Photo Credit: The Pearl
The bachelorette party is evolving, and wellness is becoming part of the celebration. Instead of kicking off the festivities at a bar, more brides are gathering their closest friends for Pilates, sculpt, dance cardio, yoga or strength training.
The Pearl, the luxury women-focused wellness club on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, has hosted six bachelorette parties in as many months.
At The Pearl, founded by former Knicks City Dancers’ captain, fitness pro and choreographer Marcella Hymowitz, each celebration is customized to the bride-to-be’s desire. After class, the ladies gather for toast their health and success over mimosas, Champagne, refreshments, even caviar, before using the club’s lounge and dressing rooms to get ready for the next stop in the festivities.
It’s all part of a broader evolution in bridal celebrations, from fitness-focused bridal showers and wellness weekends to healthier menus and more experiential pre-wedding events.
I had the opportunity to interview The Pearl’s founder, Marcella Hymowitz, about her luxury women-focused wellness club. She shared with me her insights on bridal wellness parties and the bachelorette party experience!
In your experience, why are some brides-to-be shifting their bachelorette party theme to health and wellness?
MH -I think brides are looking for experiences that feel a little more meaningful and personal. They still want to celebrate and have an amazing time, but the idea of a bachelorette party doesn’t have to mean three days of drinking and staying out until 3 a.m. anymore. Wellness has become such a big part of how women socialize—we take workout classes together, we go for walks, we do beauty and self-care together, so it makes sense that it’s becoming part of these milestone celebrations too.
What I love is that it doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can sweat together, laugh together, do something that makes everyone feel great, and then have champagne and celebrate afterward. It’s really about creating a shared experience that everyone actually remembers.
How many bachelorette parties have you hosted at The Pearl?
MH – We’ve hosted six bachelorette parties at The Pearl over the past 12 months, and we’re definitely seeing more interest. I think women are realizing that a fitness or wellness experience can be the perfect anchor for a bachelorette celebration because it gives the entire group something fun to do together.
What can brides-to-be expect during their bachelorette experience at The Pearl?
MH – Everything can be customized around the bride and her group. We can start with a private workout…Dance Cardio, Sculpt, Pilates, strength, yoga, or even a choreographed dance experience, and then transition from the workout into the celebration.
That could mean champagne, juices, spritzes, food, music, beauty, getting ready together, personalized details, or turning our lounge into a private party space. We really love creating an experience that feels specific to the bride rather than giving every group the exact same package.
And because The Pearl was designed to feel more like a club and community space than simply a fitness studio, you don’t have to leave the minute the workout ends. That transition from sweating together to celebrating together is really what makes it special.
Within your themes of creativity, collaboration, and self-expression, what can brides-to-be gain from their time at The Pearl?
MH – There’s something about moving together that immediately breaks down barriers. You’re laughing, learning something, cheering each other on and getting out of your head. It creates this incredible energy within a group.
For a bachelorette especially, you may have childhood friends, college friends, sisters, cousins and newer friends who don’t all know one another. A shared movement experience gives everyone an immediate connection. It’s not just about the workout, it’s about creating a memory together and celebrating the bride in a way that feels joyful, confident and completely her.
Typically, how many days do bachelorette parties last at The Pearl?
MH-Our bachelorette experience is typically one day and one event, designed to flow from workout to celebration. We’re not trying to replace the entire bachelorette weekend…we can be the experience that kicks it off.
The group can come to The Pearl, have the studio privately, take a class together and then stay to celebrate. It’s a really fun way to start the day or the weekend because everyone leaves energized and already connected.
What are some of your favorite activities that you offer brides-to-be and their guests?
MH – Dance Cardio is definitely one of my favorites because it instantly feels like a party. The music is on, everyone is moving and nobody takes themselves too seriously. We can also do private Sculpt, Pilates, strength or yoga classes depending on what the bride loves.
I also love anything that gets the group learning and creating together. We can teach a fun piece of choreography, create a dance specifically for the bride and her friends, or build an experience around a particular playlist or theme.
For brides who want something a little less dance-focused, we can completely tailor the experience to the group. We can offer a Pilates-based Sculpt class for something strong and energizing, or go in the opposite direction with a beautiful stretch, meditation and sound bowl experience for a more restorative start to the celebration. The idea is really to meet the bride where she is and create something that feels like her.
Then we can completely shift gears after class: champagne, bites, music, beauty and glam, hanging out in the lounge and getting ready together. The best part of The Pearl is that we can take you from workout to party without ever leaving the space. For me, that’s the ultimate bachelorette…do something that makes you feel amazing, and then celebrate!
For more information on visiting or booking The Pearl for your next occasion, visit their website.
