Las Olas Wedding Weekend
I love weddings. Not just because of the food, drinks and music but because it has allowed us to explore different cities and be in full celebration mode the entire time.
My brother just got married right in Fort Lauderdale - on the charming street of Las Olas. It was so fun to experience the city we live in through the eyes of all the guests visiting. I was told ‘wow I see why you live here, there is just something about this place.”
If you’re planning a wedding and want to pick a unique destination (it’s called Venice of America for a reason) or have a wedding down here with some time to explore, check out our weekend itinerary below!
Thursday
Reservations with all the family at Boathouse at The Riverside. It’s a new restaurant on the Las Olas Riverfront with a chic interior and classy indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Make reservations here in advance!
Friday
Happy Hour at the Riverside Hotel lobby bar and it’s Golden Lyon Pub before the Rehearsal dinner at YOLO. The space at YOLO is perfect for large groups (we had like 45 people), there is a good mixture of lounge seating and cocktail high tops to have a lively rehearsal party (not for people that want a sit-down).
After that, head across the street Sushi Garage for some late night sushi before venturing down Las Olas to American Social for the after-party. We had VIP seating reserved from 9-11p. Highly recommend doing that otherwise it gets way too crowded!
Saturday
If you don’t have bridesmaid/groomsmen duties, you have the whole day to explore on Las Olas! Take a river cruise - Carrie B Cruises is a good one, or hop on the Water Taxi to see what the Venice of America is really about. Rent a bike or take a rickshaw down the Isles of Venice and make your way down to the new Las Olas Beachside Park. For lunch, grab an outdoor table at Louie Bossi’s or Cafe Europa and pretend you’re in Italy with an order of margherita pizza and a crisp glass of white wine.
Sunday
We had a beautiful post wedding brunch on the 8th floor terrace of the Riverside Hotel. If you don’t have that option, then head over to my Brunch In Fort Lauderdale article to check out some top spots to explore before you have to depart!