Bachelorette in Point Reyes, CA
Having attended numerous bridal showers/bachelorette parties in the last seven years, my sister had one request: make the weekend inexpensive. That was my charge as MOH, as I sought to combine the two– shower and bachelorette– into a single weekend.
A bit about my sister: she is quite feminine, loves food (although she has only recently approached the kitchen herself), is very outdoorsy and athletic, is a Karaoke addict, has played violin in Carnegie Hall and fiddled in the Montana back country. She is a district attorney. She works long hours and her job is emotionally draining. She is lucky to have many genuine and close friendships. I wanted to plan a special weekend that was flexible and reflective of my sister.
We started the weekend Saturday morning with the bridal shower. It was simple and intimate. Our Mom hosted and made my sister’s favorite foods. We had a few games planned, but since everyone just wanted to shmooze, we only ended up following through with one: a quiz on male and female anatomy.
We didn’t “shower” with gifts (remember: inexpensive), though we gave my sister a handmade recipe box, and everyone filled out a few recipe cards with dishes they thought she would like.
For the bachelorette the destination was Point Reyes, CA. Situated in West Marin, about an hour and a half from San Francisco, Point Reyes is a small town, close to quiet beaches and good hiking trails. It also boasts a few great restaurants, which often include delicious oysters on the menu.
We rented a house that was just a quarter of a mile from the town. Our options for activities were endless: horseback riding, whale watching, saloon dancing, yoga, even oyster chucking at Hog Island. We ended up embracing a low-key weekend instead of an A to Z activity list. My sister rarely gets vacation, so this was an opportunity to veg out with her closest friends.
Highlights included:
1. The house. It was a woodsy-type place, with a sun room, a glorious garden, and an awesome kitchen. The first afternoon we laid low chatting and catching up.
2. We had dinner at Osteria Stellina. Simple, local and tasty.
3. Although I have not made a mask since elementary school, having an activity where everyone could personalize an object was great fun and a perfect warm up to our dance party.
4. We had a dance party to love songs and some old school hip-hop (in masks of course). The masks themselves added a little bit of whimsy to our party, helping everyone to let loose and step into another frame of mind.
5. We breakfasted at Bovine Bakery. Who can say no to buttery croissants and a homemade quiche, made fresh daily?
6. We took a walk on Limantour beach
7. We picked up wine and cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery
8. The parentals and our brother joined Monday morning. We hiked and had lunch in Olema. A lovely close to a special weekend.
As a first time MOH, I was nervous, but it was even better than I had hoped. My sister and her friends had a great time, and I did too. My advice: you really don’t need to over plan. Letting the weekend naturally unravel was part of the fun. The girls set the tone for the weekend. And I think my sister would approve of the budget: I haven’t calculated to the T, but it looks like the ladies each spent about $160 for the entire shower/bachelorette weekend.
-Maya
RELEVANT LINKS:
Recipe box & cards from: http://riflepaperco.com/
Gift bags & bride tank top from: http://shop.weddingchicks.com/
Scratch masks from: http://www.orientaltrading.com/magic-color-scratch-masks-a2-57_6562-12-1.fltr?Ntt=scratch+mask
Pt. Reyes rental: http://www.pointreyesschoolhouse.com/vacation.html
Pt. Reyes restaurant: http://osteriastellina.com/
Pt. Reyes bakery: http://thebovinebakery.wordpress.com/
Pt. Reyes cheese: http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/
Beach near Pt. Reyes: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/beaches.htm
Hiking near Pt. Reyes: http://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/hiking_guide.htm