Tag Archives: bridal shower

Throwing a Bridal Shower in the Age of Pinterest

For the last two years, Pinterest has been improving our crock pot recipes, filling our imaginations with decor plans for our future homes, promising that we can DIY this and that, and flaunting inspirational exercise mantras next to pictures of tan, six-packed women. It has also been making it more and more difficult to pull off an impressive party without feeling completely inadequate. Thanks to Pinterest, a successful party now requires mason jars, pretty straws, impeccably decorated miniature foods, handmade decorations, and lush, themed tablescapes.

Daunting, no?

I’ll admit that since Jessie got engaged (maybe even before) I’ve been compiling a ‘secret’ board of pins to help fulfill my Maid Matron of Honor duties. I browsed for inspiration for bridal shower invitations, recipe cards, flowers, and favors but I always ended up more overwhelmed than when I began. The Pinterest pressure was just too much.

Eventually I just walked away from the pin boards and began planning a bridal shower based on what my best friend would enjoy: something simple, not too fussy, with good food, some beverages, and a few surprises for good measure. It didn’t have to be any more elaborate than that.

So on Saturday I threw Jessie a bridal shower. I made some food I knew she’d like and a punch she’d enjoyed in Charleston, we ate a leisurely lunch outside in the long-awaited sunshine, played some games, and opened some gifts.

Jessie looked beautiful and happy, and even though there was a distinct lack of themed tablescapes, I think she had fun.

Homemade invitations and recipe cards (they were super fun to make)
Pimento cheese makes every party better
Virginia ham sandwiches courtesy of my mom
And a mustard buffet to go with the ham
Charleston Light Dragoon’s Punch

A Hometown Bridal Shower for Jessie Lynn

This weekend, Jessie’s mom and Aunt Missy threw her a bridal shower at the historic Allam House in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Mom and I embarked on a little road trip North of the Mason-Dixon to join the party.

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The house, built in 1710, was beautiful and quaint and well-maintained. I mean, check out the old stove in the back of the living room.

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When Jessie’s mom brought the cake out, I nearly cried. Not sure why — I promise I’m excited for April 27!IMG_1599

Jessie is clearly happiest when filling a plate of food.

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I made these recipe cards for Jessie’s friends and family to start filling her recipe collection.IMG_1610

I searched for months for the perfect recipe box, and voila! I’m not telling you where I got it though because they didn’t have many and I need to go get myself one.

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Watching Jessie struggle with Crate & Barrel’s expert wrapping was so fun.IMG_1626

It’s a pitcher!

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And a homemade toilet paper cover.

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I was working hard to write the most illegible list of gifts for thank-you notes while Momma Reynolds attempted to fill her Gift Bingo card.

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Jessie’s cousins constructed the ribbon bouquet for her rehearsal.

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A hand made blanket from Mommom.IMG_1707

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I’m including this sad blurry picture of us to encourage Mom to send the non-blurry one she took!IMG_1720

After the shower, the light was SO pretty. But of course Jessie was being a jerk about letting me take her picture, so these were my best efforts.

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Where Did May Go?

Besides the fact that it was 80 degrees at 6 a.m. today, I’m having a hard time accepting that it is June already.

June!

I don’t even know where May went, and I’m already half-a-day into June.

May started slowly and calmly, after a whirlwind April, with a trip to Dick’s to oogle kayaks and buy a kickball.

I ventured out into the sun for a lobster roll from the Red Hook Lobster Truck. (It was worth the $15).

Spent some time on the roof of our office building. Pretty, isn’t it?

Went bridesmaid dress shopping twice.

Cut out of work early one afternoon to visit with Mary (hi Mary!) who ventured out of New Orleans for a week. We had lunch and wandered through the Newseum.

Hugh and Mary fought over the Perry Daily Journal.

 

And eventually became civil again.

Hugh took a bunch of pictures that all look like this:

The most interesting part of our Newseum visit (since I’d seen it all for the millionth time in November) was a little current events addition to the 9/11 exhibit. On the far left is a wall of newspaper front pages from the day after the attacks, in the middle is an antenna from the World Trade Center. Now, projected onto an empty wall in the center of the exhibit, are front pages from the day after Osama Bin Laden was killed.

Very interesting, indeed.

At the end of Mary Week, I took care of my nephew for a few days. He’s so sweet when he’s sleeping.

Went to my first-ever WMZQ-fest at the now no-fun-zone that is Jiffy Lube Live

Had to try twice several times for a decent picture, and we still weren’t successful.

The next day, tired and overloaded with country music, I whipped up some cupcakes (and other things) for a bridal shower, chased a dog through the neighborhood during a downpour, and bought some Pampered Chef goodies.

On a lunch break from work, we took a long, long walk to get some mac and cheese from the mac and cheese truck. I had the original – macaroni, cheddar and pimento cheeses, and Cheez-It crumbles on top. YUM.

I started teleworking on Thursdays, so I got to experience Rebecca’s daily life with the cats. It seems that Lily makes things like present-wrapping difficult.

We spent Memorial Day weekend at the Bay house having a great time with tons of people I love (plenty more pictures to come later).

And on the last day of May, I finally won our monthly inter-cube food trivia challenge.

Oh, and I let Hugh convince me to sign up for a 10K in July.

I guess June’s recap will include a lot more of this:

MOH Chronicles: Throwing a Bridal Shower

As one of two Maids of Honor in Rebecca’s wedding, (the other is her sister), I was given the task of throwing her a Pampered Chef bridal shower. In my entire 24.5 years of living, I’ve been to exactly one Pampered Chef party and one bridal shower.

I hosted neither.

So I had the date – May 22nd – and I had the guest list, but I had no idea what I was doing. I’m not sure I understood the concept — was I inviting people to a party specifically for them to buy gifts for the bride? It gave me the heebie jeebies, having a party just so the bride can get some “free stuff.” Gift registries similarly weird me out — I like to give thoughtful, personal gifts, so I’ve never been a fan of the “here’s what I want, pick one” list, not even for Christmas. Though, I should say that I’ve never gotten married, so I refrain from judgement.

Feel free to mock me if I turn up in a few years with a registry miles long.

Moving on.

I planned a citrusy fiesta shower for the bride, a lover of tequila and Mexican food. I made citrus-filled vases for centerpieces, and the favors (parties are supposed to have favors, I learned) were gummy orange slices and other citrusy candies.

I made guacamole, served on a snack table with chips and salsa, and the Pampered Chef consultant made a Southwestern salad with chicken and homemade cilantro lime dressing.

I had planned to serve appetizer-sized quesadillas as well, but Dexter pulled his pre-bridal shower stunt which left me soaking wet with unkempt hair, grassy feet, and little time to pull the party together before people started arriving. Maybe I’ll share that whole story tomorrow.

I even made festive labels to differentiate between the spiked and non-alcoholic beverages (margarita punch and pink lemonade) and to explain the dessert.

And oh, those tequila sunrise cupcakes. If I never eat another, it will be too soon. But they are delicious — orange-flavored cake (it has orange juice in it, which makes it healthy right?) and freshly whipped buttercream frosting made with grenadine to complete the cocktail’s recipe. They were my pride and joy and looked so beautiful on Mom’s cake pedestal that I bought one of my own with my Pampered Chef hostess discount (50% off!).

As you can see, I need to work on my buttercream piping, or at least learn to hide decorating flaws when setting up the display:

I also made wine charms with each guest’s name which were very, very cute, but I sadly didn’t get a picture of them. And since she was the guest of honor, the bride did not get a standard wine glass with a name tag charm on it. No, she got a hot pink wine glass that was big enough for extra helpings of margarita punch.

I took very few pictures because I was a frantic mess most of the afternoon, but I think it turned out well and most everyone enjoyed themselves. Rebecca did at least, and I suppose that was the point of it all along.

Now on to planning her next shower.