healthier and more active excursions. Yoga is a great low-impact activity that will get your group’s blood pumping and ready for the day. New Orleans has a variety of small, quality, yoga studios. But for those wanting to really kick up the party a notch, Bride Vibe Yoga will come to you to host a private class tailor-made for bachelorette groups! You can even pick your playlist inspiration.
Shopping on Magazine Street is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon in New Orleans. A six mile stretch from the French Quarter all the way up town to Audubon Park, Magazine Street has a plethora of shopping, food, and fun. There’s a mix of vintage stores, grab-and-go restaurants, bakeries, shoe stores (hello Feet First!) novelty shops, bars, and fine dining. AKA something for everyone in your group! Magazine Street is a great spot to split off so everyone can do something they love. Just meet back up before dinner, and maybe with enough time to grab some macaroons at Sucre.
Where to go Out in New Orleans:
The Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone is something you have to see to believe. This famous bar, which opened in 1949, is an actual carnival-style merry-go-round. And no, you haven’t been overserved, the Carousel Bar is actually spinning. Even if you can’t catch a coveted seat on this rotating bar, it’s worth it just to grab a drink and sit nearby. This lounge is an upscale start or end to any evening but it gets packed at peak hours. Make sure to give yourself enough time to get photos in and outside the ornate hotel where it’s housed, built in 1886. They are well-known for the Sazeracs but don’t sleep on the French 007, their take on a French 75.
For one of the best views in the city, head to Hot Tin, the rooftop bar in the Pontchartrain Hotel that features a breathtaking perspective of downtown New Orleans and the Mississippi River. Located on historic St. Charles Ave., this 1940’s inspired space gives off speak-easy vibes, starting on the elevator ride. Their cocktail menu is fresh without being fussy and they have multiple bubbles options for cheersing the bride-to-be!
Inside the Pontchartrain Hotel there’s another must-top for bachelorette parties looking to do it up right. Jack Rose, located off the lobby, is a lively restaurant that is eclectic and fun. If you have time, they do group reservations (with tasting menu options) for dinner, but this spot is perfect for pre-game drinks and pics as well. Their celebratory drink options serve up to eight people and chambongs have a permanent place on their menu. Bottoms up, b*tches!
A New Orleans tradition since 1946, Brennan’s has an innovative creole menu but is also the perfect spot to cheers to your French Quarter fantasy. This famous pink locale offers “Bubbles at Brennan’s” Thursdays to Mondays, where you can enjoy deeply discounted bubble bottles and champagne sabering in the charming courtyard. Dress to impress, Brennan’s is a place to see and be seen by New Orleans society.
Built in 1883, the Columns Hotel is a New Orleans bar tradition that is not to be missed. With a view of the St. Charles streetcar, the patio is the best spot to sit and sip, though the dim indoor lounge does have its own appeal. Their cocktail program has been reinvigorated by James Beard award-nominees and includes a wide array of both classic and original cocktails.
A bar devoted to bubbles? Yes, please! Effervescence is a champagne bar on the edge of the French Quarter that has nearly 20 sparkling wines by the glass and an almost 30-page menu of sparkling bottles alone! But their curated Bubbly Flights, served in full or half orders, are so fun to sip and compare with your friends. For those who don’t do champagne, they have a full menu of other wine, cocktails and mocktails and some caviar and house-made chips for those feeling peckish (and boujee).
The Allways Lounge, known as the Pearl of New Orleans, is the spot for burlesque, indie drag shows, and alternative theatre. Located in a funky cabaret-style theater, this spot has a vintage feel and two stages with a variety of performances and interesting entertainment happening every night. The bar isn’t super fancy but has great options for anyone’s tastes. Don’t forget to check the schedule and get tickets ahead of time. And NEVER forget your tipping dollars!
For our LGBTQ bachelorettes, or those parties just looking for a good time, you have to hit up the amazing gay bars of the French Quarter; lovingly referred to as the “Fruit Loop.” For as large as New Orleans is, the LGBTQ bars are not really spread throughout town but rather are clumped together in one historic area. No matter, the high density of gay bars means the Fruit Loop is the perfect spot to bar hop, especially for a celebration! Make sure to hit up Oz, Bourbon Pub, Good Friends, Lafitte’s in Exile and it’s worth the short walk down to Golden Lantern for their flavored vodka selection alone.
Dancing in New Orleans is a bit different than most other cities. There’s no one perfect recommendation for groups to go dancing; it really depends on your vibe. For us? We like to get down at some of the LGBTQ bars mentioned above. For a college-aged group looking for “nothing fancy” might prefer the Goldmine. Those who like EDM might find something at Republic, Ohm Lounge, or Rabbit Hole. Tourists looking for the “Bourbon experience” might meander down the street until they hear music they like; we prefer to do the same but down on Frenchmen Street. It’s a much chiller vibe.
Places to Eat:
Josephine Estelle, an upscale Italian restaurant inside the Ace Hotel is open for breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner. It’s a less rowdy restaurant for a more reserved evening and a perfect stop, as there are plenty of other destinations in the hotel (their coffee bar and rooftop pool are worth the trip alone). Of course wine always pairs well with Italian but they also have a section on their menu for mocktails, a great option for those having an alcohol-free celebration.
Sofia is a fun and funky high-energy restaurant in the heart of New Orleans Warehouse District that serves Italian inspired cuisine. This place is known for its cocktails, there’s a DIY Spritz section on the beverage menu and they have group cocktails served for 2-4 people. This a great option for groups with dietary restrictions as many of their dishes are vegetarian and any of their pastas or pizzas can be made gluten free.
Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar has all the essentials for making it a must-stop on a bachelorette weekend: a lush patio, fresh seafood, perfectly mixed tropical cocktails, cute bathrooms, and Insta-worthy spots abound. It’s an urban hideaway in the middle of the Warehouse District. And despite being upscale (oysters and caviar, anyone?), it’s got a no-fuss, relaxed vibe. Wearing one of our Daddy or Baddie sets would work perfectly here.
Birdy’s is a brunch spot in the Lower Garden District that is perfect for large groups. They serve Southern-Inspired house-made breakfast staples and lighter, health-conscious fare as well. Get your camera ready for their brunch board which features every sweet and savory decadence one could hope for: from charcuterie to donuts and waffles to soft boiled eggs. And yes, they have bottomless mimosas.
Willa Jean, a contemporary, woman-run bakery in the Central Business District that does a modern spin on Southern favorites. There’s a section on their menu called “Biscuit Situation,” and once you’re stuck trying to decide between sweet or savory you’ll understand the situation they mean. For a full meal, their breakfast plates also offer something for everyone, including gluten free options like Huevos Rancheros or the “Hangover Bowl.” Don’t forget to try one of their seasonal cocktails or their Frosé.
Gather your krewe and flock to Flamingo-A-Go-Go, your go-go to destination for group dining and drinking. This place is perfect for bottomless brunching, mid-day munching, and outdoor day drinking. Their dishes are a Southern/Spanish twist on standard American fare, so it’s great for the groups with a picky eater. Their drinks (and drink specials!) are the main draw, as is their vibrant patio; it’s a vibe!
I hope our Big Easy Bachelorette Guide helped give you some inspo for your big weekend. Just pick a theme and start planning. Remember, we live big and dress even bigger in New Orleans. Remember to pack costumes and epic makeup or be prepared to grab some once you get here. Be safe and enjoy NOLA! Remember, the weekend is a marathon, not a sprint.
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