Cafè Gabri: My Dream Bachelorette Party
Part two of my Bach recap! The sweatshirts, gift bags, full itinerary and all the little details that made it magic.
Santa Barbara has always been one of those places that feels like a deep exhale. I love being there—the calm, the charm, the way everything just feels a little slower in the best way. So when it came time to choose a spot for my bachelorette, it felt only right to bring my favorite girls to my favorite place.
I wanted the weekend to feel easy and fun— a mix of showing them my go-to spots, doing a little shopping, eating really well, and having plenty of time to just be together.
I had this vision of the weekend feeling like a dreamy French or Italian beach club—something playful and chic, but not too serious. Luckily, I had the perfect creative partner: my sister, who also happens to have elite graphic design skills. I pulled together an inspo board of vintage logos, and she took it from there.
Naming it was the hardest part. I went back and forth on whether to include my name at all—I didn’t want everything to scream “bachelorette”. I wanted it to feel like something they’d actually wear again. So I made up a place that captured the spirit of the weekend: Café Gabri. We added 1995 as a nod to my birth year and to make it feel like a real little spot—somewhere you’d stumble upon on vacation.
After many (many) iterations, we finally landed on the perfect logo. I went back and forth between red and navy, but given the coastal setting and the soft palette I envisioned for the weekend, navy felt like the obvious choice.
I had actually gone through this process once before—for my best friend’s bachelorette last year. I designed her logo and sourced the sweatshirts, so when it came time for my own, I knew exactly what crewneck I wanted to use. I had already done the research (a lot of it) and landed on the perfect one the first time around. We used the same sweatshirt again—just in a different color. I was looking for something that felt like a vintage men’s crewneck: thick but soft, relaxed but still flattering. I can’t stand when the waistband is too tight or elastic-y. The one we used was from Independent Trading Co. via NYFIFTH, and it checked all the boxes. We went with the color “bone”—a creamy ivory that paired beautifully with the navy embroidered logo. And I’ve always loved a logo quietly tucked in the corner.
The gift bags
One thing I knew from the very beginning: I wanted every single one of my girls to feel special (spoiled but also seen). With the help of some of my favorite brands, I was able to put together something that felt so personal and thoughtful for each of them.
I ordered my go-to L.L. Bean Boat and Totes (large with long handles is perfect for a work bag/ travel) and had each one monogrammed with their initial. For the married girls, I used their last initial so it could double as a family bag. For the rest, their first initial. I wanted every detail to feel intentional, right down to what went inside.
The bags were filled with my favorite things—truly, the products I reach for every single day. While I was lucky enough to receive a few of these as gifts from brands I adore and work with regularly, I want to say: none of this is ever necessary to make your people feel loved. If I’d done a handwritten note and personalized tote alone, it still would’ve meant the world.
That said, seeing their faces when they opened everything was a moment I’ll never forget. They kept saying they felt like influencers—which made me laugh, but also made me a little emotional. So many of them had seen these products on my Instagram or Substack and had always wanted to try them. It felt really special to be able to share pieces of my everyday life with them in this way. They deserve it all.
One of the most special gifts was the custom stationary by Jaymes Paper. Jaymee, the founder, is such a lovely person and was kind enough to help me design bespoke sets for each of my ladies. They lit up when they saw each of their boxes.
Here’s what I included in each tote:
– My treasured Jaymes Paper sets — personalized bespoke stationary for each of the girls
– Undo Hairware No. 4 hair clips, because it’s simply not a gift from me without one
– My favorite cashmere wrap from White + Warren — perfect for Santa Barbara nights
– Iris av Emma cosmetic bags, a forever go-to for travel and everyday organization
– InnBeauty Extreme Cream, which I basically can't live without
– Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm (of course) + their eye masks to to beat the jet lag
– Saie Sun Glow and mascara, the most effortless summer makeup essentials
I wanted to also shoutout Avaline, Salt and Stone, and Oak Essentials for sending over all the essentials to stock the house for the weekend!
While some of the products mentioned were generously gifted by brands I love, none of these mentions are sponsored or part of a paid partnership.
The Itinerary
When I started dreaming up what the weekend would look like, I knew I wanted it to feel easy— low pressure and a little more like a vacation than a traditional bachelorette. Nothing too packed or over-planned. I really just wanted everyone to settle in, relax, and enjoy being together in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
A visit to San Ysidro Ranch was at the top of the list—my personal heaven. Other than that, I just wanted to shop a little, sip some wine, explore, and see where the days took us.
Here’s how the weekend ended up coming together:
We kicked things off with a drive up the coast from LA to Santa Barbara, yapping and laughing the whole way. There is nothing better than a roadtrip with your favorite people. Once we arrived, we settled in at the house and eased into the weekend with dinner at home and a fire pit moment.
On Friday, we grabbed coffee and went for a morning walk before getting ready for a day of shopping. We started at The Post—where I surprised the girls with a visit to Janessa Leone’s gorgeous new Montecito shop. I’ve worn and loved JL for years, so it felt like the perfect way to gift them something timeless and special from a brand that means a lot to me. The team was so lovely and helped everyone find their perfect fit. A group favorite was the Teagan (and my personal fav, too). It was such a highlight—one of those pinch-me afternoons I’ll never forget. I shared everything I wore all weekend in my last substack.
From there, we wandered over to Montecito Country Mart—where I may have accidentally sparked a full-blown Dôen obsession among my friend group. The girls were hooked. Most of them walked out with shopping bags in hand, and honestly, I don’t blame them.
We had a casual lunch at Bettina and that night, we got dressed up and headed to Tre Lune for what I can only describe as the ultimate girls’ dinner: candlelight, pasta, and martinis (and a little bubbly that the groom sent over for us to enjoy).
On Saturday, we started the day slow again with bagels and a Greek dancing lesson. I had the best luck at The Blue Door and walked out with two dreamy necklaces, and a sweet vintage lace dress. Bridal magic, maybe?
Later that afternoon, we made our way to Pali Wine Co.—a spot Jimmy and I always visit when we’re in town. They were so kind to host our crew! We had the best time. I can’t recommend the Fresh Flight enough: a lineup of crisp, natural wines that paired perfectly with their snacks (and the live music didn’t hurt either). Afterwards, I was craving a lobster roll, so we headed to Broad Street Oyster Co (an LA fav as well). for a quick and easy lunch before heading back to reset for the evening.
And for our final dinner, we went to Stonehouse at San Ysidro Ranch. No surprise, it was the highlight of the trip. Their service is truly unmatched, and the entire dinner felt so special—quiet, elegant, and intimate in a way that made the whole weekend sink in. We had their signature table side dishes and lingered over every course. It really was the most magical way to end an absolutely epic weekend.
Sunday morning, we had coffee and cake before heading back to LA for some pre flight eats at In’n’out and Erewhon (lol, balance).
I have to close this out by thanking my sisters (and Maids of Honor) for helping put together the most perfect weekend ever. No detail was untouched and the surprises were such a treat — especially the Jimmy face on a stick and funny tees of me dressed up as a bride as a kid. If you’re reading this, I love you so much!
I hope you enjoyed this recap of one of the best weekends of my life. Can’t wait to share more wedding events and details with you. This year has been so special. It just keeps getting better and better. Thank you for all the love.
dreamiest weekend! so happy we could play a small part in loving on your girls! ❤️
so special Gabs!