Luxury Playtime – Girls’ Nights with The Artful Bachelorette

Gather your best friends for a luxury playtime experience that blends creativity, connection, and a touch of mischief. The Artful Bachelorette offers a one-of-a-kind girls’ night where art and celebration come together in an intimate, lighthearted setting. Guided by professional artists, guests can sip, sketch, and immerse themselves in the act of drawing a live male model. More than the traditional bachelorette party, this experience taps into the joy of creativity, play, and mindfulness, allowing brides-to-be and their entourage to unwind, laugh, and celebrate in a way that feels both sophisticated and delightfully cheeky.

The Artful Bachelorette

Fleur Childs, owner and founder of The Artful Bachelorette, is an Australian artist with a Fine Arts degree and a lifelong love for drawing the human form. Now based in Brooklyn, New York, she is bringing a sense of creativity, playfulness, and self-expression to the world of bachelorette parties and girls’ nights.

“I’ve always been captivated by the way art connects us – to ourselves, to each other, and to something timeless,” she shares. “The Artful Bachelorette was born from my desire to make art more accessible, more fun, and less intimidating. I wanted to create an experience that was as luxurious as it was playful; an evening of celebration, creativity, and connection.”

Luxury Girls’ Nights

For the sophisticated bride-to-be who has an adventurous side and appreciates unique, elevated experiences, The Artful Bachelorette is the perfect option for a bachelorette party. These private events can be completely customized to anyone from the modern minimalist to the bohemian dreamer, creating an experience that caters to each client. The vibe is elegant, intimate, and effortlessly fun – very “Parisian salon-meets-luxury girls’ night in.”

“The best parties are the ones where you walk away having learned something new,” explains Fleur, “whether it's a skill, a newfound confidence, or a deeper bond with your friends. There’s something incredibly powerful about drawing the human form – it’s an art that transcends generations, cultures, and skill levels. Whether you’re an experienced artist or haven’t picked up a pencil since childhood, our experience is designed to make everyone feel comfortable, inspired, and engaged.”

The Importance of Mindfulness

As a whole, society is learning more about the importance of mindfulness; and even in the wedding world, this new sense of awareness is permeating everything from the wedding planning process to the overall guest experience.

“There’s been a beautiful evolution in how we celebrate life’s biggest moments,” Fleur says. “Brides today are moving away from traditional, high-stress events and seeking experiences that allow them to slow down, connect, and be fully present. Wellness and mindfulness are no longer just trends; they are essential components of how we celebrate, unwind, and bond with the people we love.

“The Artful Bachelorette is perfectly positioned within this shift – drawing is inherently meditative, relaxing, and grounding. Our experiences allow brides and their guests to pause, breathe, and focus on the beauty of the moment. Instead of a night that feels rushed or overwhelming, our events create a space for joyful presence, artistic exploration, and meaningful connection.”

Fleur’s top three tips for brides who want to create a meaningful, mindful wedding journey are:

1. Prioritize Experiences Over Expectations. Your wedding isn’t just a single day – it’s the journey leading up to it. Fill it with experiences that nourish your soul, whether it’s an intimate artful gathering, a spa retreat, or a quiet moment with your closest friends.

2. Incorporate Playfulness. There’s a tendency to take wedding planning very seriously, but joy should be at the heart of it all. A bachelorette party should be a chance to laugh until you cry, bond deeply, and create memories that will last long beyond the wedding day.

3. Choose Activities That Bring You Back to Yourself. Mindfulness isn’t just about meditation – it’s about presence. Choose pre-wedding celebrations that allow you to slow down, connect, and be truly present with your loved ones.

“Luxury isn’t just about opulence,” she says. “It’s about intention.”

The Artful Bachelorette Experience

Beyond catering to bachelorette parties and girls’ nights, The Artful Bachelorette experience is a celebration of friendship, femininity, and fun. Designed to be inclusive, The Artful Bachelorette has hosted brides, mothers, grandmothers, and best friends, all at the same table. Artful events have also been held in glamping tents, yachts, castles, and secret gardens – from private luxury soirees to curated bridal art retreats.

“We blend the sophistication of a luxury atelier with the warmth and playfulness of a perfect girls’ night,” Fleur adds. “Our professional artists lead each event with charm and expertise, ensuring that every guest, regardless of skill level, feels empowered and inspired. We work with top-tier models, luxury art materials, and promise that everyone will learn a little and laugh a lot! So come sip, sketch, and savor the moment with us. I promise you’ll leave feeling inspired, empowered, and a little more in love with life.”

The Artful Bachelorette is located in 13 cities and loves to travel for destination events.

Visit theartfulbachelorette.com for more information.

FLEUR SEULE BRINGS RETRO JAZZ AND CLASSIC MUSIC TO LUXURY WEDDINGS IN NYC

Founded by Allyson Briggs, Fleur Seule is a retro jazz band bringing a timeless age of music to luxury weddings in New York City and beyond. The band’s repertoire includes seven languages, with classic cocktail hour standards by Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Karen Carpenter, Linda Ronstadt, and more. Fleur Seule has performed at some of the city’s most prestigious venues, from Carnegie Hall to the Rainbow Room, and Allyson has become one of NYC’s most in-demand vocalists. We asked the songstress to share more about her music journey, and why she loves performing for weddings.

A: How did you get started in singing for weddings?

GO: I have always loved performing at weddings! It is so fun to be celebrating the happiest day of someone’s life with their family and friends. My wedding was the best day of my life and I was inspired to bring that joy and energy to more couples through music.

GO: How would you describe your musical style?

A: I saw an opportunity to create musical experiences that match the elegance of luxury weddings. A lot of wedding bands play the same Top 40s material, but we create a very unique experience of classy music that is fun and danceable, while bringing back those hits you do not hear anymore! I sing classic music in 7 languages, which opens us up to a very wide variety of repertoire, and my attention to detail as I follow the flow of the evening and the guests is something that our previous wedding couples have loved. If you have a first dance song that is special to you, we will learn it, no matter what style or language, and bring the beauty and romance of what you heard, to life!

GO: What are your favorite moments of a wedding day?

A: I LOVE a grand entrance from Cocktail Hour into the Reception! Imagine walking down an epic staircase while we play “La Vie en Rose” – it’s a scene from a movie! And of course, Ceremony Processionals always leave me a bit misty. I guess I’m very into entrances, they can be subtle and sweet, or lavish and grandiose. That’s what is so amazing about live music – it can create whatever movie scene you have in your mind.

GO: Do you work closely with the couples during the wedding planning process?

A: Yes! Once we move forward with booking Fleur Seule, I will share our full song catalogue to let you peruse and visualize your day. You can go through and select favorites, don’t-plays, first dances, etc. and I will help you fill in the blanks. Then I will customize our song list to fit the style and flow of your entire day, from ceremony to last dance. This day is all about you and I will make sure the ambiance is elegant, luxurious, and unforgettable.

GO: How far in advance should a couple reach out to book Fleur Seule?

A: The earlier the better! We are booking weddings 1-1.5 years out and honestly, the time flies by. I am available to chat by phone or Zoom for an initial consultation, and if you would like to proceed, then we can dig in to the song list, special requests, band line up, repertoire styles, and all the fun details that will add up to make your big day magical.

I can’t wait to start planning your big day!

Visit fleurseule.com for more information.

Art has the intrinsic ability to uplift us and offers a welcome, differing perspective to the ordinary or mundane. Personalize a piece of art such as a painting, and you have a keepsake that can be enjoyed through generations. This is exactly what a talented network of artists sets out to do when commissioned to create a custom painting on your wedding day.

Artist Agnes Csiszar Russo, of Wedding Event Paintings by Agnes, describes what she does simply as “I paint live on location at a variety of events, providing clients with a fine art piece to keep as a unique memento of their occasion.”

While the size of the painting, the medium used, or the composition may vary, “The goal is to capture the feel of the event, with all the elements of the day…” notes Rich Flynn, artist and owner of The Painter of the Moment.

The idea has gained wide popularity and more and more couples are embracing it, adding a unique element to the wedding day and a treasured result thereafter. But how, one might ask, does all this work?

Usually, the artist is hired by the couple or sometimes by a close relative or friend. Once the logistics are established via email, telephone and sometimes in-person meetings, the couple’s vision of the painting is discussed and arrangements are made about what will be painted—such as the ceremony, the reception or some other aspect of the celebration such as the first dance.

The artist will arrive at the location two to three hours before the guests and start painting the overall scenery. As artist Joan Zylkin of The Event Painter notes, “I begin painting before the guests start to arrive so when they do, I start putting them into the painting. When the bride and groom arrive, they walk into the painting.” Rich Flynn explains “The painting in itself becomes a story within the story of the wedding celebration. The first dance, the unique items in the ceremony, the veil that flies away, the dog who runs after the bride; it makes it special because you had to be there to understand it.” At the request of the couple, some artists, instead of creating one large painting, will paint a series of smaller size paintings like vignettes of the day, capturing different scenes of the wedding.

Miles Pelky owner of Live Event Artist, a company that offers a network of artists across the US, explains that the artist will complete a painting in approximately five hours and it will be on display at the reception ready for the bride and groom to take home that day.

Although the presence of the artist is unobtrusive, the process of the painting “building” during the event presents a source of entertainment for the guests. STYLEAs Agnes Csiszar Russo notes “Everyone seems to enjoy watching the painting come alive. I believe the purpose of live event painting is the entertainment it brings, the interaction with the guests, and capturing the ambiance of the night on the canvas before the guests’ eyes.”

Miles Pelky best expresses the idea behind this unique service when he says: “There truly is no better way to preserve one of the most memorable days of your lifetime, than to have a one-of-a kind painting created and presented to you on your wedding day.”

> Written by Yanni Tzoumas