how to host the best-ever bachelorette weekend (or girls' weekend!) in Charleston, South Carolina
This post was updated on July 3, 2023 to reflect new restaurants, rentals, + nightlife; it may contain affiliate links, which go to support our small business at no cost to you.
Planning a weekend in Charleston, South Carolina? I'm a local Charleston resident who specializes in throwing great parties -- read on for a few of my tips to have your best Charleston weekend ever!
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1. Rent a beach house. Not everyone realizes that Charleston is super close to not one but multiple islands that have beach houses and condos for rent. What better way to celebrate your girls than at your own beach house? I recommend Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms, or Folly Beach for their beaches as well as their easy accessibility to the downtown nightlife.
A few tips on the different beaches: Folly Beach is great if you want to go out near the beach and not venture too far for nightlife & restaurants -- Folly actually has its own little beach town with some great party spots, local brunch favorites, & a little (tiny) bit of shopping. The houses here aren't the huge, beautifully decorated beach-side homes that you might imagine, but Folly has a lot of charm and feels more like a local spot. It's a little further to get downtown, though -- so weigh what you want to do and if you're going to want to spend more time beach-side or downtown on the Peninsula! Isle of Palms & Sullivan's Island are right next to each other on the east side of Charleston, and they're equally beautiful -- both will offer the big, beach-y houses you might be imagining for your bachelorette. Sullivan's & IOP are both an easier drive to downtown Charleston, so if you want an equal mix of beach time and downtown party time, either of these islands will be perfect for you. Some of my favorite Charleston restaurants are on Sullivan's Island, too -- Obstinate Daughter would be great for a nice dinner out with your ladies, and Poe's Tavern has amazing burgers for a quick lunch after a day on the beach.
Don't worry, you can't go wrong with any of the islands around Charleston -- no matter what island you choose, you'll have a great time. I love renting bikes to explore the beaches, and there are a few yoga and barre studios around town that will come to you and teach a morning class on the beach to your group. If you don't care at all about spending time on the Peninsula (downtown), Kiawah Island is beautiful & much more secluded -- if you're interested in biking, golfing, & beaching, this is the spot for you.
Update for 2023: the Charleston peninsula is now absolutely bursting with rentals! YourPad Charleston + Guesthouse Charleston are two of our favorite property management groups — every house of theirs that we’ve been in has been flawless + so fun to decorate! Cannon + Spring Streets are where 90% of the Airbnbs are located, and it’s the perfect area to walk to King Street for nightlife, shopping, + restaurants.
Got your house booked + just need someone to decorate? We can help with that! Check out our signature decor services!
Related post: four tips for your perfect destination bachelorette or girls' weekend
2. Accessorize. Once you’ve got that house, deck it out! Decorate with a backdrop for an Instagram moment, and make sure your mimosa bar is well stocked so you and your girls can pop champagne all night long. Don’t forget party favors – makeup pouches, personalized water bottles, and hangover kits will help your girls remember their Charleston weekend. Check out our favorites for favors!
Don’t stress too much about decor, though — I totally know that Instagram can make it look like everyone is going crazy, but if you’re limited on budget, stick to a cute Instagram moment or a welcome bar cart! The key is making your bride or birthday girl feel special, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to spend a million dollars. At the end of the day, something small + special will make all the difference, and you’re really there to celebrate!
That being said, it’s fun to go all out, too! Our premium party packages are designed to take all the work out of decor for you, which is especially great if you’re coming from out of town — don't waste your precious luggage space on decorations & favors when we can handle it for you! Need more of a middle-of-the-road option for decor? Our signature party packages are perfect, too!
Psst: bride-to-be Katie partied with us in Charleston -- see how we decked out her downtown rental!
photo credit: Lashaunta at @charlestonbridetribe is our favorite for bachelorette photo shoots in Charleston!
3. Eat like a queen. Charleston has some of the best restaurants and nightlife in the country; take advantage of that and don’t just go where everyone else is going. Some of my favorites include Uptown Social, Leon’s Oyster Shop, + Edmund’s Oast – call ahead or look on Resy if you’ve got a big group. For catering, we adore Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit, Hometeam BBQ, + Taco Boy.
4. Brunch. Self-explanatory & goes with number three. Charleston has an incredible brunch scene - make sure you have time in your itinerary for a long brunch followed by a true Sunday Funday, hopping from brunch to bar to the beach. Park & Grove is my number one pick for brunch, with Butcher + Bee as a close second.
Brunch at Park & Grove!
5. Book a unique activity. Add an extra element to your weekend by planning an activity that your girls will love. A few ideas we love:
pouring your own candles at a shop downtown (we love Charleston Candle Co!)
a day at Folly Beach (don’t forget beach chairs!)
That being said, don’t overplan — we’ve seen too many groups that pack every second with activities + it ends up being too much. Choose one or so a day, and include time for just walking around downtown, too! Ultimately, you’re here to be with your girls, and you’re going to have the best time ever, no matter what. We often hear that groups have the most fun on their downtime when they didn’t have a super solid plan!
Related post: three ideas for your bachelorette weekend (that aren't just bar-hopping)
6. Make the most of being in Charleston! Charleston is amazing and has so much to offer – the nightlife is a huge draw, obviously, but our history, beaches, and hospitality are what make our city so special. Take advantage of everything we have to offer and explore our beautiful area!
Enjoy your weekend, you lovely ladies!
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