A Refined Bachelorette Party

This is a mostly fitness-related blog which evolved over the last 5.5 years as I learned about exercise, experimented with different forms of fitness, found what I love and what works for me, ran a marathon and became an indoor cycling instructor.

It’s only fitting, then, that my bachelorette party would include spending time with my favorite people at my favorite place – Refine Method.

Larry loves Refine, but he didn’t get to stay for the class.

I know it sounds crazy to many of you (it would have to me a few years ago) but there really is nowhere else I’d rather be. Refine is my happy place.

Three of my friends who attended that part of the party never did Refine before. One is very pregnant and while pregnant people do Refine often, and somehow do it far better than I, this pregnant girl wasn’t feeling 100% and sat this one out. The other one does yoga and the third is a professional dancer who was Shakira’s body double in a music video and will be leaving my wedding early to go be a nude sculpture model in Italy. She has red hair.

Another friend only tried Refine once, last year.

Lat pulldowns. Look at Emily’s muscles!

And one is a fitness blogger who you all know and has taken Refine many times!

I was very excited to have my friends do the thing I love and see what they thought of it. After, we’d shower and go get blowouts before heading to Beauty & Essex for dinner and drinks. Basically, my perfect day.

When I arrived at Refine, the Refine staff gave me a tiara and boa. My friends gave me a sash. I attempted to wear all for the workout, but the boa shed everywhere and would have gotten pretty sweaty so I ditched that.

We all wore tiaras though, which made for a visually pleasing class! When else will you see a group of girls lunging with tiaras on?

Sliding disc lunges

Sliding disc lunges with kettlebell

I was totally in my element and could not have been happier.

Cat/Cow is funnier with tiaras

My friends all loved the class. Rachel, my best friend since first grade and bridesmaid and friend-I-most-thought-would-be-miserable, told me after that she had fun and could see why I loved Refine so much!

The 90s mix was especially fun for me and my childhood friends. So many songs we sang and danced to together our whole lives! DJ Kalkutta is insanely amazing.

After the awesome class — which I basically wrote, as I sent a request list of dos and dont’s for the exercises. I mean, other than my birthday, when else can I choose my favorite exercises (ahem, mini band hip lifts) and leave out the ones I can’t stand (ahem, forearm sliding disc snow angel planks). So of course it was awesome — it was mine.

Collage courtesy of Refine Method.

After Refine we got blowouts at DryBar, which was mostly for me since I have difficult hair. For Melissa, Rachel, Emily, Michelle and anyone else with hair that isn’t a curly, frizzy mess, this was a new thing to do. For me, it was necessary.

This will be one very pregnant bridesmaid

I find this photo hilarious

Have you ever seen a bachelorette party getting on a bus?

It was raining and cold and we couldn’t find any cabs, and we are not too good for public transportation.

The food was phenomenal and the drinks were delicious. I can’t find the group shot although I know I have one somewhere. Having so many people from different parts of my life together, getting along, liking each other and having a great time meant so much to me.

So did the Ring Pops.

Me and Brynn, both weeks away from our weddings

My bachelorette party was perfect. Having a workout to start the festivities put us all in a great mood for the rest of the day.

And today, I get married. BYE.