Cloudia’s Series of Unfortunate Events 

⚜️ NoLa No Go: Life throws curveballs—whether it’s sick bridesmaids (or cats), unexpected weather, or in our case, all three. Originally, our bride-to-be Cloudia’s NoLarette Weekend of “Beads, Booze, and I Do’s” was set to happen in New Orleans, PACKED with Burbon Street accommodations (shout out to friends of friends), a burlesque class (for us) followed by burlesque show (not feat. us), a night out in all-black attire (theme = funeral for Clo’s single life), mask shopping, a Mississippi River cruise with jazz brunch, and many (many) more action-packed and themed activities. 

🔮 Lauderdale Native: But the voodoo vibes were strong that fateful fall, and with a devastated heart, Clo was forced to pull the plug on her meticulously crafted, no-detail-left-unplanned, five-day extravaganza. Knowing how much this trip meant to Clo, we couldn’t let this go. The wedding was only a month away, but with the help of her fiancé, best friends, sisters, and Lauderdale Native’s Ally Bee, we hatched a plan—one that required serious coordination and many moving parts. We secretly packed her bags, booked last minute flights, told her she was heading to the Gainesville airport, and made sure* she had absolutely no idea where she was going.

🕵🏼♀️ Clo with the FLLow: *For someone who thrives on coordinating trips, festival weekends, and outdoor adventures, this was Col’s ultimate test. Clo—an epic party planner—has a hard time relinquishing control and rightly so—we had a lot to live up to! She sneakily figured out bits and pieces along the way (flying Silver Airlines was a dead giveaway—they only fly from GNV to FLL), but we eventually got her to trust the process. She finally surrendered when she realized she was about to have a Mardi Gras-themed bachelorette in her hometown, Ft. Lauderdale, surrounded by her closest Florida friends. What started as an unexpected and massive disappointment became a FLL weekend she’ll never forget. We ceremoniously dubbed her trip: Clo with the FLLow. 

Where We Stayed: The Ultimate Lauderdale Native-Curated Retreat

👙 Harbor Beach Sylvan Lane:

For Clo with the FLLow to make up for cancelled plans, we needed a stay that matched her energy—picture-perfect and close to all the Ft. Lauderdale hotspots. Our Mediterranean-style vacation rental on Sylvan Lane was exactly that. Nestled in a private, yet prime location scouted by Ally Bee, this stunning local home featured five beds, five baths, eight beds, and an incredible pool compete with sauna and hot tub, making it the ideal place to host Clo. The sprawling outdoor patio with ancient, shady trees gave us the perfect spot to try out “fire and ice” (a cold plunge followed by a sauna stint) and kick off the weekend in true Ft. Lauderdale fashion—hot and sweaty.

🌹 The Chez Café Breakfast:

Beyond its spaces perfect for testing out questionable social media-inspired health crazes (jury is out on those cold plunges for this bridesmaid), the location was unbeatable. The Chez Café Breakfast graciously catered our morning, completing the local feel, and we hoovered their incredible baked goods. The rental had walkable access to the water taxi, so getting to Las Olas felt effortless. This rental wasn’t just a place to stay—it was part of the experience. We so appreciate local hosts who share their homes with stay-cationers and local businesses that keep us coming back for more (baked goods). 

💐 Anne’s Florist:

We obviously had to keep the brunch game strong and checked out Anne’s Florist on one of our beautiful mornings in town. Anne’s Florist is a beautiful cafe on Las Olas with the coffee we needed to power through. We did some great people watching, but in our obnoxious Madi Gras getups, we were probably getting more attention than we were giving. 

How We Brought NoLa to FLL: Lauderdale Native Expertise

⚰️ Speaking of themes, we went heavy on the Mardi Gras. We stole the “We said NOLA” shits, crossed out the “LA,” coordinated to have our decor and party favors shipped to Lauderdale Native headquarters, and Ally Bee set everything up in the vacation rental before Clo’s arrival. Every corner had a nod to the NoLa energy we wanted to bring to life in the Sunshine State. The dining room was set up as a funeral parlor (for Clo’s past relationships), the kitchen was full of bayou inspired spirits, and the living room was decked out in masks and décor that Ally Bee had thrifted from around town. She even brough her own artwork to really immerse us in all the feels!

🍹 Voodoo Bayou:

No trip goes off without a hitch (at least this one still happened?), so naturally our flight was super delayed and we missed out on hitting up Voodoo Bayou New Orleans-themed little sister, but this was top of our list and we were so sad to miss out!

🎭 Voodoo Bayou: However, since we couldn’t physically be in the French Quarter, our Ally Bee coordinated a Voodoo Bayou lunch on our last day. It was the perfect nod to the city’s lively atmosphere, with Cajun-inspired flavors, bold cocktails, and decor that transported us to Bourbon Street.

What FLL Gave Us that NoLa Couldn’t: A Mermaid Tail to Veil Twist

⛵ Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi:

We might have brought the spirit of NoLa to FLL, but Clo is really a mermaid at heart and Ft. Lauderdale’s vibrant mix of sand and sea speaks to her soul. Lauderdale native, Ally Bee, helped us embraced the nautical Ft. Lauderdale lifestyle and we hopped on the Water Taxi, a unique local twist to transportation (and welcome alternative to rideshares). Cruising along the Intracoastal, we relished the breeze (and only a few wardrobe malfunctions). Our captain was a character and even let Clo (pretend) drive the boat. It was the perfect way to mix fun, convenience, and an Under the Sea feeling.

🐠 Shooters Waterfront:

We hopped off the Water Taxi at Shooters Waterfront for a brunch with a view. We planned a siren-inspired day complete with mermaid headbands, bright colors, and nautical hats. The food was just what we needed, and the shooters were obviously blue, green, and mermaid-themed!

🧜🏼♀️ Wreck Bar:

Of course, no bachelorette weekend is complete without an obnoxious night out. So what better way to surprise Clo than with an evening at the Wreck Bar, home to one of the most mesmerizing underwater burlesque performances? Ally scored our tickets to the underwarter mermaid burlesque show (think Weeki Wachee mermaids plus strip tease). We kept the wild celebratory spirit on extra high with the kind of energy only a bride-to-be can bring. It was the perfect combination of kid-at-heart fantasy and no-kids-allowed entertainment. Plus seeing Clo’s face light up when she realized where she was? Unforgettable.

🎸 Knife Party Show at Daer Nightclub in Seminole Hard Rock Guitar Hotel in Hollywood, Florida:

We didn’t turn into pumpkins at midnight, but we did somehow find ourselves turning up to a unplanned surprise: We found out Knife Party was performing in town so we rocked up to DAER Nightclub, forked over some cash, and made our way up the escalators just as the DJs were taking the stage. Honestly the least planned nights always end up the best. 

An In-State Staycation that was Out of this World

This surprise bachelorette weekend proved something important: it’s not about the location—it’s about the people. Just kidding—it’s about the location! In Florida, we’re lucky to live driving distance from the best bachelorette destinations in the nation. Don’t overlook FLL just because you’re a Floridian. No matter your bride’s theme, from mermaids to Mardi Gras, you can cater to it on your doorstep. With a little creativity (and a lot of coordination), Clo got to celebrate in the city she calls home, in a way she never saw coming. In the end, sometimes, the best memories happen when you just go with the FLLow.