Getaway Gurus

Spring 2018

WRITER CREDIT:

PHOTOGRAPHER CREDIT:

Getaway Gurus | These Charleston-based women are to bachelorette weekends what planners are to your Big Day

Charleston Wedding Charleston Harbor pop the bubbly events bachelorette bachelorette weekends wedding wedding week budget weddings Co Parties Social

It’s no secret to anyone walking down King Street on any given weekend night that Charleston ranks at the top of many a bachelorette destination list. But what does a bride—and her tribe—do when they want to see the Holy City but don’t quite know how to where to start, beyond bar crawls, that is? That’s where Randi Kay Nuorala of Kay & Co (231/622-1185) and Betsey Lupton of Pop the Bubbly Events come in.

Here's how it works: The planners—both of whom can plan for bachelor or bachelorette weekends—compile an itinerary of activities that specifically suit your crew’s wants from yoga on the beach or atop a paddleboard to flower-crown making classes, sunset cocktail cruises through the Charleston Harbor (or mixology tours downtown), and so much more.

Kay & Co came about a little more than a year ago when several of Randi’s friends got engaged and she saw how much planning went into their actual weddings yet how that same organized energy was lacking from their bachelorette parties. After helping a few pals plan their girlfriend getaways (and ancillary wedding weekend activities for guests, grooms and groomsmen, and bridal parties, too), Randi carved out her niche. Business, says the Michigan native with degrees in social policy and apparel design from Michigan State University, is hopping, and to date, she’s worked with some 25 clients.

For a complete menu of each groups' offerings, from à la carte happenings to multi-day packages, visit their sites. Sounds like it’s time your MOH knows about these gals—pronto.

Work It, Woman

Fill out a questionnaire on Kay & Co’s site and owner Randi generates a custom itinerary to suit your needs—and your budget. Book her as your bachelorette weekend planner and she kicks things off by sending out save-the-dates, detailed schedules, and pre-party goodie boxes.

Images courtesy of (picnic) by Kate Dye Photography; & (Randi) Sirena Singleton of Aneris Photography

The Wedding Row

March 4 2019

Anna & Bobby | Country Club of Charleston

Even though Anna, a Wilmington native, and Bobby, who is from Mount Pleasant, dated for over four years after swiping right on each other, they never really talked about getting married … they just...

March 1 2019

Kitty & Kyle | The Wickliffe House

Kitty and Kyle met during their freshman year at Clemson, but they didn’t begin dating until they got to know each other as study partners a few years later. After two years, a move to Charleston,...

February 28 2019

Bissell & Jack | Yeamans Hall

Bissell and Jack may live in Atlanta, but Charleston has played a large part in their relationship, from their dating days through their engagement and now with their wedding. Bissell’s mother is...

February 27 2019

Styled Shoot | 5Church

Today’s styled shoot takes place on the patio of 5Church, a downtown church-turned-restaurant that doubles as a wedding venue. Nicki Paige, owner of wedding planning company Nicki Paige Collection,...

February 26 2019

Christa & Andrew | Cannon Green

Christa met Andrew when she first moved into the same Charlotte, North Carolina, townhome complex as him in 2013. For a while, they were just passing acquaintances, until he asked her out for drinks...

February 25 2019

Christiana & Bud | Boone Hall Plantation

We’ve got the world of modern dating to thank for this gorgeous celebration at Boone Hall Plantation. Christiana and Bud met on Tinder, and after chatting on the app for a while, they met up for a...

February 22 2019

Nadja & Ryan | Cannon Green

Nadja and Ryan both grew up in Sarasota, Florida, but they didn’t meet until they were in college (and on her 21st birthday, no less). A decade of dating later, he surprised her with a 10th...

February 21 2019

Jackie & Max | Daniel Island Club

We so want to be friends with these two Charleston high-school sweethearts. Ask when they met and Jackie will tell you it was went they were 15 years old, she was in braces, and neither could drive...