Girls Gone Mild on Cape Cod: My 'Last Toast on the Coast' Bachelorette Weekend

A stylish, silly BFFs trip with lobster rolls, friendship bracelets, spooky schooner rides and outfit inspo galore.

Jun 15, 2025

Planning the bachelorette weekend felt like the highest-stakes decision of my wedding journey so far — well, after the dress, that is! ”Just have fun with it!” Well-wishers told me, many of whom I suspect do not have anxiety. After all, how many chances do you get to gather your favorite people (and TWO of mine live overseas) for one full weekend? Where do you go? What do you do?

If you’re me, the answer is: go somewhere sandy, eat something buttery, and splash headfirst into a soft, silly, Girls-Gone-Mild kind of bachelorette weekend. Less party bus, more pool time. And more lobster rolls, too, now that you mention it. More laugh-so-hard-your-abs-hurt giggles.

The more I thought about it, the more Cape Cod materialized before me, like a hazy dream rising through the steam of a seafood boil in the distance. And boy, did the Cape come through!

Whether you’re planning a Cape Cod bachelorette, a girls trip with a twist, or you’re just here for outfit inspo, bachelorette themes, or a peek into what we actually did all weekend — I’ve got you covered. I’m sharing tips, packing recs, and coastal collages from my ‘Last Toast on the Coast.’

Coastal Glamour Meets Sleepover Camp

The brainstorming started in February with a decadent presentation from big sister (and Matron of Honor) Carly, later to be refined into an itinerary meticulously organized by BFF-since-Grade-10 (and Maid of Honor) Leland.
🌸 TIP: I highly recommend a shared Google Slides or Pinterest board for planning. It helps set the tone early, while keeping the group texts from falling into the ether.

A slide from Carly’s brainstorming deck.

“If Dolly Parton and Cher shared a beach house and threw a party planned by Martha Stewart.”

Bachelorette Weekend Outfits I Packed (And Actually Wore)

If you’re wondering what to wear to a Cape Cod bachelorette or beachy girls weekend, here’s what I packed. I documented each look in 18 speedy seconds for your viewing pleasure: a few outfit repeats, a lot of white, and only one panic shoe purchase (the super cute white kitten heels with iridescent sequins, which I’ve already reworn for a Brooklyn date night!):
🌸 TIP: I used a wardrobe rental service for most of these pieces (highly recommend if you don’t want to overcommit to a closet of all-white garments).

@ellyayres0 packing for my bachelorette weekend in cape cod!! (and keeping my fingers crossed for sunshine) ☀️🐚🌊🤍

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Let’s Go Girls: A Rhinestone Cowgirl Pool Party

Planning a themed bachelorette pool party? Here’s how my girls managed to marry (excuse my pun) my obsession with Dolly Parton with ‘coastal chic’ for the ultimate girls-gone-mild moment. Between the bedazzled cowboy hat, my rhinestone “Bride” one-piece suit, and not one but two garlands (“Same Cowboy Forever” and “Let’s Go Girls”), we yeehaw’d into the sunset and giggled our way through a full-on synchronized swim routine.
🌸 TIP: Theming activities goes a LONG way in maximizing the moment, whether you do this with decor or even a loose dress code.*
*To bring some Elin Hilderbrand (my favorite ‘beach read’ author!) energy into the mix, we wore swimsuits inspired by hydrangea season on Nantucket.

Cape Cod Magic Hour: Provincetown Shops, Snacks, and Serotonin

After our pool sesh, we headed to P-Town for a sunset cruise! We wandered, souvenir shopped, and ate lobster rolls at The Canteen. We talked about how we should all just move there. You know, the usual.
🌸 TIP: Meandering > marathon-ing. We got to P-Town well ahead of the schooner sail time, knowing there were shops to see and snacks to eat. A traffic-cone orange Cape Cod baseball hat was acquired (thanks, Mariel!), as was a scoop of lavender honey ice cream and a case of saltwater taffy.

Sailing On A (Possibly Haunted) Schooner

If you’re bachelorette-planning in Cape Cod, a sunset schooner cruise is an absolute must. I asked Leland to include a sunset cruise on our girls’ weekend, and she delivered with seven seats on the Bay Lady II, a 73-foot schooner led by Captain Bob. We snapped a few Golden Hour pics minutes into our two-hour BYOB sail, before a spooky fog rolled right in over the Cape. Luckily, the first mate had cobalt-blue blankets (they complemented our sunset-hued looks perfectly) ready to go faster than you could hum the Pirates of the Carribbean theme.

Cloudy Skies & Clam Chowder In Orleans

Our sunny-dispositioned crew kept the gray at bay for as long as we could, but eventually, the skies opened up. Still, we pride ourselves on finding silver linings, and ours led us straight to a steaming bowl of clam chowder at Land Ho!, a cozy maritime pub that’s been around (in one form or another) since the 1920s. They even make their own root beer!

We popped into the cutest local spots, including Coastal Craft Gallery, Greg’s Used Books, and Instant Karma Records (where, naturally, I picked up a souvenir tee for Ryan. Okay… and one for myself, too).

Girls Night In: Bachelorette Craft Night & Trivia Fun

We made bag charms, friendship bracelets, and played a custom Jeopardy! game lovingly hosted by Fernanda, featuring such hard-hitting questions as: What is Ryan’s current job title? (Naturally, we all screamed: “TransPONSTER!” That one’s for the Friends fans.) Leland and Fern built the most epic charcuterie boards I’d ever seen, which included esquités. And in true sleepover fashion, we wore band tees, watched Mary-Kate & Ashley movies, and sealed our fate in the ‘Girls Gone Mild’ Bachelorette Hall of Fame.
🌸 TIP: Carly's genius idea: Have everyone craft a scrapbook page for you! Provide stickers, markers, and construction paper, so everyone can participate, regardless of craft skills. When you’re ready to print pics, your scrapbook is ready-made (👀 peep mine in the video below!).