Emily’s Colorful Custom Bridal Shower

After months of planning, this weekend it was finally time for Emily’s Bridal Shower!  On Sunday, the bridesmaids, the Brother of Honor and I hosted the festive gathering.  I am so excited to share the details of this lovely occasion!

Throughout the planning process, I have been so creatively energized with custom ideas to make the day extra special.  I was thrilled to see these ideas come to life for the shower.

It all started with the invitation.  I feel the invitation really sets the stage for the event.  For Emily’s shower invitation I hand painted the design with watercolors and then added one of my favorite quotes.

The quote reads ‘Come dress yourself in love, let the journey begin.’

Of course I had to add my Empty Nest Studio logo and a special message on the back.

One of my favorite custom touches was the design of a fabric for the buffet tablecloth and the guest napkins.  I have always wanted to create a fabric and this was the perfect opportunity to do so.  My idea was to create a toile design personalized with scenes of the location of Emily & Nick’s wedding.  The wedding is taking place at a breathtaking venue on the water near Newport, Rhode Island so there was no shortage of inspiration!  Once again using watercolors, I painted the petite chateau at Glen Manor, their puppies (who will serve as ring bearers) and the happy couple’s new monogram.

Creating the fabric was a rather arduous process (I used Spoonflower.com), but it turned out wonderfully and was well worth the effort!

A festive party banner, nearly 20 feet long and in colors to complement my home, stretched across one of the room openings.  With the saying ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ on one side and photos of Em & Nick from their engagement photo shoot on the other side, this was another unique and personal addition to the decor.

Throughout my years of event planning, I have learned what my strengths are (i.e. decor) and what they are not (cooking).  I was more than happy to hire an outstanding young woman, chef Meghan Hargraves of Bread & Ginger. Meghan prepared a beautiful and delicious buffet with a Mediterranean theme, inspired by Emily & Nick’s planned honeymoon to Greece and Italy.

She did an amazing job, thank you Meghan!

Of course no partyscape would be complete without a house filled with flowers (and photos and love)…

Note my new wallpaper accent wall…

photo credit: Fred Copeman

A few more touches including a new fur edged curtain, our ‘Shower Bar’ and a bit of Spring on the deck…

You can hardly tell this it was 35 degrees and windy outside!

Now that I’ve shared the decor, I must give you a peek at the party!

The guests came dressed in colorful Spring frocks bearing beautifully wrapped gifts.

my sister Kate (Em’s Godmother), my mom, Emily, and me

Artwork by Sandy Welch!

Beautiful gift wrap by my friend Tina ~ that bow!

Emily’s outstanding friends and her brother make up her Bridal “Team” ~ not pictured, Natalie who is in San Francisco.

Em and her “Fairy Godmothers”

Can you believe her amazing shoes…

We also had toasts and a beautiful video presentation set to sweet love songs.

Guests watching the video presentation.
photo credit: Fred Copeman

After Bellinis, the buffet, toasts and tears, our guests left with one more customized treat…

Created by my friend Lisa Dickason, these dress cookies were a work of art in every way ~ and edible!

I created a special hang tag with a heart that says ‘Love Is Sweet’.

It was a wonderful day and my sweet Em was a gracious and beautiful bride-to-be.

Of course, getting this fete together wasn’t all effortless and easy breezy ~ as evidenced by these behind-the-scenes photos…

Ah, the fleurs!

Creating the hang tags for the cookies

Fred shoveling snow off the deck so I can put out my green grass

Freddy teased me about my ‘utility rope’ aka Christmas ribbon

Grass meets snow ~ this is what happens when you have a party in March in New England!

Of course I’d do it all over again ~it was such an amazing day, filled with memories that will last a lifetime!  I am so happy to be sharing this special time with Emily.

photo credit: Fred Copeman

Now with the bridal shower over, we are speeding toward the wedding date.  Only six more weeks ~ eeeeeekkkk!

xo,

Pamela

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