Plan a “Coastal Grandma” Bachelorette Party at the Beach
June 13, 2023
“Coastal Grandma” might not sound like the typical, fun bachelorette theme but trust us when we say – this vibe is a *refreshing* change of pace for the brides that want to sip champagne by the ocean instead of the bar. “Coastal Grandma” started as a fashion & design trend full of comfy, cozy clothing and lots of neutral, beachy colors (think Martha Stewart and Meredith Blake!). This trend can be channeled (another water pun, sorry!) into so much more, though – and is now the inspo for girls trips in quaint coastal towns. We’ve put together some of our favorite destinations, outfit pieces, and decor items to give you the prettiest Beach Bach and help you be the best bride-turned-coastal-grandmother!
Outfit Inspo
Coastal Grandma is all about the fashion – so we wanted to start there and get you looking laid back in linen before you hit the sand. The trend is known for leaning toward lots of whites and neutrals, and blue for the ocean, of course! We picture you in all white and your bridesmaids in blue – or maybe even everyone in all white to really have the bright, linen feel of the ultimate coastal grandma crew. Madewell & J Crew are two stores we recommend starting with when it comes to finding cute pieces for your classy, beachy bach look. Check out the mood board we created below with our favorite “Coastal Grandma” pieces that you can mix & match with your besties!
Now that you have your bags packed, you need to pick which cute beach town you and your bridesmaids will coast to for your Bach weekend. Whether you want lazy days by the ocean or fun nights on the town, here are a few beach towns on the East coast we think fit the “Coastal Grandma” vibe to a *sea*!
The 30A highway lines Florida’s Northwest Emerald Coast and contains several quaint beach towns ready for you & your girls to explore. One of the most popular destinations on 30A is Seaside, which is an ideal destination due to its’ beautiful, 1.5 mile long boardwalk (great for a hot girl walk!), local shopping, bike rides along the coast, and grabbing a snow cone by the sea. The area is definitely a vacation town, so its chock-full of Airbnb options for your group of any size.
Charleston is the most classically southern coastal town, and you can find local boutiques strewn about King Street with all of the coastal grandma fashion inside. Charleston has character, history, gorgeous Spanish moss hanging from the trees, and rows of rainbow colored houses. Your group can even stay in a historic inn downtown. Basically, the whole town is a perfect photo op for you and your girlfriends! There are also plenty of options for boat rentals in Charleston, ghost tours, all of the seafood you could possibly eat, and several good rooftop options for cocktails with a view. Charleston is definitely the least quiet out of the rest of these beach towns, and would probably be your best bet when it comes to going out and about if night life is on the itinerary for the weekend.
Keeping the natural beauty of Charleston (but maybe even prettier, in our humble opinion), Savannah is a nearby coastal town that has a bit of a more casual, low-key feel than Charleston does. However “chill” it may be considered, Savannah does allow open container on certain downtown streets, so you and your girls can grab wine and walk around with no cares like every coastal grandma dreams of. You can also try out Savannah’s popular Sip & Cycle if you want to be even more active on your coastal-grandma crawl while you see the beautiful historic homes and famous Forsyth Park. Be sure to visit the beach on Savannah’s Tybee Island during your bach!
Decor & Favors
You don’t need much when it comes to decor if you’re going to a beautiful beach town, but a few cute custom items to make your bridesmaids feel special can’t hurt! We are loving the blue vibe for the full beach effect, but a Coastal Grandma can also just stick to the neutrals or even all white decor. Either way, we love the idea of cute koozies and custom tote bags for the beach, tiny umbrellas for drinks, and a fun balloon backdrop!
When we think of Coastal Grandma cuisine, we think of fancy oysters, dry martinis, and lots of delicious champagne. Seafood should definitely be on the menu – if your visiting Charleston, we recommend Hank’s Seafood Restaurant for a dinner out. We also think a beach picnic would be so cute with your bridesmaids, which would be a great opportunity for group photos on the beach in your sundresses!
Wherever you decide to be a “grandma” on the coast for your bachelorette, make sure you and your bridesmaids are comfortable in linen dresses, shaded from the sun in your floppy hats, and full of fresh fish! For more swimwear inspo to pack for your beach bachelorette, check out our blog “Bridal Swimsuits to Take You From the Bachelorette Party to the Honeymoon”!
