Dearest Gentle Reader,
The buzz around The Ton is true: the Bridgerton Experience is indeed traveling around the country and everyone is formally invited to the Queen’s Ball….
And, after indulging in this event herself, this author is delighted to share all her first hand tips and observations of the immersive experience so if you choose to attend, and perhaps, vie to be this season’s Diamond, you can know what to expect, how to dress, what ticket to buy and other tips.
Netflix Bridgerton Experience Review: 12 Tips To Know Before You Attend The Queen’s Ball
Lately, I’ve been finding myself at all the immersive events around San Francisco, whether it’s the Van Gogh experience, the new Picasso event or even treasure hunts like CluedUp so I know that some of them are totally worth it, and some fall a little flat.
As a childless millennial who loves Taylor Swift, hot actors, and playing dress-up, the Bridgerton inspired event was a no-brainer to attend with my girlfriends. But, with VIP tickets at $150, was it worth the price tag? And, does it live up to the hype TikTok is making it?
Spoiler alert: I had a fantastic time, it was basically an adult prom. But there were absolutely obstacles that may prevent you from having such a fun experience with your friends. So, here are some important tips to keep in mind if you’re attending or thinking about attending the Bridgerton ball.
1. It Goes By Fast, So Move Fast & Arrive Early
The event is 90 minutes long, but they open the doors 30 minutes early and you need to be in line well before that to maximize your time. For example, our show officially started at 2:30pm. We showed up a little before 2pm and there was already a long line to get inside.
And, while it officially doesn’t start until the noted start time, in my case 2:30pm, they still have immersive experiences for you to take part in so you’ll want to be there to soak up as much of the Bridgerton fun as possible.
I saw a few folks arrive around 2:40pm and by then, some of the major event moments, like the arrival of the Queen, already happened and they missed it! So, get there early!
2. Don’t Get Stuck In The Lower Lobby
A mistake many guests make is getting distracted by the first or lower lobby area that is available right after they open the doors. Here they display some of the real costumes worn but the actors, have a photo booth moment and a cocktail bar.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the event. All the good stuff, like the oil painting photo booth and a chance to sit on the Queen’s throne for photos, happens near the ballroom. Don’t get too distracted by the downstairs things. There’s so much more!
3. Get The VIP Ticket
On that note, the VIP ticket is valuable for the extra time they give you to explore the booths and activities. VIP ticket holders get early access to the ballroom / upstairs level which means you can actually do many, if not all, of the activity, take all your photos before the general admissions arrive and also get a glass of champagne. Get your VIP tickets now.
4. Be The First In Line For Everything
When I say you need to be the first in line, I mean you gotta hustle to be the first in line. Otherwise, you may not get to experience everything. Again, that’s why arriving early and having VIP tickets help, but even then you have to be mindful of your time. It may be worth it to skip the long line at one photo station so you can take part in two other stations. This also means coming back to other areas later for photos and doing activities first.
And, if you have VIP, listen carefully for when they announce early access and book your butt to the ballroom. We were the first in the room and immediately got our oil painting photo taken and then took photos with the Queen’s chair. This is the hardest thing to grab a photo with since once the event start, that gets shut down for the Queen herself to sit on.
5. Go On A Sunday Afternoon For Fewer Crowds
We went on a Sunday afternoon and I think we had the perfect size crowd. Enough folks to make it feel like a party, but not enough that it felt overcrowded or like the lines to everything were too long. I imagine Friday evening and Saturday evening shows are more packed.
6. Go Big Or Go Home With Your Outfit
This is adult dress-up!! When else will you have a chance to dress in regency-style fashion with your friends and dance the afternoon away?! You should go big on your outfit.
And, if you want to have any chance of being chosen as the Diamond, you need to have an epic outfit. The gal picked during my event hands-down had the best regency gown complete with a poofy skirt, and tiara and even her partner came with a matching tux vest.
I share more tips on what to wear to Bridgerton below, but here are some quick links for affordable shopping!
7. Wear Shoes You Can Dance In
I did not realize this event was such a dance party, but it is! You’ll not only be on your feet for 2 hours straight, but wear shoes you can dance in. You’ll get dance lessons and a free for all dance sessions.
8. If You Want To Participate With The Actors, Don’t Be On Your Phone
This is probably the most important tip to keep in mind if you want to take part in the event with the actors! There are a few moments where the dancers will pull audience members to the dance floor and they won’t choose you if you have a big iPhone clutched in your hand. They want to keep the event as “old timey” as possible.
I was actually chosen to get a dance lesson from one of the dancers! And, I’m pretty sure it was because my phone was tucked away while my friends had theirs out. The same thing goes for the Diamond. The Queen probably won’t pick you if she’s staring back at your phone.
The Bridgerton immersive experience is a place to go crazy with photos outside the ballroom for the mems, but once you get inside, tuck it away and just enjoy the show.
9. Keep Your Eyes Peeled For Lady Whistledown
This is a little easter egg scavenger hunt that will give you clues to who in the crowd is Lady Whistledown, aka the voice you’ll here on the speakers guiding you through the event. Yes, it’s a live narrator and at the end she will reveal herself. But, you can have a side quest of finding her during the ball. Look for the clues in the first entry area around the costumes to get started.
10. Take Photos When Everyone Is Bowing To The Queen
If there are still photos you want to grab with your crew, the best time to do these is when everyone is lined up to bow to the queen. That’s assuming you followed the directions and were first in line to bow to her.
This is a great moment to head back to the flower tunnel or window panes with no crowds and no lines to TikTok your little heart out and snap photos without feeling rushed.
11. Sling Back Your Champagne
If you’re a VIP you’ll get a free glass of champagne. I’m pretty sure a lot of folks never even had time to pick theirs up since again, things move fast. If you do get a glass, my best tip is to sling it back fast.
This is largly because holding a glass with white gloves on is really hard. It slips around! Add in juggling a phone, purse and bowing to the Queen or dancing, it’s hard to slowly sip that baby. So don’t try. Go for happy hour after, or make our Lady Whistledown cocktail at home before you head off to the show.
12. Be Prepared For A Show
Choreography, acrobatic performances, dance lessons, actor plants, live music. These experiences are shows with you as the audience, as much as you are a guest taking part of it. I really can’t stress that enough. Come, enjoy it, don’t feel like you have to document every second with your iPhone and just lean into the whole thing.
If an actor approaches you and does a little bit, play along. Volunteer for dancing and just soak up all the magic. It’s probably the best immersive show I’ve ever been too.
What To Wear To The Bridgerton Experience
It’s most enjoyable when you dress up. You don’t always have to get something new, I think a lot of our old prom gowns or Quinceanera dresses will probably fit the bill. You can either opt for a gown with a low, straight neckline and high waistline (these are easily found on Amazon). Or channel your inner princess with a huge gown or something poofy.
I personally went with the latter option. I found a knock-off Selkie dress and dressed that up with gloves, jewelry and pins in my hair which I curled for extra glam.
Here’s what you should look for when styling your Bridgerton outfits:
- Classic Regency Dress
- White gloves
- Lace choker necklace
- Pearl hair pins
- Small, elevated purse with a strap to make a crossbody (hands-free to dance!)
- Comfy heels or flats
- Rare beauty blush to get that rosy cheek look
We went in July but if you’re attending in the winter months, fret not. There is a coat check for you so your winter jacket doesn’t have to ruin your regency outfit. And, if getting a fancy costume isn’t your jam, consider one of these modern Bridgerton outfits instead so you can wear it again and again.
Was Bridgerton Experience Worth It?
YES! If you come ready to play dress-up, lean on your inner theater kid and just have fun, you’ll have a blast. It goes by fast, but everything was put together so well. I haven’t danced that hard in years and I stumbled out of the building with the best natural high from giggling so much.
This event is just as much of an immersive experience as it is a play for you. It’s pure entertainment as moments when the dancers are putting on beautiful choreography to live string quartet music. After a few hard years for the arts and entertainment industry, I was thrilled to see just how much this event supports actors, dancers and musicians.
Do You Have To Watch The Series To Enjoy It?
You don’t necessarily have to have seen the Netflix series to enjoy this event, but there will be a lot of little details you probably won’t understand if you don’t. Like there’s this whole moment on the dance floor that was a totally delightful surprise and the whole crowd gasped because if you watch the show, you KNOW the meaning of this thing. I’m not going to share (spoilers!) but at the very least, attend with a friend or partner who can fill you in.
Bridgeton Experience Locations
Keep updated on news of new city locations all the time as they come and go. I’ll try to keep this updated!
- San Francisco: Get Tickets Now
- Montreal: Get Tickets Now
- Atlanta: Get Tickets Now
- Los Angeles: Closed
- Chicago: Closed
- Washington DC: Closed
Got your own Bridgerton experiences reviews or tips to add? Leave a comment below so everyone can see! And I hope you have all the fun if you attend.
