I’d first checked the forecast about a month prior. Bad news turned into good news which turned into lightening which turned into mostly sunny with a perfect breeze. Until Sunday… Thunderstorms were predicted for three different times throughout the day. But we had to make a judgement call. Have Lorae’s long-awaited 50-guest bridal shower outside like we’d planned all along? With umbrellas nearby? Or cramp everyone inside the house with the threat of rain. We chose the prior, praying all the while. And God so lovingly came through for us!
This shower was a LONG time in the making. The vision for it changed multiple times throughout the months leading up to it, but I’m so happy with the final result… Which brings us to the pictures. I hope you enjoy. :)
I hosted my sister’s shower at our parents’ home in Sharon Springs. It just felt right, yaknowhaimean? Pictured below on the guest sign-in table are handmade eucalyptus-scented soap favors (many thanks to Deb Crosby!!), a gold saffian wedding guest book via Paper Source, candlesticks and the prettiest floral arrangement courtesy of that fabulous Hannah I keep talking about, and Lorae’s shower invitation as designed by the incredible Jessie Burns of BURNSBRITE | Design & Letterpress. (More to come on all that throughout this post!)
The party was set up on our side lawn, along with a photobooth crafted from gold, white and peach-colored streamers. The side table below was moved outside from the living room and provided the perfect space for an arrangement, some votives, a “Grab the Remote and Strike a Pose” sign by Jessie, and a fun chalkboard prop!
The gift table was my old bedroom dresser, which was – once upon a time – repurposed by my wonderfully talented aunt and uncle of Cane Shoppe Antiques. If I could ship that thing down to Houston, I would…
Collaborating with Jessie made me endlessly giddy. Every time she sent me a design, it was SPOT ON with my vision for this special day. After the invitations, sign-in/photobooth/gift table signs, seating cards, game cards, and food/dessert table labels, I can wholeheartedly urge ALL you brides out there to hit Jessie up. She’s a genius.
One of my favorite elements of Lorae’s party was this ribbon swag Hannah created for the gift-opening chair. (If it isn’t already clear, Hannah is the same girl in THIS post, THIS post, and THIS post. In other words, she is AMAZING!) We wanted to pay particular attention to detail for this shower. And I think we accomplished that.
And now for the main stage! All gold Chiavari chairs, napkins, silverware, and glasses were rented from Cooperstown Event Rentals. Special thanks to my uncle Mark for securing tables for the party. And some more thanks to my aunt Torrie for her help with the linens (which have been passed from family member to family member for weddings and parties and showers of all sorts)! We’re so blessed with such helpful family!
See those gorgeous striped table runners? Hannah’s grandmother made them from fabric I purchased online. It’s a scary thing to order fabric and napkins and ribbon without seeing them first in person. But PRAISE GOD the combination worked SO well! And I now have approximately 54′ of table runners to use at home. Somehow. ;)
Just like Hannah produced gorgeous flowers for Lorae’s bachelorette shower, she completely upped the ante for this larger-scale partaaay. Roses, hydrangea, dusty miller, celosia, gomphrena, sweet pea and Queen Anne’s lace (Lorae’s favorite) were used in nine separate breath-taking centerpieces. And the six placed on the guest tables? They were arranged in trifle bowls. I’m telling you… That Hannah is a clever one!
The votives pictured above were another one of Hannah’s contributions. I love how they echoed the gold of the chairs. Also? This image below is one of my favorite detail shots ever, ever, EVER taken. :)
The “He Says/She Says” game was a fun little hit! It also played a crucial role in our place setting setup. By the way, a very special thanks to my momma for helping me fold napkins ALL night long the evening before. ;)
OH, and the FOOD!! It was so, so yummy. Props to my mom, Torrie, Danielle, Becky, Deb, and Evelyn for contributing such pretty dishes. In the lineup? Arugula, watermelon and feta salad; minted fruit salad; caprese salad; bacon-wrapped scallops; melon and prosciutto skewers; stuffed button mushrooms; beet salad on bibb lettuce; pears with goat cheese and cranberries; artichoke hearts gratin; and mini-pita sandwiches with spinach, ham and Monterey Jack cheese! We also had some Pinterest-inspired blueberry-lemon water and lemonade!
Mom was a complete champ – baking/frosting all three of these cakes. (I tried to frost one myself, but royally screwed it up and had a pre-shower meltdown. Momma came to my rescue!) The Parisian macarons right below them were also TO-DIE-FOR. I believe I ate 30 of them. They are my new favorite thing, next to Sully. :)
My favorite girl Casey stole my camera for a while and grabbed these next shots. :) I’ll sum these up by saying (1) I laugh like a fool, and (2) Lorae received all sorts of sweet gifts to usher her and Brent into the married life!
And we finished up the party with some photobooth craziness! Here’re some LTW ladies looking fancy…
And there go my gorgeous aunt and cousins looking completely and unfairly exquisite at all times…
And at the end of the day? God gave us a rainbow. After ZERO rain. Right then, I knew that He loved me. Thank You, Jesus for the most lovely day!! And for leading my sister to her perfect match. You are GOOD.
Happy Wednesday!!
lizzie - Lovely. Seriously lovely….