Bachelorette Perfection

After my Nana passed away last Friday, I was, of course, very upset and felt like it would be wrong to go out for my bachelorette party that was scheduled for the next night. I didn't know how much I wanted to be celebrating after such an emotional and heartbreaking event. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that a night out with my girlfriends was probably just what I needed after a stressful and sad time. I had already requested something low key that wouldn't break the bank for anyone, which ended up being dinner and drinks with 10 of my fabulous girlfriends, so we went ahead with everything as planned that Saturday night.

We headed to El Vez, a Stephen Starr restaurant in Philadelphia. Stephen Starr is known for owning some of the coolest restaurants in Philly, and El Vez is no exception. It's a contemporary Mexican restaurant with perhaps the greatest guacamole I have ever tasted. (The pitchers of margaritas and sangria weren't so bad, either!) I was surprised at how reasonably priced everything was, and it was the perfect atmosphere for my fun-but-not-crazy night out.


My Matron of Honor, Kelli, came prepared with a veil and sash for me. The sash was surprisingly chic — white satin with black satin trim, embroidered with "Future Mrs. Cupcake" on it. (She got it on ebay!)

Me with my fabulous Maid and Matron of Honor — Nicole (left) and Kelli (right). Nicole and I have been best friends since 8th grade. She now lives in Austria and is home this summer for all of the exciting wedding festivities. She will be back in September for the wedding! Kelli is a trooper — she is pregnant and due only 2 weeks after our wedding, and she looks fabulous. I have given her belly some tough love and told baby that she is not allowed to arrive until I am home from our honeymoon. I need to be in the waiting room cheering on my BFF!

My friend Ali who I met at an old job (left) and my oldest friend Jill (right) — we grew up across the street from each other! Ali is also pregnant and due NEXT WEEK! She looks amazing.

Bridesmaid Chrissy (left) and bridesmaid/SIL Kim (right), my NYC peeps! Chrissy and I met in high school playing angels in our school's production of Anything Goes. Kimmy married Brother Cupcake last June but has been part of the family for eight years :-)

Did I mention that one of the best parts of El Vez is that there is an old-fashioned photo booth? After all the fun we had, now I really can't wait to have the photo booth set up at our wedding!

(Click to enlarge if you want to see all the funny faces I am capable of.) From l-r: me with MOH's Kelli and Nicole; me and Jen, one of my best friends from college; me and bridesmaid/SIL Kim; me and bridesmaid Chrissy; me and my friend Blake

It was also Nicole's birthday, so I had the waitress surprise her with a little dessert and "happy birthday" action.

The whole she-bang of ladies before leaving El Vez

After a fun dinner at El Vez, we decided to venture to a nearby bar for some drinks and to chit chat more. We decided on JL Sullivan's Speakeasy, downstairs at the Bellevue. As soon as we walked in the bartender spotted me with my veil on and handed me a glass of champagne — how sweet! We found a table and relaxed, and it was the perfect time to catch up with my ladies over a glass (or a bottle.... or two!) of champagne. Plus, not all of my friends knew each other before the evening began, so it was fun to see people getting along and getting to know each other!

Jen and I have about 50 pictures like this from college! I'm a hugger.

Nicole and me showing off my fabulous sash

Mr. Cupcake and my brother had generously offered to be our chauffers for the evening, so around midnight I decided that I had had a fabulous time with my girlfriends and I was ready to call it a night. I called Mr. Cupcake to pick us up, but it took him a little while to get going (or, ahem, wake up) and meet up with my brother. Since we had another half hour until the boys would arrive after we left JL Sullivans, we decided why not grab just one more drink at another bar?

Jill, Nicole, me and Chrissy, heading to our next destination. These ladies are all friends of mine from high school. (I also had to shamelessly show off my super cute Nicole Miller dress.)

We headed down the street to Fado, which, coincidentally, is where Mr. Cupcake and I celebrated with friends the day that we got engaged last February. At Fado, there was music, there was dancing, and in just 30 minutes, there were a LOT of pictures.

All the girls left at this point in the evening — Chrissy, Jill, me, Nicole, Blake and Kim

New friends Blake and Kim!

We don't know these girls, but they kept feeling the need to stick their heads through the bars next to the dance floor. Mysterious.

There had been another bachelorette party going on at El Vez, and they had an extra light-up bling ring that they generously gave to me! You can't see the red light, but it was fabulous, as you can tell by Chrissy's admiration of it.

Ah yes. The alcohol starting to take effect.

I like to pretend that the man behind us is laughing at something else, even though he is staring directly at us.

I have no words.

When the boys finally arrived around 1 a.m., we had squeezed in just enough dance party time — it was the perfect way to cap off the night. We didn't spend a ton of money, we didn't fly to Vegas, and we didn't even stay at the bar until closing time. But it was exactly what I needed after a rough couple of days, and it was a wonderful reminder of the amazing ladies who support my relationship with Mr. Cupcake and who rally around me when I need them.

This photo slays me, and it perfectly expresses the awesomeness of my girlfriends and the night we had :-)