Planning my sister’s shower was something I have been prepping for almost my entire life. It sounds extreme but one of my favourite things to do is help brides create their dream vision with their stationery and décor. So when it comes to my sister, it helps to know their individual style and expectations so this was going to be a little extra. Here is how I planned the shower in a broken-down post starting with the theme!
Theme
I started with a theme, now if you asked me years ago it would have been pink and Paris themed… clearly, things have changed. I choose the colour French blue and made the theme, “be her something blue” and asked each guest to wear their favourite hue of blue, who doesn’t love a little dress code!
Invitations
Now, this is obviously something I had been thinking of for a while. I wanted to keep the modern approach that is included in her wedding invitations but make it a little more girly. I included anemone flowers which I considered my main inspiration when choosing the theme which leads to the silver leaf tones. I added a simple script and a modern blue frame with clean crispy black text.
Décor
Balloon garlands are my favourite thing right now! Having made them before and knowing how simple they are to make and how they elevate any party space it was a definite must. I choose a baby blue and bridal pearl white and created this easy garland.
Signage
I wanted a statement welcome sign using the clear acrylic and matching French blue paint, I chose a simple white text and adorned a “let’s celebrate the future Mrs”. I also made each food, gift and favour station a smaller sign to match. I picked up a pack of cardstock and white gel pens to make each food a tag to make it easy for the guests to know what is on the spread.
Favours
This is something I had been planning for a while. Personalized gifts are some
of my favourite things. I adorned the guest names onto stemless wine glasses
that they could use throughout the party and include in their favour bags as
they were leaving. It is a great memory piece that they can use time and time
again. I also included blue paper straws with a little gold ‘cheers’ stir stick
and blue floral tea towel. The mother of the groom brought her favourite hand
soaps and we included the personalized individually wrapped wedding cookies to
the bag and it made the perfect homey gift for the guests.
Games
As much as we like to play games, we don’t love the traditional bridal shower games. We wanted people to have time to chat and enjoy each other company and eat delicious food so we only included one game, bingo! We played it at a previous shower and both my mom and sister loved it so I made matching bingo cards to the invitation and had guest fill out the card with what they thought they bride might open during the opening of the gifts. The first 3 people to get a full line won a prize! The prizes included everyone’s favourite bath and body works soaps and lotions as well as our family favourite, swig wine tumbler – in the blue of course!
Food
Food is one of the largest components of a shower. I decided I wanted to have two stations, a salty and sweet. This is a joke between me and my sister that our significant others don’t like desserts and would rather have a salty snack where we are the opposite.
Salty foods
I made a small popcorn bar where guests could fill little treat bags with popcorn to snack on throughout the afternoon, I picked up inexpensive baskets and lined them with kraft paper and included a scoop. I also had a basket of pretzel bites with two dips, honey mustard and garlic aioli. These are a new staple every party I attend and are a total crowd-pleaser. The mother of the groom brought her buffalo chicken dip and one request the bride had was her favourite – a charcuterie board, with fresh baguettes, cured meats, hard and soft cheeses and a variety of crackers placed on two wood cutting boards, huge hit!
Sweet foods
I love to bake! So practising the art of macarons is something I have dappled in and definitely not mastered. But when purchasing macarons they can be astronomical. I knew I wanted more than just one per person so I made over 4 dozen, one was classic vanilla with blue colouring and the other was vanilla with a blueberry compote. We also had a matching cake to cupcakes which were a lemon blueberry Bundt cake with vanilla buttercream and lemon cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and blueberry compote on top. I also made scones for the first time! I paired them with a faux Devonshire cream and strawberry jam. We had bridal shower themed sugar cookies, mother of the groom’s lemon squares and butter tarts from a local bakery, the brides favourite.
Sangria
When the couple’s favourite thing is wine we couldn’t miss having a sangria bar with fresh locally picked berry’s! I had two jugs of sangria both red and white. White was pinot giros with 7 up, orange brandy, peaches, oranges and lemon. Red included cabernet sauvignon with orange juice, orange brandy, oranges, lemon. I also had a batch of our late grandma’s lemonade recipe and ice tea.
Personal touches
it is important to include sentiments from your family to add personal touches to the day. I made the bride a simple bridal sash to match… of course and had her wear the flower headpiece my mom and late grandmother wore on their wedding day. We included things like grandma’s dishes to display treats on and of course my late grandmother’s lemonade as a staple to any family event.
