How To Have a Gilmore-Girls Inspired Autumn!

Whether it’s heading to a cafe for coffee and pancakes or spending the evening renting films and rotting your teeth, this Gilmore Girls inspired weekend will have you feeling like you’ve been transported into Stars Hollow, one of the most iconic fall-inspired fictional locations of all time. Here’s how you can have a Gilmore Girls inspired autumnal weekend!

Friday

There’s really no better way to start this Gilmore-inspired weekend than a Friday night dinner. The girls arrive promptly at 6:30pm, have drinks and chat for half an hour and dinner is always served at 7pm. The dinner usually begins with a light salad and there’s usually delicious bread rolls available. The girls have made comments within episodes about the bread rolls before, and one time, Lorelai actually stashed a few in her purse for later.

Their dinners at Emily and Richard’s are a healthy, balanced plate, which I would assume is similar to a roast or UK Sunday dinner. Ironically, this majorly contrasts their usual diet, which is mostly junk food. There’s usually always dessert too, and the evening isn’t complete without a coffee on the way home.

Why not have your own Friday night dinner, set at a table (excluding the maid, of course, unless you have one!) and play some classical music as you enjoy a hopefully, mellow evening. Why not grab a friend or two and take them along for the experience. I know this seems comical, but if you’re a die hard Gilmore Girls fan, I think you’d enjoy this concept!

Saturday

Although it’s a Saturday, if you’re in the Gilmore household, it’s very likely you’ll be waking up early. Most of the time, Rory has an alarm set so makes sure you don’t forget to set yours! Extra points if you wake up to a fluffy, pink alarm clock!

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee!

No morning is complete without grabbing yourself a cup of fresh coffee before heading out for more coffee. Before you head out, be sure to dress yourself in the early 2000’s style, just like the girls. Opt for casual jeans, a jacket, and a cosy jumper with converse if you love Rory’s style, or if you’re more of a Lorelai fan, opt for a midi-skirt, knit sweater, long coat and knee high boots.

Your next stop is to a local cafe for breakfast! Think of it as your very own ‘Luke’s Diner’. Make sure you choose the most unhealthy breakfast choice, as the girls are known for choosing pancakes, and often swapping their ‘healthier’ choice of eggs for someone else’s pancakes, too. The girls are avid walkers – speed walkers in fact – so make sure you get your steps in. Maybe this is how the girls end up burning off their high calorie meals.

If going out for breakfast is not an option, why not stay home and enjoy a large bowl of cereal with marshmallows or pop tarts. If you expected fresh fruit, think again!

Make Some Friends!

The girls are very well known in their community. So if you truly want to embody the Gilmore Girls lifestyle, you should make friends with people in your community. They love chatting and spectating, so if you get the chance, why not instigate the conversation with someone new? Maybe you can befriend the owner of a coffee shop…

I also imagine Rory would own a digital camera or a Polaroid camera so that she can snap some photos when she’s out window shopping with Lane. With that being said, why not snap some images of your town as you explore it on foot? This would be a great way to see your own city through a different lens.

Stop At A Bookstore

The next stop is at a bookstore. Rory would absolutely wind up in her local bookstore. She wouldn’t be able to resist browsing if she happened to pass the bookstore. Why not pop into your local bookstore and see what they have to offer? Rory loves her classics, so here are some recommendations:

• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath (she’s a big fan of this author and poet!)
• Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
• Carrie By Stephen King
• Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
• A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
• Emma by Jane Austen
• Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Keysen
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

…and so many more.

In fact, you can find 400+ recommendations on Google! Once you’ve chosen a book or two, it’s time for burgers from a nearby take-out cafe. There’s no way Rory would pack a picnic, if anything she’d throw together a quick sandwich – that’s if there’s food in the fridge at home. Make sure to indulge and get fries and a shake, too!

Shopping In Hartford

Lorelai and Rory would absolutely spend an afternoon shopping at their local mall. They both seem to love spending time together, so grab a friend and head to your local mall. I believe they’d somehow find their way at the food court and taste-test every little sample going. So if you have room for it, why not! Lorelai is a huge shopper and she loves shopping for others. Why not treat your friends to something new?

Movie Night With Lots Of Treats!

There’s no doubt that the girls would end their day with even more food and a movie. They love their classics, so pick one out to watch and make sure you have a lot of treats, popcorn and drinks too. Make sure to set the scene. Grab some blankets and pillows and make your couch as cosy as you can.

What a perfect way to end the day!

Sunday

Breakfast And Coffee, duh!

In Stars Hollow, a routine is everything. I doubt their morning routine would differ, even on a Sunday. So, since food and coffee are such a big part of their day, there’s no better way to start your day.

Make sure you get dressed and head to your local cafe for coffee and pastries. The girls love muffins, danishes, and other pastries so take your pick. Get your breakfast to go and then make your way to a local farmers market. In the real world, this is where I see them spending their Sunday mornings.

After perusing for a few hours, take a page out of Rory’s book and find a shady spot under a tree and read your new book. Take this time to completely zone out and immerse yourself in your novel or biography. If, for some reason, the weather is not on your side, why not head back for some cosy afternoon reading? I imagine Rory would spend a large chunk of her afternoons either catching up on homework, or reading a book.

Town Festival Or Activity

If you’re town hosts festivals, meet up with your friends for the late afternoon. Grab some coffee, some typical festival food and make your way around. Stars Hollow always seems to have a town festival going on and it makes me wish my own town would host more events and festivals! It’s a great opportunity to get to know the locals and get involved in your community.

Take-Out And A Movie

The best way to end a lazy Sunday would be to order food in and watch TV. The girls are huge fans of Al’s Pancake World (that does everything except pancakes, it seems!). Take it from them, their take-out ritual is very near and dear to their heart. Opt. for Indian, Chinese or Thai. They seem to enjoy the classics. Dinner wouldn’t be complete without a classic TV show to comment on!

And finally, end your day by cosy-ing up on the porch outside (if you have one) with coffee and blankets and enjoy the quiet evening.

And that would be my take on a Gilmore Girl’s inspired autumnal weekend! If you do dedicate a weekend to living like this, do let me know how it went because i’d love to hear. Is something missing from this list? Comment below!