The bachelorette party weekend has become ubiquitous for today’s modern brides-to-be, and Kansas City has no shortage of hotspots for brides, bridesmaids, and besties to dine, drink, play – and maybe learn a thing or two! Three recent KC brides shared how they spent the weekend before they walked down the aisle, enjoying a wide variety of daylight and nighttime activities throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Photo-Jowler Creek Vineyard and Winery
Northland sisters hit all points north, south … and almost everything in between!
“My favorite bachelorette party activity was spending the day making stops at several wineries and cocktail bars in the Northland,” Carly Shawver says.
She and her attendants visited Platte City’s Jowler Creek Winery, which bills itself as Missouri’s first Green Vineyard and winery. The 7-acre vineyard is fully sustainable, with more than 3500 grapevines producing a variety of wines. From there, they traveled to the Belvoir Winery and Inn in Liberty, located in a grand Tudor mansion, then the Sail Away Wine Bar in the increasingly lively downtown North Kansas City.
Sail Away is a truly unique experience, a self-serve wine and craft beer bar. Drinks are dispensed in one or two-ounce pours directly from the bottle, and a pay-as-you-go system allows visitors to sample a much wider variety of vintages, which are changed out regularly.
Her favorite, though? “My absolute favorite was Ladoga Ridge Winery in Smithville,” Carly says. “The outdoor area is beautiful, and they have the perfect wine tasting for five dollars.”
Photo-Ponak’s KC
From there, Carly and her crowd enjoyed dinner at Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen, the venerable, low-key, and casual restaurant on Southwest Boulevard that has been serving generous portions of reasonably priced Tex-Mex – “and the best margaritas in the Kansas City Metro!” exclaims Carly – for almost 50 years.
Then finally, a late-night visit to downtown’s Pawn & Pint, Kansas City’s one and only board game pub located between the Crossroads and the River Market.
Photo-Iron District KC
Carly’s sister, Samantha Shawver – truly modern brides, they both kept their maiden names – got married around the same time, and she and her party kicked the night off at Ponak’s, too. However, “The best stop of the night was the Iron District in NKC.” The Iron District is an outdoor venue with a wide variety of bars, shops, and restaurants that feature local vendors, artists, and restaurateurs in colorfully painted shipping containers, a “mini-neighborhood” with something for every taste and interest.
“It was the perfect spot,” Samantha says. “It was a chance to get every one of my friends and family from all stages of my life together to celebrate in one place.”
Everything’s up to date in (downtown) Kansas City
“My favorite bachelorette party activity was the facials we all got at The Facial Bar,” says Ashley Paur. “I didn’t want to do an activity that was very physical, and what’s more relaxing than a facial?” The Facial Bar is a full-service skincare boutique with locations downtown, as well as Olathe and Overland Park. It’s also a unique spot for the entire wedding party, including the groomsmen, to relax and look their best for the big day.
After that, she and her party learned how to play shuffleboard at Ludo’s Shuffleboard Bar in Hyde Park.
Photo-Barley Bus KC
“It was fun learning a new game with my friends while also having some of the best cocktails I’ve had in Kansas City,” Ashley says.
Her bachelorette weekend ended on an upscale note, with dinner at James Beard Award winner Michael Smith’s Farina in the Crossroads.
Every bride is unique, and so are KC’s options for bachelorette events
Kansas City offers diverse options for bachelorette weekends, catering to almost all preferences and tastes. They range from casual vineyard hops to upscale dining experiences and everything in between. Whether enjoying the burgeoning wine scene in the Northland, indulging in pampering sessions or casual dining in iconic landmarks, or sampling eclectic fare from renowned chefs, the metropolitan area ensures a memorable experience for every bride-to-be and her celebrants.
