[All photos are from the Bachelorette/s. It’s called “Cath didn’t take a single picture at the bridal shower”. Also, the blur effect is all the rage.]
I can honestly say I was scared.
This is the first wedding I’ve ever been in, and the idea of throwing a bridal shower freaked me out.
I’m not organized enough!
I don’t know how to decorate!
I also am not too good at cooking/baking!
I also am not too good at sitting at four-hour-long parties!
LOGISTICS!!!
(Clearly there are a lot of things I’m not good at.)
[I dared Beth to send a picture to Joel…of her removing her engagement ring before we hit the town. She did, but he didn’t freak out. It’s like he knows her or something.]
Thankfully, I wasn’t alone. The Matron of Honor, while in sunny California, delegated jobs to each of us. I was so grateful because without clear purpose, I’m like a chicken with my head cut off.
Or like me on caffeine.
The girls in charge of the food did a phenomenal job. I grew up with them, and if their family does one thing well, it’s throw rockin’ parties. I’ve never left their house hungry. There was strawberry-rhubarb pie, scones too numerous to count with homemade whipped cream, homemade chocolate fudge, finger sandwiches, cookies, specially-made cake, and tea (because it was, of course, a tea party).
(I stole the best idea from a bridal shower in April: the bridesmaids opened all the envelopes before passing them to the bride. I saved So Much Time and everyone thought I was a genius. I took the credit.)
Best part of the day? Probably asking the bride questions that the groom had already answered…his sister and I (good friends from high school) got the biggest kick out of the answers (“What’s the best meal she’s ever made you?” “Ummm…tacos?!”), and it didn’t hurt that for every wrong answer, a piece of bubble gum was unceremoniously shoved into the bride’s mouth. It’s hard to stay dainty when you’re drooling.
All-in-all, I was very pleased. Even the mother-of-the-bride emailed us, thanking us for a wonderful shower.
I leaned over to S, my partner-in-decorating-crime, and whispered, “Now we know what to do for the next shower we throw together.”
As the guests left, we bombarded them with homemade tea favors shipped up from dear friends in Arizona and
North Carolina. I slipped in honey sticks and everyone left saying, “See you in a few weeks!”
Realizing I can be a bonafide young woman who throws lady parties.
I don’t want to get too good at it, though, ’cause then y’all will be knocking on my door.
~ ~ ~
After bridal showers come bachelorettes. Not only did we have a fun night dancing (where I broke it down on the dance floor, drove through the city in a SUV taxi, and got everyone safely home by 12:30PM), but we also had a “grown-up bachelorette.” We ate dinner and then walked down to hear live jazz and eat dessert. I had foolishly worn a maxi dress in 90 degrees, and I was regretting it now, huffing and puffing down the sidewalk.
[See the trumpet player in the background? He posed perfectly.]
I ate this delectable hazelnut gelato with homemade whipped cream.
That was just two days ago. A mani-pedi, panera date, rehearsal, and rehearsal dinner later, here we are on Friday, June 27th, 2014.
My college roomie, my gym buddy, my Starbucks friend, and my loyal recital partner, it’s your big day.
I said I didn’t think I’d cry, that I’d be brimming with smiles.
But the thing is, I’ll probably cry, because the way he looks at her – his eyes soft and his grin unstoppable – is enough.
[Just wait for pictures of the wedding. It’s gonna be a partaaay.]