So I was lucky enough to host Melissa's bridal shower at the end of April. And not that I am one to brag but, like most things I do, it was awesome. Only this time it was even more awesome than usual because three other lovely ladies co-hosted the shower with me!

Let's start with the invitations, shall we. Anna (the same gal who touched up the engagement photos) custom designed the invitations. They turned out quite lovely, although this copy looks a little goofy because I deleted some of the personal information and the colors don't truly match the original.



We spent a good four to five hours the weekend prior crafting the decorations, which were also quite lovely - if you ask me. Everything you see here was hand assembled out of various paper products.



I am so completely in love with paper mobiles. Remember that I used them to decorate for the boys' birthday. They are easy and inexpensive to make. And so simple and delicate as they lightly twirl in the air. I love them!



We asked each guest to assemble and wear a floral tissue paper headband. Much to my delight and surprise, every last lady obliged! There was also a wedding band guessing game with a super duper pair of earrings made by yours truly as the prize. And for our hostess gift, Diana made lavender salt glow. It's superb. My jar is almost empty.



There were also 25 gigantic paper napkin flowers covering the fireplace wall.



The food was equally as awesome. The shower was at 11am so we served brunch. I won't bore you with the menu details but there was more than enough food and it was delicious. There was also plenty to drink. We had coffee, iced tea, lemonade, sparkling water, three juice options, champagne, white wine, vodka, and gin! And when I say there was plenty to drink, I really mean that there was plenty to drink after Jen graciously made a quick trip out for more juice and champagne. I guess we underestimated the joy of a pineapple peach mimosa on a Saturday morning!



We placed fresh cut flowers and photos of Wes and Melissa throughout the house. And more paper decorations hung from the ceiling in the dining room. I obviously have an addiction here.

Eventually everyone gathered in the living for the much anticipated gift giving ritual that is a bridal shower.



But instead of just opening gifts, we came with a very clever idea to make the whole thing more interactive and about Wes and Melissa rather than simply watching Melissa ooh and aah over pretty things. Instead, when each guest arrived she received a note card with a question about Wes and Melissa. The holder of the note card had to answer the question herself and then ask two other guests what they each thought the answer might be.

When it was time to open the gifts, Anna read each question and the answers out loud. Then Melissa had to give the correct answer and share a little story about mushy love stuff before she could open a gift! It was such a fun idea and all the ladies seemed to enjoy learning a little bit more about the bride and groom. See? We're clever, right?!



In each invitation we included a post card for guests to write a little message for Melissa about love or marriage. After all the gifts were opened, Melissa read each post card out loud keeping the authors to herself. The post cards were also designed by Anna and look like this (only in four different colors):



Then we announced the winner of the wedding band guessing game and the shower wrapped up pretty quick after that. Of course, we sent each guest home with Diana's fabulous salt glow - and their very own paper flower headband!



It was a lovely celebration and I was so honored to be a part of the whole thing and share my home with so many equally lovely ladies. I've said it before and I am sure I will say it again, but congratulations Wes and Melissa!


(sometimes I just need proof that I was there, too)

Also PS: I was incredibly underwhelmed by the photos I took. Hosting a large and important party didn't leave much time to take proper photos. Last week I came across the most beautiful pictures from a Mother's Day brunch. I can only hope someday that my own pictures more closely resemble these images!